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 Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2016 11:49 am
There were no more starseeds, which was both a problem and a relief all at once. In spite of the fact that Wolfeite had cut severely back on his addiction to them, the cravings were hard to push aside and it was better for all if his supplies were limited. Smoking filled some of the void left behind, but every now and then it was too much to ignore.
He stood now in the streets of Destiny City, the fallen body of a man lying nestled against a secluded stairwell on the side of a building. The little, glowing orb rested in the palm of Wolfeite's gloved hand, and he stared at it with golden eyes, wondering if he should eat it now or save it for later.
It was dark enough and late enough that no one was around. Wolfeite stepped away from the man and left him where he was, moving silently and efficiently through the shadowy roads, his fingers closing around the starseed, still wavering on his decision.
He still had a few more hours to go before he had to return to the Rift or to Chase's house. Maybe he could find more energy.
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Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2016 1:12 pm
Labyrinthite had not been spending much time with his recruits recently, because he'd been dealing with personal issues that were far too complicated to bring any of them into. Still, after learning that Domeykite had suffered an injury severe enough to warrant bed rest, the reaper-meets-wonderland themed general decided it was time to check up on all of his.
He'd already arranged a meeting with Aue, far easier when making use of the the pay-as-you-go phone he'd been given.
The others were a bit trickier, but Labyrinthite was nothing if not determined and he intended to seek every one of them out. And, upon finding that Wolfeite was not in his den, Labyrinthite took a night off from his perch and sought the half-breed captain.
They'd been weening him off of starseed and he was certain that likely left the wolf irritable and more prone to violence than usual. That was exactly what the general was hoping for as he embarked on the streets of the city, senses searching for the signature of a half-youma captain. In that moment, he wished he had easier ways of tracking his pack, but that was something he could look into later.
So, the general walked drifting from rooftop to rooftop until he found him.
His mouth twisted into a grin, white teeth glistening and sharp in the dark of the night when he dropped near Wolfeite. "I was wondering where you ran off to."
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Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2016 1:23 pm
He felt the shifting of the air like a wind; a power signature, strong and clear and right above him, though Wolfeite didn't startle like many others would. As the general dropped down, appearing with a quiet thump and a rustling of his black cloak, Wolfeite's golden gaze rose, meeting Labyrinthite's with an expression of mingled annoyance and resignation.
Gloved fingers curled a little more tightly around the starseed.
"I thought I would take a little stroll," said Wolfeite, voice slightly muffled behind the kerchief, pulled up around the lower half of his face the way he usually kept it when he was not fighting. His tone was a mixture of sarcasm and flat honesty, because Wolfeite saw little point in lying; this time, or any time.
He glanced down at the glowing orb in his palm and then back up at Labyrinthite, eyes slightly narrowed.
"What can I do for you, General?"
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Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2016 1:43 pm
A tsk of disappointment left him as he reduced the space between them, sharp eyes taking note of the tightly curled fists. "Always so defiant aren't we?" He sounded amused, but Wolfeite would know better. His gaze lifted, met almost matching ones surrounded in black.
"I didn't know you were capable of restraint." Labyrinthite taunted, his left hand coming to rest on the other man's shoulder and gloved fingers dug into the black and red fabric. "Perhaps your lessons are paying off."
While stoic outwardly, Labyrinthite was pleased that the starseed consumption had receded. He felt that Wolfeite would be a better, stronger, when he learned to function without them. They helped, to a degree, but it was all temporary and Labyrinthite expected permanent strength and capabilities from his soldiers.
What can I do for you, General?
Impossible was it to miss the hiss in Wolfeite's tone, to see that he was annoyed by his general's presence. After all, it reminded the captain he had to submit and bend.
"I'm checking in on you," Labyrinthite said easily. "Come on pup, didn't you miss me?"
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Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2016 1:55 pm
His hand tightened around the starseed as Labyrinthite drew nearer; always so tense between them, like a fire that would never go out; a mixture of heat and anger and sparks and power that would flicker ever on. Wolfeite lifted his head, refusing to lower his gaze even as the general's hand dug into his shoulder.
The mocking tone made a ripple of fury pass through him. Wolfeite glowered.
"I'm capable of more than you think I am," he snapped, and shoved the starseed into his pocket and out of sight. He was not about to give into Labyrinthite's games, his attempts at intimidation, though he knew, all too well, the hold the other man had on him and he loathed it.
Wolfeite's tail flicked like a snake behind him, sharp lashing movements. His ears were flattened down against his hair, and he remained stiffly still, though the urge to slap Labyrinthite's hand away from him was stronger than he had thought it would be.
"I think you've mistaken me for someone else if you think I missed you," said Wolfeite in a low growl.
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Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2016 7:21 pm
"Don't think I would do something as trivial as underestimate you," Labyrinthite snapped, leaning forward so his mouth was close to Wolfeite's ear. "But you would do well to remember not to underestimate me." The hand on his shoulder dropped to tug cruelly at his tail.
Labyrinthite felt smug when Wolfeite pocketed the starseed.
"You appear to have idle energy to burn," he commented, walking around until he stood before the captain instead of looming behind him. It wasn't nearly as effective since they were the same height, even though he was certainly more imposing.
Wolfeite was strong, lean muscle and feral strength but Labyrinthite's own uniform hid the definition of muscle in his arms, the rippling of definition across his stomach, and years of training and combat. "Ah, the sarcasm was rich pup," the general laughed, deep and dark. "I don't expect you to miss me." But he did expect Wolfeite to respect him. Perhaps even want what almost always inevitably came after.
"We should burn that restlessness." Labyrinthite decided. "I want to test your new found strength, see what the beast has to offer you."
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Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2016 8:13 pm
He bristled immediately at the close range, hating the hiss of Labyrinthite's voice in his ear almost the same amount as the words he was speaking. A strong desire to snap at the general had to be bitten down, swallowed hard, though it reared its ugly head the second Labyrinthite tugged at his tail.
A low growl passed through him, torn from his throat, and Wolfeite's lips drew back in a snarl. At his sides, his hands clenched into fists, curled fingers into the palms of his gloves, and every part of him was rigid with tension. There were very few who could provoke this sort of reaction from him, and Labyrinthite knew all too well that he was one of those few.
"And who's fault is that?" he half spat, answering the question about idle energy. Even if he knew that there was good reason for not consuming as many starseeds as he had been, it left him irritable and snappish, jittery with a tension he had difficulty controlling.
His golden eyes lifted, staring resolutely at Labyrinthite.
"And what," said Wolfeite, in a voice of forced calm, "exactly do you propose, dear General?"
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Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2016 9:08 pm
Amused was the expression he wore when his wolf snarled. The display of discontent, irritation, didn't phase him and only served to encourage him to keep pushing. "I can handle it, if that's what you'd prefer," he offered, reaching for a furred ear and running his thumb along the inside while his fingers stroked the furry side.
"Curb the addiction and you'll be stronger in the aftermath. What does it mean for you, to be controlled by a need to consume something as meaningless as an orb or gem compromised of energy and soul?" He asked, fingers drifting through dark locks and toying with the kerchief around Wolfeite's mouth. "Here you can control it, before it controls you."
"Don't you want to control instead of being controlled?"
As always, it seemed he knew exactly how to taunt his subordinate.
"A spar. Training to see how you've progressed since...last time." Where Chase had easily bested and disarmed the lieutenant. "I'm curious to see if you are a wolf or merely a mutt," he sneered, leaning dangerously close when he moved to hook his forefinger beneath the half-youma's chin. "No restraint, completely wild. Aftercare depending on how you fare."
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Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2016 10:03 pm
A thrum raced through Wolfeite at the touch to his ear, instinctive and hated. His head jerked a little, though he couldn't quite manage to pull away, anger flashing hot across his face, eyes glowing gold with a barely suppressed rage that simmered at the surface of his thoughts.
Labyrinthite's hands were taunting as they slid into his hair, tugged at the kerchief. It was loose; it slid down with the smallest touch, and Wolfeite's teeth were bared beneath it, sharp and white in contrast to the darkness of everything else about him.
Labyrinthite knew. He knew and he was using it against him.
Because he knew it would work.
Wolfeite felt the humiliation of having his head tilted up, Labyrinthite's gaze as sharp as his words. Everything felt like a fire, cold and hot simultaneously, and a snarl escaped before he could stop it.
"Fine," Wolfeite spat, and every instinct of him wanted to sink his teeth into Labyrinthite, his claws, every part of him until there was nothing left but the need for power and the desire for more. "A spar. I will do as you ask, General."
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Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2016 10:15 pm
Now that Labyrinthite knew there was no reason for him to keep from exploiting it. Unfortunate for Wolfeite, immensely beneficial for the general. Something about the bared teeth brought a smirk to the man's face as his gold meet opposing gold.
How satisfying it was to watch the half-breed squirm.
"Do you think your time and energy is better expended elsewhere?" He asked, thumb lifting to press into his jawline. "You act as though this is a chore. I expect better. More, from you." Labyrinthite had always been clear about his high expectations and his unruly wolf was no exception. He had picked Archer because of a suggestion from another lieutenant but he'd corrupted him because he saw raw potential and he refused to see it wasted.
Wolfeite was his and he would learn his place.
"Come, pup," he ordered gripping the front of the other man's shirt and pulling him along unforgivingly. There was an empty lot not far from where they were standing. The lamps had long since burned out and the area neglected, it was likely they would be unbothered and if they were -
Well he had no issues teleporting them elsewhere.
Upon arrival he let go, shoved the captain before him before sliding effortlessly into a relaxed fighting stance. "So me the strength you think you possess pup."
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Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2016 1:45 pm
If he'd thought he could ever walk away, he knew it was fruitless. There were times in which Wolfeite had a desire to rip and tear until there was nothing left of Labyrinthite, but there was no getting free of this, and they both knew it. No matter how much of a fight Wolfeite put up, no matter how much of a struggle he fought, he would always, always come back.
Because he couldn't help himself. Because Labyrinthite had what he needed, and now they were irrevocably tied together.
Labyrinthite's fingers on his jaw made his teeth clench, Wolfeite stiffening. His feet moved automatically as the general dragged him forward, and he had to resist the urge to rip himself free, instead following along like an obedient dog - a metaphor that seemed particularly apt.
It was galling. It was humiliating.
One day I will get rid of this inside of me.
Staggering slightly from the push, Wolfeite regained his footing, growling low in his throat. His fists, already clenched, were raised, and he did not need Labrinthite's provocation. Wolfeite leapt forward with a snarl, throwing a punch in the direction of the general's smirking face.
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Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2016 2:04 pm
It was not in his nature to take joy in humiliating his subordinates, but there was something unique about Wolfeite and in the end, doing so allowed him to control the wild thing more efficiently. Growth was important, understanding the importance of respect and strength was another. Wolfeite was the first he had to reprimand for lack of respect but something told the general that he would not be the last one.
It was the folly of youth and ignorance, of which the newly turned often had in abundance.
Wolfeite would learn, they all would, because their general was a force to be reckoned with.
Labyrinthite's eyes never left the half-youma's form and his body shifted to accommodate the lunge and the fist that accompanied it. A foot slid back as his gloved hand lifted, catching the fist before it was close enough to achieve impact. While the blow was halted, Labyrinthite did slide back slightly.
"Pathetic," he spat twisting the arm out. "I expect better." He released and stepped back. "Try again."
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Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2016 2:11 pm
He was angry that he had missed, his feet skidding on the pavement. Wolfeite's fist slammed into Labyrinthite's palm, feeling the gloved fingers wrap securely around his own, the impact lessened by the fact that the general had been ready and waiting for him. They both slid a little, Wolfeite snarling.
I expect better. Always the same always the thing that rattled Wolfeite the most.
Ears still flattened back against his head, Wolfeite regained his footing and lunged forward once more. Being weaponless did not make Labyrinthite any less experienced or any less strong; if anything, his ability to wield the scythe stemmed from years of training and simple brute force that was now being put to use against him.
"b*****d," Wolfeite hissed through gritted teeth, and this time he twisted his body, aiming his fist low in the direction of Labyrinthite's stomach.
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Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2016 2:17 pm
Hand to hand combat, with or without his scythe; it was all the same to the general. Years of sparring, training, and spilled blood meant that he knew how to wield his weapon efficiently; whether that meant his blade or his body.
It helped, the strength and power that chaos afforded him but all in all, what was besting Wolfeite was the man beneath the power.
The youma-side made the captain more dangerous than someone normal of equal rank, but it didn't seem to phase Labyrinthite. Not even when the fist connected with his stomach and he bent slightly, bare hand grabbing the wrist of the offending fist and other one grasping at a shoulder and twisting to throw Wolfeite down by the torso.
"Child's play," he remarked looking no worse for the wear. It was unclear if he'd been hit because Wolfeite did well or if it was because he'd let it happen. "Where is your strength?" He said.
Release your beast, is what he meant instead.
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Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2016 4:17 pm
He wanted to win so badly that the thought of losing was like a sickness that clogged his throat, buried his mind in blackness and anger and frustration. It consumed him, an obsession that made him want to sink his teeth into Labyrinthite and tear him limb from limb.
His fist made contact, but Labyrinthite had grabbed him, and in one swift movement had thrown him. Wolfeite's back slammed into the ground, winding him momentarily, and he stared up into the mocking face of his general, the hateful eyes that were a few shades lighter than his own and with more brown in his than the burning gold of his own.
A roar escaped Wolfeite, torn from somewhere deep inside of his throat, rattling in his chest as he lay there on the ground. He swung his lower body up, legs swinging as he aimed a vicious kick towards Labyrinthite's head, snapping his hand free to balance ******** you," Wolfeite snarled. <********. You."
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