|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2017 7:02 pm
Arseno sighed as he waited around for the appointed time. Although he was a bit nervous. Not because he was meeting his new charge, but more because he was supposed to teleport the lieutenant here, which he had never done before. He had asked about it, and he figured he knew how to do it, but he hadn't been able to practice it yet. It's not like lieutenants were lining up to volunteer for practice teleporting to some random location. He would do his best though, and if he couldn't do it, he would contact Faustite and they could probably meet somewhere else.
He looked up at one of the tall trees in the park, now finally full of leaves, which was obscuring the youma that was sitting in there, staring at him once again. Odon apparently preferred to stay hidden, whether it was to sneak up on opponents, or to sneak up on Arseno and try to take his hood. He had decided to bring the youma, just to show the lieutenant. Well, that and he had to do some energy draining on Earth with the youma sometime. Odon was styaing quiet though, having been able to snack on some energy from the squirrels he had found near his perch.
Arseno hadn't really planned anything at this point. After all, if they didn't even want to see each other after this first meeting, what would be the point? And he would have more time to do it after finals anyway. But his main goal this time was trying to see if he could convince Faustite to meet his energy quota.
He sighed again, taking another look around the dark park. He had never really been creeped out by it, after all, he had stayed late quite a few times to practice soccer. Though he did appreciate the difference between winter and spring that was finally starting to show. And he could actually go outside without feeling like he needed to put on 3 or 4 more layers so his nose wouldn't fall off. It was nice to see all of the life come back to the plants out here. And that was one thing that he wished to see stay. Unfortunately, the people of this planet had decided that they would rather destroy it than actually try to take care of it. All because of greed. And the White Moon certainly didn't seem to be wanting to do anything about it either. Didn't they have Earth knights? Where were they when this was-!
He caught himself. Now was not the time to think about this sort of thing. He looked at his watch again, and noticed that it was finally time for the two of them to meet, and so Arseno concentrated, trying his best to teleport the lieutenant to him.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2017 6:29 pm
Elex was acutely aware that he needed to meet a captain in a mere five minutes, but found no gaps in his daily routines that allowed him to sneak away from ordinary duties. His mother held him in the clutches of house arrest that day, doomed to help their pair of servants with cleaning duties as punishment for his frequent delinquency, and his father scheduled an appointment with a psychologist during the exact time block that he needed for meeting with said captain. As of yet, Elex knew of no way to be in two places at once. If given the choice, he vastly preferred the escape to the meeting with the captain.
So Elex stood, undeniably trapped, on the parge dining room space. Before him stood the curio cabinet housing some of their wedding china, which his mother wanted polished and cleaned up in the advent of his cousin's visit to the area. He wanted to think that his displeasure with such a mess reached the other man telepathically, for as soon as he inserted the cabinet key into its silver locking mechanism, he found the room wholly transformed.
Great cherry trees grew where the chairs once stood, and the rolling, grassy hills replaced wallpapered walls and a picture window. The air no longer smelled of his mother's lingering perfume, but of the burgeoning blooms that brought forth signs of spring. The sunlight proved quite bright, even in the shade, and Elex needed to shield his eyes as he adjusted to the sights around him. He surmised that the man bearing a cross between a priest and a plague doctor's attire was the captain in question, and Elex himself was hardly dressed for the affair. A thought brought forth his alter ego, however, and he swallowed down any excuses.
Umber never left him room to plead his case; he supposed this man might not, either.
"You must be Arsenopyrite." Faustite dropped his hand from shielding his eyes and crossed his arms behind his back. His heart still beat mercilessly against his chest as he anticipated some kind of response from the captain - be it anger, resentment, or blissful dismissal of Faustite's failure to arrive on time.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2017 8:00 pm
Arseno really didn't care that the lieutenant was late. That was why he had planned a time where they would have a while to be able to talk, though he wouldn't keep Odon here if it wanted to leave. After a bit, Arseno nodded slowly. "Yes. It's good to meet you Faustite." He said as he held out a hand. They didn't have to be so formal, after all, Arseno could still hardly believe that he was in such a position. He wasn't exactly sure what to say next. While he could be a good leader in his civilian life, the Negaverse was a different story, one that still intimidated him.
"From now on I'm going to... help you with your Negaverse duties. And of course that would include fighting, draining energy, etc. And trying to answer any questions you may have. I can tell you a little bit about myself if you need it." And there he was, babbling. The lieutenant probably though of him as an idiot, but he had never been in-charge of someone like this before. Sure, he had babysat his brother a few times, but they had grown up together.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Apr 21, 2017 5:12 pm
Faustite removed a hand for the proferred shake, and gripped Arsenopyrite's in a mild hold. He placed no great hardiness into the action, preferring a more reserved shake. He remembered, then, all the etiquettes and theories behind a man's handshake and how such a simple gesture spelled the entire personality of the man to those involved - as if posture and cadence said nothing at all. But all those thoughts and chidings and lessons on putting forth his best falsehood couldn't follow him here - not where the surname of Yorke meant nothing in the ranks.
"Please," he responded with trained courtesy. "Umber only told me that I'd be assigned to a new captain. Everything else about you is a mystery to me." Are you any different than him? What kind of life do you lead outside of your uniform?
And what do you do with all that power?
A slow awareness built within him as he acclimated to the area - being pulled through space and time left him disjointed twice now - and he came to understand a vague distinction between the auric energy before him and a second source. At first, he considered them as one, but he grew increasingly suspicious of a second existence. His gaze left the captain and roamed over the surrounding brush, half-expecting a second face among the branches. He found nothing of the sort, though his brows furrowed as he identified an oddity that perched among new leaves. "What is that?" He asked as he pointed up toward the tops of the trees.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Apr 21, 2017 7:59 pm
The handshake was good enough. Not too tight or too enthusiastic, and also not too weak. It was definitely what he would consider neutral. The kid was cautious. That's good. Arseno thought for a moment, wondering what kind of information he should give the lieutenant. "All right, I'll start with the fact that I've been a part of the Negaverse for a little over a year. I didn't voluntarily join, I was forced into all of this, so I understand if you have some... reservations about what you're doing." He had told others so many times, it's not as if it were a huge secret. "You would be the first Lieutenant under me, so unfortunately you're going to be the experimental one, though don't worry, I don't plan on being punishing to you. I want to help you."
He nodded to Faustite. "Well, you're certainly better than I was a lieutenant." He felt a pang of jealousy. His general really hadn't taught him that much. "That up there is a youma called Odon. He... is suspicious, and mostly likes to greet people by swooping at their head." He could only feel Odon 'hmphing' at the description, but the youma ultimately decided to stay put. "He... doesn't like the light too much. But I brought him in case you wanted to see what you can do with a youma."
He paused, letting the lieutenant take in all of the information, though it wasn't a whole lot. "If you have any more questions, please ask."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Apr 22, 2017 5:27 pm
As he waited for the coming tales, Faustite returned his hands to behind his back. There, they wrung into one another with a wariness of the otherworldly companion kept by the captain. He eyed it frequently, half-expecting it to dart from the branches, screeching its derision, and rend him for his dissenting opinions. Paranoia distracted him so, he found.
"I don't know anything about youma," he answered abruptly. The response wasn't a lie; the Negaverse training guide offered little knowledge of the creatures beyond rudimentary descriptions and acknowledgement of an alliance. They looked as monsters, most certainly, for this creature looked upon him with a beady red hole for an eye, and he thought he felt an air of malice from its blasted-out skull. It looked otherworldly in a manner not restricted to its appearance, but the very fabric of its making - like the creature was forged from the depths of a fantasy novel and loosed into their reality without a care for the repercussions.
He decided, then, that he disliked their ilk. Perhaps they lacked the plaguey state of men, existing as they did, but he doubted that they rose above plain derision.
His disappointment in hearing the captain's tale reached his expression, and a thin scowl formed on boyish lips. "That's the story of the uniform," he responded with an edge, "not the story of the man wearing it. So you've been around for a year. Good for you. Everybody loves an obedient soldier. Someone who's willing to drain the life out of strangers. Someone who's able to ally with monsters. Someone who's ready to tear the souls out of everyone who stands against the Cause." He delivered the lot of it with a careful, neutral tone. He watched Arsenopyrite keenly, waiting for the brandish of a weapon or the raise of a hand. Waiting for the objections that he so expected. "But I'm not interested in the history of a job."
Faustite spoke out of turn, he knew but he did so within reason - just as he did with Umber. He waited afterward, breath held and curiosity on edge, for some manner of response. Who was Arsenopyrite beyond the tawdry file?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Apr 22, 2017 6:33 pm
Arseno raised an eyebrow. Interesting. This kid was definitely a lot more willing to be defiant against the Negaverse. It was definitely different. He liked it, though mainly because this kid could express how he felt without, apparently, care about any repercussions. Though he was a little blunt for him. He would just have to get used to it.
The sun was finally setting a bit more, with the night sky overtaking the light blue that usually hung about during the day, though Odon still did not move, not yet at least. "Youma are made from chaos, which is of course what powers us. They used to be human. Whether they are agents are just plain civilians, if they are fed enough, or if enough chaos is forced in them, they will change into youma. Though civilians change into Feral youma, which Odon is. And agents are turned into Humanoid youma, who tend to be able to understand and communicate more compared to Feral youma. Then there are Greater youma who are made from General-Kings/Queens. They all feed on energy, though I believe they prefer starseeds. Unfortunately, I can't say I know a whole lot about them. I've met a few humanoid ones, they do give off a bit of a creepy feeling, but it's kind of amazing how some of them look." Like that one humanoid youma he talked to that looked like some sort of deer centaur. It was hard to believe that she would be considered such a monster.
He sighed, not sure how much information he could give the lieutenant. "I'm not going to give you who I am, not just yet. Unfortunately, getting into the Negaverse, I've grown a bit paranoid as to who knows who I am. I have people to protect by staying, and if I have even an inkling that someone would be willing to go and squeal to the higher ups as to who is precious to me to be able to use against me to force me to do things I would rather not to, I will not hesitate to make their lives miserable." He practically snarled that out, though kept himself from yelling. He had seen too many other agents he wouldn't let know what his first, extremely common, name was let alone who he was in real life.
"I've had to question myself many times about what I'm doing, but the Negaverse has practically taken over the planet. Of course, I haven't seen anything that would convince me to go to the other side either. But the point is, is that I can't really tell you about myself yet, and I don't expect you to tell me about yourself, unless you are willing. Though there are many in the Negaverse who keep secrets, so don't be surprised if you feel as though they aren't telling you everything." He rubbed his temple a bit. He needed to calm himself down.
"I need you to be gathering energy, whether you agree with it or not. If you are truly so opposed to using it because of moral reasons, I would go after people who could possibly deserve it. There was many a robber that I drained from when I first started. No one said you had to go up to someone who was innocent and drain them instead of others."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2017 10:34 am
Faustite's scowl deepened as the captain denied him even a scrap of information about himself personally. "You've seen who I am. You saw my face. It's not hard to figure out who my family is from there. Are you saying you're above that?" He smirked, his gaze alight with dark humor. "Captain Arsenopyrite, the Negaverse's perfect soldier. So well-pinned he is with the threat of his people's death that he can't possibly conceive of plying an even trade with a lieutenant. You already laid down in that coffin, Arsenopyrite. The only difference is, you're the one holding yourself hostage.
"Man sees in the world what he carries in his heart. So what do you see? Opportunism? Betrayal?"
Who do you think you are? Why would the Negaverse find you so compellingly useful, so integral to their operation, that they would go to such lengths to bar your leave? Why would one man be worth all the manpower of tracking down his family and pinning them forever under a blade? Are these delusions of grandeur, or have you acually earned a place among murderers and thieves? What a place it is, I imagine.
Make a good show of it, for their sake. They look like they need it.
"If you can't really tell me about yourself yet, then I can't really take you seriously. You're nothing but a name and a uniform." A name and a uniform that thinks the sum total of his being resides in a name. Faustite started into a pace perpendicular to the captain, his arms clasped behind his back, and his scowl perpetually frozen over boyish features. "Put that paranoid mind of yours to work. Say I wanted to rat you out. What good is it to anyone if all I had to say was that you loved chess? That your favorite memories were of a European sunrise? What good are those facts to headhunters?" Faustite shot him a look to ensure that the captain still listened to his diatribe, though he paused instead. Something in Arsenopyrite's visage deepened his disgust.
"No - you've told me enough. I don't want to know a man who can look at the wreckage of human life and call it amazing. The Negaverse makes monsters out of men - and only the youma are lucky enough to be aware of it. You want me to drain energy under the pretense that murderers and rapists and thieves deserve it. But even they have rights, don't they? Fascinating how all the world becomes your oyster when you're given the power to force it open." Faustite scoffed, then turned his back wholesale on the captain. He started back through the trees, away from the blown out face of the youma crowning one of the branches, away from the captain that stood strong in his false righteousness.
"You're no mentor of mine."ssbrosb arseno can stop him if he wants!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2017 8:57 pm
Arseno sighed internally as he watched the lieutenant march away. He could understand why the other was so unwilling to do what the Negaverse wanted. He had too. It had still been hard for him to drain others, even if they had been hurting other people in the process. Sure, the small amount of excitement that he had gotten from the instance karma was nice, but overall, when he would think back on it, he usually wished that he could have done something else.
He wasn’t too sure if he should go and follow Faustite. Although he was sure that the boy thought that a small amount of information such as basic interests would be of no use, but Arseno wondered if Faustite knew how large the networking was with the Negaverse. Sure, an interest in soccer or something usually wouldn’t be enough information for regular, normal people. But if they really wanted, Arseno was sure that they would be able to find him just from that.
However, Faustite had pretty much, without going out and saying it, that he wouldn’t be willing to go and squeal to the higher ups, so a little bit of personal information wouldn’t be too much, right? He was just about to call the lieutenant when he saw Odon swoop down from the tree and land in front of Faustite, stopping the other in his tracks.
Arseno shook his head a bit before jogging to catch up to Faustite. When he finally got there, he knew he would have to call off the youma. “Odon come on, we don’t need to do that. You can find someone to drain or something or go sit in your tree.” He said, before looking over at Faustite.
“I… play soccer. And have a webcomic.” It was weak, he knew, but he was just trying to get the other’s attention. “If you want… you don’t have to stay. I wouldn’t suggest doing it, but there is a way to get out of the Negaverse. But you won’t be out of the war. That will always follow.” He really, REALLY didn’t like suggesting purification, but he figured that the lieutenant wouldn’t go on blabbing to anyone else about it. “However, for right now, I’m going to try to help you with what you need to get done for the Negaverse. Even if that means I have to gather extra energy for you.” It was a silly offer he thought, but this way at least the lieutenant could still meet the energy quota and not have to drain others.
“I will try to help you as much as I can. I have had the same reservations as you. And although the generals I have been under are as kind as they can be in the Negaverse, that still didn’t make any of this feel right right away. If however you still don’t want me to be your captain, I will accept that.” And at least I’ll have one less thing to worry about then. He thought, even if his offer was sincere.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2017 3:39 pm
Faustite started as soon as the creature landed before him, crushing down the blades of grass and eyeing him with its unblinking, reddened globe at the center of its blackened, blasted-out skull. A snarl touched the lieutenant's features immediately and he drew to a halt, now caught between facing his own punishment for his words and succumbing to the natural order of the food chain. So that's it? Sic your youma on the unruly lieutenant, bury the bones and chalk up the mess to insubordination. What kind of meat grinder are we working for?
But Arsenopyrite called to his pet human-turned-bird, and his displeasure in it was evident. He offered draining in a marked act of flippancy and Faustite's scowl deepened, though he said nothing further on the matter. The captain knew full well his disgust for warping bodies and wrecking lives in a relentless pursuit for power. Rather than admonishing him with the youma flanking, however, Arsenopyrite started to open up with small facts about himself beyond his name - like he might actually be salvageable from the Negaverse's war on empathy. At the mention of a webcomic, his arms fell from crossing over his chest. He waited further, and Arsenopyrite mentioned a way out. And why haven't you taken it to protect the people you love? Sounds like the Negaverse life suits you. Wearing blood on your hands - that's the latest fashion statement, isn't it?
Soccer, webcomics, and sucking the life out of anyone you think is unfit to live. Isn't that a telling story.
But for as much as Faustite wanted to damn him, Arsenopyrite still managed a shred of empathy, of leveling with him in a manner that Umber could not comprehend and that Chrysocolla managed through a shell of herself. Emotional bandwidth wasn't entirely flatlined in this faction, but the people afflicted with it worked around the chaos in their bones in a manner that tried to preserve their humanity. With Arsenopyrite, draining a killer or a rapist was justification enough - preservation enough for his psyche. A flourish of interest pervaded him with an unsettling thought: what would come of them if pushed beyond the delicate bounds of such a bargain?
"… Thanks. It was a bygone choice. Between you and Umber…" He paused, shook his head with the ghost of a smile, "it's a choice between easing into it or drowning in it. You have an intriguing kind of patience for me that he doesn't. So if I have a choice, I'd rather report to you."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Apr 29, 2017 7:58 pm
Arseno could tell that while Faustite still didn't like all of this, his continually changing expressions were enough to say that, he at least was thinking about it. Faustite couldn't know how much the Negaverse held influence over the world. And what was keeping him here was the fact that Arseno was a bit of a coward. Sure, he was brave when it came to medical things, but actually fighting? No, he was too worried about his family to take any chances, make mistakes and actually try to get himself out of this mess.
Eventually though, Faustite agreed to the idea. Arseno internally sighed a bit, only because he would now have to collect more energy. Though at least it would just mean draining a bit more. "All right then. I believe we have a deal. though at any time you can cancel it. I don't want to have someone reporting to me who doesn't want to." He replied, holding his hand out to shake.Strickenized We can either continue or end this rp and start another another one. Up to you.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon May 01, 2017 6:42 pm
Faustite paused, then nodded. He accepted the hand offered for another gesture, this one slightly firmer than the last. "I'll see you again soon, then."
Is that going to be me sommeday, staring wild-eyed back at a lieutenant? Am I going to be standing in his spot, asking myself what it meant again to take a human life? To drain off all the energy that kept them standing and remember regret nagging at my heels? It seems those in the Negaverse either sleep well or not at all. You look a little tired, Captain. I can guess which you are. But how long will that last? The generals happen to look very well rested for all of them I've seen. Maybe you're not too far from their lofty stands. Would you like that, I wonder? Or do you grind your teeth at the thought of another promotion? Maybe it's neither.
Maybe you're just here to do your job.
"I've got tests coming over the next two weeks, but I'll be free afterward. I'll find a way to keep a free schedule." Faustite started to dismiss himself, then hesitated at the sight of the bird. "Next time, will you leave the youma behind? I don't much like looking into the eyes of dead men." He cast it a last baleful glance before his own departure, his mind already swimming at the prospect.
We can make monsters of men. How about that.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
