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 Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2010 7:37 pm
Ladon had only met one General, but he knew of another. A long time ago, he had a lunch break that was visited by Grendel, and splitting a sandwich, the two of them had talked about the Negaverse and, very briefly, a General that Ladon had only seen from his far away spot at the Negaverse HQ (far from the front), and the name that the Queen, both Nealite and then Beryl, had yelled. Obsidian. He had seen the red-adorn general bowing several times beside Linarite, his team leader, but he never met him. He was an older man, with a JOB, who was an ADULT, and was out of the world of high-school dynamics that Ladon lived in. Not that Ladon really had anything dynamic about his civilian life. It wasn't like he was the star quarterback dealing with a fussy cheerleading girlfriend while handling a drug addiction. No after school dramas for him.
So he had plenty of time on his hands, and used it to dedicate it to his other life. His life as Wolframite, but that didn't mean he couldn't meet others as Ladon. While Mr. Collins, former gym assistant at Meadowview was no longer working at his school, Ladon stuck around and heard talk that he was still in the process of leaving. With comas and the like, all transfers of faculty had been stopped as everyone dealt with more personal matters and school was shut down. With classes up and running once more, Ladon took the chance to hang around and see if he could meet a man he had never once crossed paths with.
As he waited, he remembered the General and his giant beetle youma, and the efficiently in which he killed the aliens from the Doom Tree. If this was what a General was like, Ladon could only feel giddy at the prospect of working hard till he reached (if he ever reached) such a goal.
Waiting, he looked out when he noticed a red head of hair and worked off the description of Drew Collins he got from a few students who once had him for gym class. First impression – well, the man looked tired.
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Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2010 7:48 pm
Packing up one life to move onto the next. It had been a generous request of the Queen that had him packing up his things from Meadowview, and he was expected to fill the shoes of Hillworth's mysteriously disappearing gym teacher. Was it so Beryl could keep an eye on him? Possibly, yes. Still, he didn't dare think he could understand her motives just yet, and would quietly obey her orders. For now.
With a box of what few trinkets he owned tucked under his arm, the man slipped out of his office. The door was locked one last time, and as he turned to go, he caught sight of the student who seemed to be waiting for him. The halls were mostly empty otherwise, and no one normally willingly came to see Mr. Collins unless they had to. Still, there was no dismissing the rumors that his personality had changed entirely--that it was because someone important to him had died, and that was why he was so somber now.
"Do you need something?" He inquired mildly, shifting the box a little more while waiting for a reply. Yes, he did look tired, but in a way that extended deeper than simple, physical exhaustion. Drew hadn't been taking care of himself lately. "The office can probably help you if you have questions." After all, he no longer belonged to Meadowview's academic staff.
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Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2010 8:00 pm
Ladon had been checking the hallways, being mindful of eavesdroppers and prying eyes. It was mistake to talk about the Negaverse in public, and even hushed whispered sometimes got you scolded by superiors or just very cautious equals. But Ladon was about learning and meeting people both in and out of uniform. He actually was making an effort of doing it more often. So many members died on their side and he often felt saddened to think that no one knew who they were in real life. There was also the appeal in breaking the business life and personal life barrier that most kept to, and he liked knowing who was on his team outside of their uniform. The world just seemed different when you saw one of your own in their normal clothes.
While Drew was dressed in nothing that would strike anyone was impressive, Ladon was seeing him in that magic glitter of admiration and the knowledge that before him was another General – a person he hoped to one day be like. Despite being more somber, tired, and just not too thrilled about dealing with a random student, Ladon could see that Drew took care of himself by how physical fit he was – and BOY was he tall! Seeing as Charonite and Nealite had also been rather tall people, he was quickly started to feel that great people tended to have a tall gene and somehow talent and skill were indicated by height. Of course he wasn't about to tell anyone this.
While Drew only offered the office if he needed assistance, Ladon shook his head and offered his hand to him. "My name is Ladon Shepard. You don't know me, but …I've seen you before. In….your other clothes." He was trying to be subtle with his hints. "…the red and black ones with the big sword." He smiled, hoping Drew would catch on. "I've wanted to meet you for a long time. Do you need any help with that?" He pointed to the box.
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Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2010 8:08 pm
Ladon Shepard. Mindlessly, he accepted the handshake, offering a firm, if calloused grip before he allowed his hand to drop. When the boy brought up his 'other attire', Drew suddenly went very still. He was calculating in that very moment on what to do, if this boy was potentially a threat, and only moved again when the offer came to relieve the box from his person. "No. I'm fine." Came the toneless response, and the man began to take slow strides, long legs starting a pace that Ladon could easily keep up with.
The eye-patch was what drew him in first; he'd dismissed it originally as an accident, something typical that seemed to happen to people all throughout their lives. Now he was wondering if a fight had caused it--and not the sort that occasionally broke out on playgrounds.
"I see." He finally seemed to respond to the boy's first comment after a long moment of silence, watching him now through fiery bangs. "Why'd you seek me out today, Ladon?" He was curious, if a little distant, but would indulge the other for now.
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Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2010 8:19 pm
It was considerate that Mr. Drew Collins noted is height and was walking in way that wouldn't leave him sprinting after him just to keep up. It did mean he walked a little faster, but the pace was good and he was glad for it. In no way did he feel snubbed by the taller man for not holding his box, but continued walking side by side, glad that his oh-so-amazing clues (he spent some time thinking of a way to say what he was without saying the 'N' word) had been received.
Maybe he should have thought less about subtle clues and more about reasons, as he was left quiet for a moment and a little flustered to think WHY he was here. "Well, I heard you were leaving and I wanted to meet you before you went and I'm not the type of person who would be sent to Hillworth so I thought right now was best." He said in one long breath. Yeah, nerves. He suddenly felt as if he was bothering the man, but continued to try and justify why he was bothering him. "Grendel told me once about you and that you went here, and I always was meaning to meet with you but I didn't have a class with you." Oh, Ladon. He doesn't want to know about your schedule. Get to the point! "I admire you a lot and wanted to meet you, to find out more about you, and just to make an introduction. So yeah, …hi." Well that was grand. he didn't want to come off as a creeper who wanted to gush and learn more about what he could do to be a better Captain.
"Are you sure you don't need any help with that box?"
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Posted: Thu Nov 04, 2010 12:36 pm
Grendel, huh. The man's lips twitched into a mirthless smile, and he had to wonder what exactly the corrupted guardian had said about him. Whatever it had been, clearly it wasn't nasty enough to drive Ladon off for good. "I see." Maybe it was in Ladon's best interests to meet with him out of uniform so there'd be no unpleasant repercussions if things hadn't gone as he'd planned. That made the most sense to Drew, and he tucked that knowledge away in the back of his mind for now.
"You were promoted recently." The man mused; word spread quickly enough around the Negaverse, but he had only recently come out of his self-inflicted seclusion in order to listen. So young, and the boy was already a Captain. Beryl must have had good reason--or was starting to grow careless with her soldiers. One lost could be replaced by many more.
"I'm sure." There was a faint quirk of his lips, and the man paused by the office on the way out to drop his keys off before turning to face Ladon. "I'm sure you have class to get to. ...However, our conversation could be continued elsewhere, if you'd prefer." In a safer, more discreet location, nevertheless. "Do you have anything to do after school?"
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Posted: Thu Nov 04, 2010 1:12 pm
Like most people more higher ranking than he was, Mr. Collins really didn't say much. He was to the point, but at least, unlike Charonite, he didn't swear. He had been hoping their talk would be a little ….fuller, but he was getting the impression he was just pestering the man and the former-gym teacher was looking for a way to shake off the teen. With anything to occupy his nerves, he was left adjusting the lengths of the tassels on his Meadowview uniform – to which he quickly let go of when he was spoken to.
"Yes. I just go promoted to Ca-" He stopped, knowing that saying that much would be dangerous at school. "Uh, the C rank." He said, hoping that was okay enough. Not only did he want to talk to General Obsidian, he knew that he might be judged poorly by his superior if he made himself look like a moron who didn't know proper procedures – one being no talking about the Negaverse outside of uniform.
It was the invitation to talk elsewhere that really made him beam, and he nodded before saying a very excited, "Yes. I have class, but I can see you after school. I know a really quiet place." To this he picked a place, trying his best to tell Obsidian of the place in the woods where he often trained and visited.
"I'll see you there." He said, and looking about, made his way to class. Sure, he was super late, but who the hell cared?!
**********
The place was a small clearing in the woods. Quiet, dark, and out of the way. The only light came from a portable, battery-operated lamp that Wolframite brought with him as he teleported to the spot. The place was the same as ever, untouched save for a select few. One being Charonite, who had buried team Tra-La here, and Wolframite, who had requested to be brought here ages ago.
The graves were unnoticeable now, save for a pile of rocks Wolfram had done himself, finding it a shame to just forget that there were people here. On a log was a few beaten soda cans, nicked and scratched , along with a few torn trees. This was his training ground, where he worked with his new weapon without fear of being attacked. It was a nice, quiet haven.
He set the lamp down and waited for Obsidian, breathing deep. Halloween was over and the air was crisp and chill. Dark clouds moved past a waning moon.
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Posted: Thu Nov 04, 2010 3:04 pm
Graveyards. He'd been visiting more of those in the past few weeks than he had his entire life, recently. The instructions the boy had given him had been concise and simple, and only the sound of the General's boots filled the clearing as he picked his way among the silent and somber stones. No tombstones--no names to ever recognize and remember the fallen who lay here, but the warning was clear enough to remind any who ever had the misfortune to bury comrades here; this was no game.
"Captain Wolframite." He named the boy who was clearly waiting for him, and ignored the bite of the wind that rustled his cape. A glance took in the other's attire and though he seemed thoughtful, he said nothing. Business was business, and he intended to get straight to the point, just as he had before. "Have you been taught to summon your youma yet?"
It was a useful tool, the personal youmas. Many a time Garbdis had helped him turn the tide of battle, though he had never enjoyed relying on the beast. Perhaps Wolframite's would keep him from losing his other eye--or something more vital.
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Posted: Thu Nov 04, 2010 6:33 pm
He had waited and with a light rustle, he saw the dark figure of the General approach. As far as uniforms went, they were opposites. While they both had a military feel, the designs spoke more than words. Obsidian was dressed for a fight, with cape, shoulder guard, and open sleeves that allowed freedom of movement and yet a class that came from those of rank. Those who had done something, earned something through years of experience, and had the smallest details to show that they had been there, and they had concerned. It was his face that said something else – all of which Wolfram could not even begin to guess. He did not know Mr. Drew Collins or General Obsidian. Is life, his history, the fact he cut his hair, were things he did not know. Any inner struggles or questioning was not even something Wolfram would guess, as all he saw was a perfect image of a General. Curt, emotionless, to the point, commanding respect, tall, fit, older, accomplished, and unflinching. He seemed not to care yet was here to guide him – even if Ladon had never mentioned it. Ladon had only wanted to meet him, but was swelling with inner glee that the General was diving straight into inquiring how much he could do.
"I only summoned my youma once…to try it out. I…" How did his phrase this. "…would rather not use one." Youmas were created from people, and yet could be created from someone who ate too many starseeds. The idea that a Negaverser could become a Nega, twist and deform into a monster, and feed off of starseeds from people deeply troubled him. Youma were not something he liked, and while they were necessary in helping the Negaverse had an edge due to their smaller numbers, he wished they didn't need them. In short, they freaked him out.
He had tried once to summon his youma because he was curious about his new powers and rewards but quickly dismissed the beast. It didn't seem thrilled to be with him and he shared the same distaste in owning it. While Obsidian seemed to have a great command of his giant Beetle, a beast that had torn and eaten aliens before Wolfram's very eyes, the Captain wasn't too sure about his youma. He'd rather it just stayed locked away and he could rely on his own power.
"I had used youma before, when lieutenants were allowed for a short while. I find that it's not good to rely on them. The tend to just be distractions." And they gave a false sense of safety in having backup. They usually died.
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