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 Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2011 3:03 am
John slammed his meat down on his plate, looking to Maxmos with rage and hurt in his eyes. "What did you just say?" He asked, his voice pained, his anger barely contained. "Did you just call me stupid?"
His fist suddenly slammed into his plate, shattering it completely and obliterating the food atop it. "Did you just threaten me? After i just finished explaining to you that I wish you no harm?"
Obviously Maximos had misunderstood the notion of 'holding ones life in ones hands' - John had thought that after telling him that then reassuring him that he loved him, that he held him in high regard, that he wished to be equal to him, that the last thing on John's mind was to kill him.
"Damn you Max, i asked to spar, not to fight to the death! Do you honestly think i want to kill you?! After i told you i've put that behind me?!"
His hand was shaking as he looked down at the shattered plate. He'd come into this place, a place that took a lot of courage to face with its strangeness and its inky black darkness surrounding him, threatening to swallow him....and he had received insults and threats from the man he called brother, the last man he expected them from.
The only reason he didn't lash out was because he was not certain he would survive the encounter. Plus he was trying very, very hard to be civil...
He drew in a deep breath, his voice measured as he spoke, lifting his hand to rub the bridge of his nose. "...That pearl is the last time I remember that we were together before all this rivalry began. I think it signifies a simpler time, when you were innocent enough to be fooled into trading it for a seashell..."
It had been many, many, many years ago. Maximos, John and Juunikyuu had all gone to the beach. John had stayed with Juuni whilst Maximos went pearl diving. John had never seen Maxi's face light up when he saw the seashell John presented him with for the pearl, the incandecent rainbow colors of the center of the small shell seeming like magic to the shadow creature.
Such simple times. John missed them even more now he couldn't remember them all.
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Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2011 10:45 am
This was the part where true to Maximos previous statement the Shadow was meant to remain calm and make John look foolish by doing so. Instead, Maximos looked thoroughly confused. He shook his head and then let it fall a bit to the side cocked at the Aesir, and somewhat lost.
"What did you just say?" Max was silent, seeing as how he just said it, he wanted to see what part John mistook.
"Did you just call me stupid?" Well. He had, and he replied as such. "Yes, if you think our rivalry is based on just your arm."
And then food was everywhere. Shadows moved on their own with no motion from Max. Black silhouettes collected pieces still moving in the air and gathered shards of broken porcelain. They cleaned splatters in the dark and moved in silence, and by the end of John's next sentence a new plate was being slid in front of him. "Did you just threaten me? After i just finished explaining to you that I wish you no harm?"
Counter to his normal character, Maximos immediately interjected. He simply could not let that misunderstanding slide. "No. I said we seem destined to be at odds. Exactly like this. We have no peace. Even dinner and a talk becomes a heated dare I say, violent argument. I've impaled my table, you've smashed a plate."
And the Shadow gestured to the two of them and their current argument. Max looked at the pearl in his hand, he rolled it around so that dim blue lights could let its colors shine in a muted sort of way. He looked at John, then back at the pearl, and then placed the gem on the table and said, "I'm confused John. What are you trying to say?"
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Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2011 4:23 am
"I'm trying to say that it wasn't always like this!" John roared, slamming his fist into the table again, making the plates and silverware clatter. "I'm trying to say..."
He composed himself, closing his eyes and taking a deep, slow breath.
"...I'm trying to say that, once upon a time, we weren't like this. And i want to go back to those times. But I cant just let you go..." He shook his head and looked down at his new plate, the blue light gleaming off it gently. "Odin help me, but i cant."
He lifted his hand to tug at the empty sleeve. "This...is a war wound. I accept it. Our rivalry is deeper then this, and we both know that. We seem to be destined to be at odds...but we dont need to be. To understand it is to control it. To understand it is to find the peace between us."
He looked over to the man seated at the end of the table. "I have proof of it. Right there, before you. It is one of the clearest memories i have left of a time when we weren't at each other's throats."
He shook his head again. "...When I wasn't at your throat..."
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Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2011 11:17 am
Maximos listened. And while listening was something he tried his best to do when other people were speaking, in this particular case, Maximos really listened. He tried to hear Tomorrow's words, and not hear what he expected the other man to say or do after years of experience with him. Maximos listened, and did not speak. He did react save for the attentive look in his eyes. And when the other man was done, Maximos nodded.
He broke eye contact looking at either side of the room, and then leaned forward, his fingers interlaced, an even expression on his face. He had noted how Tomorrow focused the blame on himself at the very end, and applied that as he responded. "Alright then John, what do you suggest we do?"
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Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2011 12:51 pm
Maximos Maximos listened. And while listening was something he tried his best to do when other people were speaking, in this particular case, Maximos really listened. He tried to hear Tomorrow's words, and not hear what he expected the other man to say or do after years of experience with him. Maximos listened, and did not speak. He did react save for the attentive look in his eyes. And when the other man was done, Maximos nodded. He broke eye contact looking at either side of the room, and then leaned forward, his fingers interlaced, an even expression on his face. He had noted how Tomorrow focused the blame on himself at the very end, and applied that as he responded. " Alright then John, what do you suggest we do?" John sighed heavily. "...I must ease my...hubris...and you must understand that i wish you no harm."He chuckled, shaking his head and scratching the back of his neck. "...I mean, in a final sense. I could never kill you, I'd never forgive myself, but i'm sure a fight or two wont go astray...as for our differences, even night and day work in unison in order to bring about a balance to the world...we may bicker and argue, but at least we're not hateful to one another....not, not all the time anyways..."He shook his head again as his voice trailed off, lowering the hand to rest on the table, looking at all the damn food everywhere. He didn't want this animosity anymore, but it wasn't in his nature to just give up on a goal he wanted to acheive. He was confused....he wished Hono'o was here....she could ease his mind, she had a knack for it... "....I dont know, Max. Why dont we just forget about it for now and talk abou something else?"He just had a sudden, jarring thought that, if they were gods of this world, then they were going down the same path of Lunoc and Nocturne - brothers arguing which escelates into a bloody row. And he did not want that. Sure, he wanted to fight, but a friendly fight...if there ever is such a thing. How typical of John, to compare himself to a god. His ego was astounding, and he was ashamed of it at that moment.
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Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2011 1:23 am
It was only over these past few moments that Maximos realized with a certain painful shock how very little he actually listened to Tomorrow. Listening was something he prided himself on in recent times. When someone spoke, the Shadow fell as silent as his namesake and let them speak. But he had never done that with Tomorrow. At some point he had painted the Aesir in some deep corner of his mind as a barbarian. Some huge warrior overloaded with muscle and heavy arms swinging a large weapon across the battlefield with no sense of grace, skill, strategy or precision. He never bothered to really listen to the other man’s thoughts on anything because he imagined them rare to non-existent. In truth, now, Maximos saw his folly. That his generalization and preconception of his friend and foe in the end only showed his own ignorance. And for that, as Tomorrow spoke, as he toiled, as his emotions fluctuated like colors in a prism, Maximos said nothing. He just listened.
When John was done, Maximos gave a pause. He lift his interlaced fingers in front of his mouth, and waited. He did not bite the end off of the other man’s sentence but gave it a modicum of silence in order to be digested. And then, he tilted his head slightly to the side and very evenly he said, “No. ”
“I see you tearing at yourself John. It fills the soul with a sort of sickly black that even I cannot appreciate. You should stop. ” He lowered his hands then slid them apart as if smoothing out some invisible fabric on the table. “You were a god, John. And that does not make you special. ”
He lift both hands, palm up, fingers outstretched. “These hands have killed many gods. And the lofty opinion given to them is something that should only belong to the mundanes. ”
He rolled his fingers inward and then out like a pair of albino spiders in their death throws. “A god is a being who gives up free will, and normalcy in order to become the embodiment of a concept. Love. Luck. Power. Destruction. The being is given powers beyond that of a mortal in order to proliferate that concept. And they must use their powers for that, for the moment they stray beyond it…”
Max’s fists clenched into sudden tight balls. “…we strike. You were the embodiment of a god of destruction, war, and power. You fulfilled that role, but that did not give you hubris. I did. ”
Max opened his hands and laid them flat on the table looking a cross at John squarely. “When you could not defeat me, you put me on a pedestal. You put me above others. I was strong, undefeated, better. By being my rival you, at least in your own opinion, became better than others. When you could not beat me you had to become better than even that. Then…”
Max lift both hands, interlaced them, and pointed both index fingers across the table. “…your hubris came. Your divinity became something more than it should be, you went too far. You crossed a line, and it was my duty to take you down. My point being, that this very rivalry is the source of the hubris, the pride and the self deprecation you have based yourself around. And I will not just change the subject and pretend otherwise. What kind of friend would I be, to leave it and not help? ”
Max lowered both hands and shook his head. “No John. Your not a god anymore. And I’m not special. I never was. I could spend hours trying to tell you what I am. But that’s not your language John. Your Aesir. Your Tribal. ”
The Shadow stood, picking up a napkin and dotting both sides of his mouth before setting it down evenly. He gave a slight nod to Walter, and then stepped out from in front of his chair and said. “I will show you exactly who I am John, in the only language I know you will understand. And we will put this to rest, once and for all. I owe you at least that much. ”
Max slid his chair in, and without look toward the table began walking off to be swallowed by the black. “Eat to your fill and when your done Walter will show you to what will be our arena.”
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Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2011 4:43 am
"...Max..." John said weakly, lifting his hand as if the small gesture would stop his brother...but the man was gone, swallowed by the shadows.
He lowered his hand, looking to the shadows he'd dissapeared to before he could bear to look at the darkness no longer, tearing his eyes away to look down at his empty plate. He suddenly had no appitite, and he pushed his plate away to put his head in his hand, heaving a heavy sigh.
He'd never been a god. It had been stupid to think that he was. For a long time, all those years ago, it had consumed him, that ego he had...and of course, Maximos was right. By considering him his rival, placing him at such lofty heights, John's own self regard had soared to ridiculous levels - how couldn't it, when he considered his equal the only man who he couldnt beat?
But then, there had been many he could not beat, even though he could not recall their names or faces - he had been soundly defeated in the past, by many people - so why was Maximos special?
He shook his head slowly. If Maximos had decided to fight him - and, of course, this was the only option John's mind had come to - it would not be to John's satisfaction. It would never be to John's satisfaction. So lofty was Maximos' perch in John's mind, that the sheer chance of defeat was impossible to him. And if he ever did beat him, there would always be that niggling feeling in his mind - did he stay his hand during a killing stroke? Did he slow himself to give me an advantage? Could he have used more of his magic or powers? Would pity stay his hand and give John an opening?
This was why John always failed against Maximos. In his own mind, Maximos had already won. That was his most powerful magic trick he had cast on John Tomorrow - the trick of omnipotence. Maximos was the man who could never fail.
And perhaps that was why they butted heads so often. Because John thought he could never fail, he would wonder why he didn't do much - after all, a perfect being should be able to solve many problems, what with being perfect and all. To John, to see Maximos in his castle in the sky...so easy, so relaxed, like he had not a worry in the world...
...He wished Maximos had troubled like John did. He wished that he could show frailty, even for a moment.
But then, he knew now why Maximos never did such things. Because to lose control...was to lose control.
He placed his head in his hand, rubbing his eyes as he heaved a heavy sigh. "Walter..." He said quietly, knowing the old man could hear him. "Tell me...how can we resolve this? How can we just...forget all this...scrub it from our minds and just be friends again..."
He sighed heavily again. He wished for Raven more then ever now, for her hands to touch his trouble brow and lift his worries away with her tender kiss. But cowardice was not in his nature, and as he stood, that wish only changed to a wish that she never find out about this - she would probably kill the both of them if she did.
He approached the old man, looking down to him. "You must know him better then anybody on this planet...how do i make him understand what i feel?"
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Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2011 3:29 am
Walter nodded.
Because that was the place of all butler's, to nod and make sure you absolutely well that your concern or comment was heard and is being taken under consideration. And Walter was no different.
There were a few more nods before he made a wave of his hand and let the shadowy silhouettes begin the work of clearing Maximos' place setting. They moved with speed and in silence, and then Walter broke that silence with a soft voice just loud enjoy to be heard.
"I dont think that is really my place to say, Sir. The Master much prefers his...ambiguous ways." And while speaking, he picked up several empty plates in complete silence, stacking them as easily as Lego's and then passing them to a shadow silhouette to carry away.
"But I can say this," the old man said, cracking a small smirk as he looked up from his work to Tomorrow. "If you two are as similar now, as you have always been then it is very likely that the Master already understands."
Another row of plates vanished from Walter's hands and then off to the darkness. "Theres nothing to be gained here from trouncing you yet again, or even from being beaten."
With the empty plates cleared, Walter made his way calmly over to John. "I would say, the Master aims to step down from the proverbial pedestal. And he is likely just as worried about the result as you are."
En route, Walter scooped up a pitcher, and a large serving spoon so that just as he arrived beside Tomorrow and finished his sentence he could with practiced poise and politeness say, "Anything else for you sir? We have a full compliment of dessert courses if you would like."
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Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2011 4:09 am
John nodded slowly at the old man's sage advice. Of course. What else would be gained from another battle? If John won, it would seem a hollow victory. If Maximos won, it would be like it had always been.
Although John frurrowed his brow in concern at Walter's last words - step down from the proverbial pedestal? What did that mean? Would he let John hurt him? Of course not, ridiculous - besides, John would never maliciously hurt his brother, and Maxi must know that.
The giant Aesir sighed and smiled a sad grin down to Walter, hiding his discomfort at his current situation behind a shaky resolve. He reached out to grasp Walter's shoulder, patting it gently. "No thank you, Walter. I think you'd best show me to Maximos now. But...I feel the need to tell you that...you've always been the conssumate gentleman. And I am as honored to talk to a man of such dignity as I am to talk to Maxi himself. You're a dying breed old man - I am happy to know that there are still some like you out there."
Gone were the days of the consummate gentleman. Now you were considered a gentleman if you opened a door for a lady, or pulled her chair out for her - Walter always seemed like the type of man who would go that extra step to make sure you were perfectly at ease with your surroundings, no matter the time or place.
He patted the old man's shoulder again, before gesturing for him to lead him with a short wave of his hand, his smile becoming a little sheepish at the end. "Uh...sorry for making a mess too. Now, uh, lead on, good man - lets go see what your master has in store for me."
Although Walter's words begged more questions then they answered, John felt the heaviness in his heart lifting - no matter what happened this day, it will be a result - and even a step backwards is still progress made.
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Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2011 5:17 pm
Walter smiled, a sort of peaceful smile. He had the sort of old man's face which seemed as if it'd weathered the world and come out smiling. He simply made it all seem like it was okay, or going to be okay. It was exactly that sort of smile he shared with Tomorrow. And it was in a tone of voice befitting that face that he said, "Thank you Sir. Your words are too kind."
And then, Walter took a step back. He smiled and gestured toward the dining room door. "Not a worry about the mess sir, Shadow Manor is built to last."
If Tomorrow was willing to follow then, Walter would begin leading. The dining room door lead to an ornate hallway, the same kind that he had taken to get here to the dining room itself. Every hall in Shadow Manor was very much the same. Different paintings, but hung in the same areas, lamps in the same places and angles. It was a defense mechanism, the same as so many leaked and linked through the entire house, subtle and unassuming. You were meant to get lost here, and be forgotten, that was rather clear.
The only marked change was that spotting every few feet in every hall were small tables with various sculptures, plants, beside which was always a skull. And while they never moved, the skulls seemed to always be facing the person entering the hallway. Their empty eyes faced John at every turn ad with every glance without ever directly moving, but never seemed to really notice Walter or focus on him.
The walk seemed to be going somewhere and everywhere and nowhere at once. And it was a few minutes in that Walter turned to Tomorrow and said. "I know what the Master has planned. And you shouldnt worry. Dont shy away from it, but try and listen without judging. I can tell you it means a great deal that he should share this with you. Ah, here we."
Walter stopped outside of a pair of double doors. He stopped, reaching out both handles and opening them to what was effectively a wall of black. Darkness as was most common in this house. Formally, and gracefully, the stately butler bowed and said. "Please, enter. Try not to be alarmed."
Understandably, Tomorrow would likely be someone unsettled by the presence of so very much Shadow, and having to walk into a void. But once he actually passed the veil...nothing changed. Tomorrow was pooled in blackness. No light, or sound.
And then from the creeping edges of the shadows came voices. Not monstrous or ghastly voices, but chatter that seemed to echo through a large space. Light came gently, and yet it blanketed over everything. Like a gigantic bright eye opening in the sky, the moon came into view, easily taking up a quarter of sky with its massive girth.
Tomorrow was standing it what seemed like a enormous church, with a wide open ceiling and rows and rows of pews running back to it in hundreds on hundreds of people. And the pews were indeed filled. Pale silver light cast itself through stain glass windows which stood mounted on high gothic walls of this archaic structure. The seating formed a large three hundred foot ring with Tomorrow at its center, the floor was made of some sort of white marble with a single symbol carved, filled with black and the glossed over. It was an empty skull, ornate and detailed with a jet black long sword pierced through its crown and out of the bottom of its jaw.
"Bring forth the armaments!" Called forth a booming voice from behind the Aesir. There, he would find a massive throne, easily ten to twelve feet high with a short set of stairs descending down to the circled floor. On the throne sat a man in jet black full plate armor. His helmet was open, but his face was missing. Black bled from the joints and openings in the armor like thick pitch smoke, and as the man spoke, the people fell absolutely silent.
Immediately figures were moving at the outskirts of the ring. They placed down tables filled with weaponry and armor. Long sword, short swords, axes, and worse. All black as obsidian, and yet all as potent as finest steel. And once the tables were set, the figures vanished. Tomorrow was left alone in this circle, at which point he might notice a certain detail. He had two arms, both normal in appearance and feel. And yet something about the replica limb might feel distant, even phantom.
The large armored figured stood, metal plates clanging loudly in the silent room. He drew a long and ornate black steel blade from his side, engravings and symbols drawn into its length shimmered in the silver lighting. He pointed it directly forward at Tomorrow and he said, "The trial is your life. An unbreakable bond between a shadowborne, and the Shadowfather. Your deeds and words here will mark your worth for the rest of your days. This is your oath, your blood, and your power for Him. Even in death shall its meaning never fade."
The man spoke with an accent, something not standard common, and thick. Rich royal purple light poured from where his eyes should be. His pause gave great weight to his words and then with an air of finality he said. "Are you prepared to begin, shadow-marked?"
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Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2011 4:20 am
John began to follow Walter, walking past where Maximos had sat - and spying something of his that Maxi had left. His pearl. Almost without breaking stride, John scooped it up and put it back in his pocket, patting it gently as he did - he needed to make sure this stayed safe. He had plans for it... John looked around as they walked through the manor, the decor a little....unsettling to him. It wasn't just the incumbent darkness that pervaded the entire manor - the lighting of the place just managed to keep John from checking his shoulder uncontrollably, his phobia only just kept in check - but it was the things that made no sense. Like the skulls that seemed to be looking at him every time they entered a room. That was just creepy. Was Max trying to unsettle him? Also, everything seemed to be the same, there was no individuality to any of the rooms or corridors - was that intentional? Maximos "I know what the Master has planned. And you shouldnt worry. Dont shy away from it, but try and listen without judging. I can tell you it means a great deal that he should share this with you. Ah, here we are." John grunted at that. Maxi had asked him time and time again to listen without judging. Which, of course, was impossible when it came to Maximos - John was very judgemental when it came to Maxi. However, due to the last four years, he had no leg to stand on to judge others. Plus, if Walter was correct, this mystery thing Maxi was about to show - or do - was close to his heart, or at least meant a lot to him. John didn't know what to make of it. He was utterly confused. And when Walter opened the door to reveal utter blackness, John took a tentative step back, his eyes wide as he looked the door up and down before looking away from it, looking over to a small corner table next to the door. "Whu..." Was all he got out, before Walter spoke up. Maximos "Please, enter. Try not to be alarmed." John thought to himself, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath...before stepping forward into the inky black tentatively. Opening his eyes, he saw nothing but void, his heart beginning to pound as he turned - To see Walter shutting the door, the last rim of light jutting from the doorjam before cutting out completely. Tomorrow's eyes were wide and his chest began to rise and fall, static flaring slightly from his chest as he tried to look around - but nothing but darkness, inky black. He turned his head, beginning to hyperventilate, but sitll, nothing...then the sounds of voices, speaking normally, but he was certain it was the start of his mind snapping once more, and as he span and yelled out, static flashed over his body, sparking and jittering, but no comfort was brought by the tiny light... ...Then light began to spill around him, like a fade in from a movie, and John's body began to relax as he blinked his eyes hard, rubbing them with his hands to make sure he was... Hands?!He looked down at his left arm, exactly the same as he remembered it, if not feeling a little....weird. He recognised every scar, every muscle, every blemish, and when he flexed his fingers and tightened up the bicep, it felt strong and powerful - his arm...but not. Something he couldn't quite put his finger on, even as he touched the arm with his other hand, feeling the warm flesh and even checking the pulse - steady as a locamotive, just like usual. He looked up to see he was standing in some kind of archaic church, the pews all organised to face him, and containing bodies, though he did not recognise their faces. This was where the aimless chatter was coming from, and before he could speak a loud voice boomed behind him. Maximos " Bring forth the armaments!" John whirled at the voice, spinning to see a normal sized man seated upon a throne - but he was no ordinary man, his body covered in armour but his skin nowhere to be seen, black smoke seeming to seep continuously from every join in his armour. The Aesir had never seen anything like it before, but it reminded John of how Maximos had been when they had first met - nothing but shadow trapped within a shell, liable to leak forth if penetrated too often. His fists balled and his feet spread, John watched uncertainly as shapes moved, bringing forth all manner of weapon and armour, causing his eyes to narrow - what was about to transpire here? Where had Maximos teleported him to? When the armoured man stood, John whirled back around to face him, hissing his breath out through his teeth as the man pointed his blade toward him and spoke. The man's accent was forgien to John, but held a distinct sense of aplomb - obviously a person of royal heritage. Maximos " The trial is your life. An unbreakable bond between a shadowborne, and the Shadowfather. Your deeds and words here will mark your worth for the rest of your days. This is your oath, your blood, and your power for Him. Even in death shall its meaning never fade." "Are you prepared to begin, shadow-marked?" Tomorrow held his left hand up hurriedly. "Wait!"His eyes were drawn to the hand for a moment, waiting to see if he had the dark knight's attention before lowering it. "...Before we begin this...trial, please tell me....are you Nocturne, the Shadow-God himself? Because if you are..." He drew in a short breath, steeling himself as he closed his eyes, summoning up the courage....before opening them, static flaring only once before his permafrost eyes locked upon the creature's purple haze. "I would have words with thee."
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Posted: Tue Mar 22, 2011 2:29 am
Silence loomed. As if Tomorrow's words carried some sort of smothering weight and no other sound could pierce the veil save for an answer to his question. The armored figure, dark and unearthly, did not respond. It stood with its sword aimed directly at the center of the tall Aesir's chest. The only proof that it was not some sort of shadowy statue was the slow heaving of the obsidian carapace it wore over its breast. And then, suddenly it stopped.
And then from behind the tall man came a small and honest voice. It carried none of the intensity and weight of the moment, but a sort of grim sort of strength born of a macabre and outlook on life and a fearless born not of bravery, but experience.
"That is not the Shadowfather. " Said that voice, bearing the same sort of foreign lean to its accent as the large armored figure. Johnathan would of course know the voice, if anything he said at the dinner table and in the garden was true, then it had most quite literally haunted his dreams. “We of his blood are unable to craft his likeness out of the shadows. ”
True to the sound, Maximos was standing behind Tomorrow. But not the sort of Maximos the Aesir had seen before. Gone was the fancy clothing, the stylized and perfect hair, the innocent and peaceful grin. Maximos wore a long black skirt which hung from his waist and trailed on the floor when he walked. And nothing else. His hair was wet and slicked backwards, and his eyes were both shut as if resting. For the first time, the vast majority of the markings covering his body were visible. There were no scars, instead his skin was a blank sort of paper white which made the thick black tattooed lines covering his entire upper body, stand out all the more. The array covering Max looked something like a cross between wisps of smoke caught in curlicue and frozen in motion, and licks of flame gone still in black forever. They ran a cross his chest, down both arms, up his neck and vanished into his hair only to peak out as tiny sharp edges from his hairline just as inversely marks vanished into the line of his skirt along his hips clearly running below, but not visible. He looked very literally much like a living canvas.
If Tomorrow turned he could see the line drawn from the armored figured sword was not pointing at the Aesir but through him to Maximos. The Shadow’s arms were raised slightly at either side as if presenting himself, and it seemed that in the moment before the pause the crowd was focused on the pale skinned Arian. And yet, not in awe and amazement but concern and even fear. “From the day we are old enough to hold a sword we spend our lives in training and preparation for this day. This is the trial in which every Shadowlander presents himself to the Shadowfather for judgement. To see if our lives were enough. ”
Maximos opened his eyes, and for the first time since his resurrection both were black. Not unnatural pools of nothingness, but a natural dark shade. “A Shadowlander is placed in uneven mortal combat against a will child of Luminous. Understand this was in the momentary lull of peace at the dawn of the second age. ”
The Shadow scoffed and shook his head, lowering his arms back to his sides. “Luminous’ children are like you John. They are the only ones marked with golden hair and eyes like the ocean or the sky. It seems only fitting, though I never noticed before. ”
Max shook his head, then looked down at the ground, at his open hands, and back to Tomorrow. “I have not asked much of you during our time together, Johnathan Tomorrow. Much has been required by my very presence, but not much has been outright requested. Until now. ”
The skirt moved like black silk stirring just slightly as Maximos took a single silent step forward and spoke in a soft yet serious tone. “I need you to do something for me John. Live this with me again. Learn the truth of the man you call your brother and friend. But most importantly, I need you to do what you do best. What we do best. ”
The Shadow took a deep breath and as he exhaled he said. “Fight me.”
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Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2011 7:14 am
Tomorrow stood firm, keeping his eyes locked on the dark knight. He truely hoped this was the Shadowfather, for if he was to die this day, then he would die knowing that he had tried his hardest to fulfill a promise he'd made... Then the voice came, and John's eyes went wide. There was no mirth in that voice, only an acceptance of what was about to occur, like a man who saw the bus just as he made the step off the curb. John turned his head first, his hair hanging low around his face as he spied his friend and brother. He had never seen Maximos like this, the markings on his body bizarre as well as familiar - John had seen ones like them recently... The initial look of Maximos had made a stab of fear dig into his stomach, John's memory spewing forth the mental image of the Monster in his mind...but he pushed it away with practise, realising to himself that this place was not the woods, but the Island, his brother's domain. He turned his head, looking from the knight to Maximos, realising that the knight had not addressed him, but had addressed Maximos. Turning his body slowly, he looked out to the crowd in the pews, seeing the fear and concern in their faces, and then Maximos' words struck him like a freight train. Maximos "We of his blood are unable to craft his likeness out of the shadows." John had not been transported to another reality - he had been placed in a room that contained Maximos' memories. Right now, Maximos was being forced to show his faith for his lord and god Nocturne. But why was he showing John this? Why had John been transported to the center, instead of at the pews, to spectate with the rest? And then Maximos told him. John's fists tightened as Maximos spoke, his jaw clenching, his face hidden by his long golden locks. Why would his brother put him through this? He'd just gotten through telling him that Luminous was a despicable character, taking freedom and free-will away from the people of Aria - now he was taking place of one of Luminous' children, seemingly a test of Maximos' worth, a test of his faith in his lord...and it burned John to be used like this. But...if an animal of light was what Maximos wanted, then that was what he would get. "...I dont want to do this, Maximos..." Tomorrow growled, his fists clenching and unclenching as he began to pace about like a restless lion. The muscles under his shirt jumping, his body seeming to pulse like it wanted to launch itself at his brother but was being kept tightly chained. His eyes began to spark, power flashing wildly from them as his azure gaze was swept under a sea of lightening. "But it seems, as ever, we must fight before revelation is due."He suddenly stopped his pacing, spreading his legs wide as he tore his shirt from his body, the material flying out of the circle as he brought his fists tight to his sides, bent forward and let out an almighty roar, the peasents in the pews gasping in horror as the sound reverberated around the great chapel, his heavily muscled torso tight and packed with power as Maximos' hair would ruffle and his skirt would flow from the sound of the roar alone. John's own tattoos, the scars of many battles, seemed luminous in this twilight - even their bodies seemed determined to contradict one another, Maximos with his pale skin, black markings, jet-black hair and dark eyes...John with his tan skin and white scars, long yellow-white hair and eyes that sparked electricity and light... His brother wanted an opponant to represent an agent of Luminous, and by the almighty AllFather, by Nocturne himself, Tomorrow would not dissapoint. He bent low and slapped the floor, rapping his palms against the mighty crown. "Come now!" He roared, static flashing over his body as he spoke. "Lets do this! By your god and mine, I will give you the challenge you desire!"
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Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2011 11:45 am
Tomorrow spoke, and Maximos listened. He let his request sink in, he let its meaning take root and maybe even be misconstrued but as this continued there would be no misconception. The Shadow dropped, slowly and with purpose to one knee. His skirt pooled around him like a small ocean of black, and as Tomorrow spoke, Maximos' lips began to move. He didnt actually speak a word or make a sound, but there was quiet intensity about his face, a focus on something unseen. And then he began to bleed. As Tomorrow spoke, Maximos' tattoos began to pucker, ooze and then bleed rivulets of black down his person. It was a quiet change, and the Shadow never once broke his concentration or mantra, but it was present. Maximos leaned forward, placing his palm flat in the center of the skull and sword insignia in the ground. As if his arm was a font, the black spooled and pooled lacing and swirling along his pale limb, following the paths of his markings as if they were engravings in stone. Black rushed over and between his fingers pooling on the ground, spreading in a perfect circle. The black dripped over Maximos' torso, and then black began to seep and spread across all visible pale white patches of flesh below his neck. Maximos left hand, now surrounded by swirling black sunk into the shadow as if it were a pit rather than a pool. The arm vanished all the way to the elbow. Tomorrow exploded, winds whipping and lashing. The thin wet black over his body thickened, dulled, and hardened like skin tight leather or perhaps mail. About his right arm, sharp edges and hard lines began to rise spanning from his shoulder all the way to his hand, a steel sort of gauntlet made of overlapping plates covering his sword arm entirely. " Come now!" He roared, static flashing over his body as he spoke. Maximos stood all at once, his arm wretched from the shadows bearing something large and black. A heavy kite shield, swathed in black. In the very same motion with which the shield was removed, the blackness itself cast forth a jet black obsidian b*****d sword. In a single fluid motion, Maximos snapped the shield to his side, casting off excess inky fluid and snatched the sword from the air slicing through the open space and bringing to bear at his side with the shield held high in front of his chest. His chant, just now audible even above the sound. " ...in war and abandonment. Be thou my shield and my sword. Be thou retribution, and I shall be your hand in the darkness! Light from the shadows! Death from the dying! Vengeance from the lost! " " Lets do this! By your god and mine, I will give you the challenge you desire!" The shield reacted before the shadow said a word, a single fierce point of violet and indigo igniting in its face and carving an ornate ring in the center of the steel plate and then above it a cross shape. Like a simplified version of the sword and skull design on the ground. The symbol of the Shadowlands. Maximos spoke in an even voice, calm, and yet potent. " And from the void shall rise only the pure..." "...I am prepared."
The dark knight behind the Aesir bellowed out in a thunderous voice, echoing through the shadows and shaking the halls.
"BEGIN!"
Maximos spared no time, sparks danced at the edge of his pitch eyes and then he charged with reckless abandon. Like a knight with no concern for safety or security he rushed at Tomorrow his shield raised in front of himself and his sword trailing behind he rushed straight at Tomorrow, roaring like a beast, as if he meant to bowl him over by sheer will alone.
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Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2011 1:57 pm
With the dark knight unleashing them, they charged.
Tomorrow's boots screeched on the polished floor as he took off, hands flat like blades as they swung by his sides, open and ready. His body was tight like hardwood, and with only two great strides he would clear the distance between them, static trailing from his eyes through his hair as he roared like the animal he was supposed to portray.
Coming to Maximos quickly, Tomorrow would not stop his forward motion, his hands outstrretched to grab at the large kite shield Maximos held out before him. Grabbing at it's edges, he would push forward, his superior strength and weight arresting and reversing Maximos' own charge - before he would suddenly plant his feet and twist his hips, looking to wrench the shield clean off Maximos' arm with enough power to send him flying clear across the ring if he kept a firm enough grip, roaring as he did, the sound echoing through the hall.
If he did end up tossing Maximos away, he would smash his fists into his chest, facing his brother as static washed off his torso. "Get rid of that thing, Max - it is not you!"
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