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 Posted: Tue Jan 07, 2020 3:19 pm
Quote: Snow on the ground glistens under the moonlight and seems to illuminate everything with an ethereal glow. Destiny City feels almost safe, even at night. The fresh fallen snow seems undisturbed and brings a sense of peace. Only, there’s something eerie about it. After a while, it feels like someone--or something--is watching you. In the shadows of the trees, a set of milky eyes watches. Whatever it is, it’s tall and bulky. If you walk quickly, you feel it follow you but once you leave the line of trees, it disappears. If you try to approach it, a great beast will screech at you: a six foot tall snowy white owl takes flight. It may tackle or claw at you, depending on how you approach it, but it will always take flight and disappear in the night. If you choose to attack it, for the next few nights any time you look out your window you will see glowing eyes in the distance--or worse, hear it scratching to get in. Eventually, the temperature rises and the visits stop. For now.
Partnering up meant creating attachments, whether willingly or not, with whoever he worked with. He would be commanded to not let anyone get hurt since he was stronger, and that meant this natural, sickening instinct that came more and recently, one that insisted he go out of his way to protect something became triggered.
It was a waste of time and energy and quite frankly, he didn't want to participate.
But with power came responsibility, as they said, and that responsibility tonight was specifically investigating some strange owl that had been pestering a Negaverse Agent's home area.
Why was it his problem? Why was the Negaverse charged with such an investigation when it had nothing to do with their core objective?
He had plenty of questions, no answers, and now the responsibility of waiting here in the freezing dark for some Lieutenant that was allegedly part of his 'team'. As much as he would love to simply argue his case and go back home, safety seemed to come with compliance for now, rather than continued arguing. And he was tired. The sooner it was over, the sooner he could go home and curl up with his lover with a soothing cup of hot chocolate.
... For now, he waited, bundled up in the cold weather wear he managed to shove into his pocket space for exactly this reason.
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Posted: Thu Jan 09, 2020 3:36 am
This was what he wanted, wasn’t it? Rakovanite breathed out quietly, letting the heat from his breath condense in the cold air and float away. He’d wanted to make alliances- Well, no. ‘Wanted’ was perhaps a bit too gratuitous, but he’d needed to forge bonds, if he hoped to accomplish his overall goals in this odd world of chaos and magic. He was still too new and too weak to manage December’s problem on his own, even if he was learning and striving for better as quickly as could be managed. The fact remained that a lieutenant simply did not have the capability to stand up to anyone of higher rank.
Not alone, anyway.
And so Rakovanite needed to find people he could trust, and that wasn’t going to be Cavansite or Wolframite. There were a few agents he didn’t mind being around, a few who had guided him this far, but no one he specifically trusted. No one he would dare jeopardize himself with. He took long strides through the snow toward his meeting spot with one of his new ‘teammates.’
It was a bit like a game, wasn’t it? Deciphering which path was most beneficial, determining which players had the most useful skillset, discovering what it took to win- Rakovanite did like games. And he did like to win.
And this time in particular, despite not usually being thrilled at the prospect of being tossed on assignment with any random body he was paired with, Rakovanite didn’t mind the company. Cavansite had had the decency to inform him of his partner for the day’s name, and he found himself pleased to hear it. Zubeneschamali had been one of the first people to introduce him to the Negaverse, in the sense that it existed and he should be wary of it. It was a bit baffling that they would be in the same team, serving under the same general. Surely there was nothing that could be more of a coincidence? Especially since they’d only met the once, and Nataniel had known so little about it back then.
But this, this was nice, he decided.
Besides that Mali was a bit of a complainer and didn’t really seem to appreciate where he was, Rakovanite thought they got along well enough. There at least hadn’t been much shouting, and the insults were only very shallow-
Perhaps it was just nice that he knew someone’s name.
The corrupt’s aura was nearly tangible, and Rakovanite was able to follow it across a snow-laden plot and toward the treeline of a scattered forest, what he assumed was the edge of this developed housing site. His gaze wandered across the landscape. There wasn’t much out here, but what was looked new. Two story houses with sleek-looking driveways. A new neighborhood pushing back against the trees.
He looked up as he neared the other man. “Hm.” He tipped his head inquisitively. “You look a bit different than last we met,” and not just because it had been summer then, and the senshi had been shrouded in many less garments. But he also supposed Mali was unlikely to remember him- or rather, he certainly wouldn’t know Rakovanite, regardless. “I am Nataniel. We met during the summer festival.” He slipped a hand down the front of his long, purple coat to indicate himself. “Like this, I am Rakovanite.”
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Posted: Mon Jan 13, 2020 8:22 pm
Mali only glanced at the newcomer for a moment before turning his gaze back towards the woods. Originally he wanted absolutely nothing to do with anyone who Cavansite sent to him. With such a pathetic and weak-minded woman as his general, he had figured any ‘partner’ sent his way would have been someone so grossly brain washed by the Negaverse that they would do everything they could to convince him he was still ‘wanted’ here.
Of course he was wanted. He was a Super Senshi now. Far more powerful than most of the legions of minions the Negaverse had in stock...
To his rather neutral surprise... She sent someone he knew. Well, somewhat knew anyway.
“I see you’ve joined us... I suppose that means you’ve made an informed and well thought out decision on joining us.” If he remembered correctly, he had given Nataniel a thorough, personal explanation about his views of the Negaverse, how he felt about their methods of converting those to their side, and the overall lack of support.
And of course, his thoughts on the flying unknown mystery monster they apparently served.
“... I’ve gotten a fair bit stronger since the last time we’ve met, and in that same right, so have you. I take it your general and mine are the same. You’d think she’d have the courtesy to let me know what was going on..” Mali had little faith in his general from the beginning, and that faith continued to drop in her.
“Either way, I’m sure we will work just fine together. Tell me, how are things so far, while we hunt for this wretched beast.”
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Posted: Thu Feb 20, 2020 10:12 am
"As much of one as could be made," Rakovanite replied flatly. He wasn't offended by Zubeneschamali's, Fettelite's, or Wolfrimite's inability to convey the sheer weight of what such a choice could entail, of how much it could alter his own life, when their various explanations and opinions were colored almost exclusively by their own perceptions. He wasn't offended. There was no way for them to know how it would affect him.
But Mali had been particularly opposed to his role in the Negaverse at their first meeting.With his limited knowledge, Nataniel hadn't been able to say anything to refute the assertions, and he'd had no mind to. It was a stage of his understanding where any opinions, anything at all he could glean from those involved, was relevant. Was important.
He wasn't so sure now, and he regarded the senshi with a quizzical expression.
"I do not think Cavansite was aware of our meeting previously, and I did not see reason to inform her. I doubt she expected my name would mean enough to you to merit mentioning." The last time he'd mentioned Mali had been to his captain, and though it hadn't really been his business what happened to the senshi one way or the other, Rakovanite still remembered feeling a stab of frustration at the half-youma's response, 'Desertion and traitors will be expected.' If he was to be working with someone, he didn't want wary mistrust clouding the proceedings.
He didn't need to tell anyone else the circumstances under which they'd met. No one needed to hear Mali's feelings second-hand from him, if the senshi didn't see fit to make them known, himself.
Rakovanite moved on from the topic eagerly. "It is going as well as can be expected, I think. There is much to take in, so many facets of our organization and so much to learn that would have felt impossible before." His lashes lowered, gaze falling. "Still does, to some extent. Even when I can see something, it is difficult to fully appreciate. But I still believe there is no better path."
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Posted: Sat Feb 22, 2020 6:47 pm
Only a simple nod was given to Rakovanite. He was right, it was impossible to be one hundred percent ready and willing to corrupt and give your life to the Negaverse, or Order, or anyone, honestly. But atleast the Lieutenant had weeks upon weeks of educating himself, and not a simple split second where someone else forced his hand.
It was enough to leave him satisfied and say nothing more negative about the experience for now. There was no reason to scold and whine over an educated decision.
“Oh? I wouldn’t be surprised. Cavansite, while being our ‘leader’ in the most vague of senses, is as incompetent and weak as one could expect.” There was a roll of his eyes as her name came forth, clear disgust and contempt for the woman. “I must admit, it’s a shame someone like her makes you report to her. This woman cannot hold a single conversation with me without getting upset or having tears in her eyes.”
It was not a comment about women or any inferiorities he perceived about them. In fact, he knew very well just how strong, commanding, and admirable women were capable of being.
Cavansite was not one of them. ‘Mali eagerly awaited the day where he could escape from her command and never think of her again. It’d take a little bit to convince ‘Nubi to leave her side though... It would a bridge he would be more than happy to burn down when he got to that point.
“There is no need to study and memorize every single thing. Unlike studying for school, you will not be tested on such a thing, and your reference is always at your fingertips. But may I ask, what made you decide this path was the best path?”
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Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2020 1:21 pm
"I admit that I do not typically file reports with her," Rakovanite replied with a flippant shrug. He'd had only a few scattered encounters that were worthy of a report at all, and those could be tended to in the castle's computer lab and sent to her by those means. "And our face-to-face interactions have been even more minimal than I expected they would be. Most of our correspondence has been through the tablet's messaging system. I have only met her in person twice, I believe. And one of those was for-" He made another gesture at himself, long fingers skating down the front of his coat. "This."
He couldn't help but cast an incredulous side-eyed glance at the senshi next to him, though. Rakovanite knew Mali could be at least as unpersonable as he was, himself, and he didn't doubt that some could fall prey to his sharp tongue.
But Cavansite was a general. She surely had enough influx of chaos to her mind that emotions like crying in the face of a young man's petty insults was beneath her. Surely it was so. Rakovanite tried to think back on the night he was corrupted, if anything had seemed particularly disgusting about her then... But nothing leaped immediately to the forefront of his mind. His focus had been admittedly elsewhere at the time.
He shook his head and moved on with the conversation.
"I do not expect to be tested in the same manner I would be in my classes," he admitted. No quizzes or essays for the Negaverse. "But I do expect there to be an increase in the ease of functionality with the more I know offhand. And particularly in matters that may evolve to concern my life, I am uncertain if I would have the time to search for a reference. It is simply easier to already know, and that is how I prefer to approach things."
"In terms of why I chose this..." His tone faltered just slightly, dark gaze dropping to the snow as his voice softened. "There was simply no rational alternative." A senshi like Mali could be whatever they wanted to be. The Negaverse, the Order, the DMC. Any could take a senshi. But for Nataniel, who wasn't chosen by the Order, there was really only one path he could set himself on. He looked back to the treeline, and his voice frosted over like the ice beneath his feet. "The only other option was ignorance, and I will never choose to be ignorant or unprepared or incapable."
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Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2020 3:35 pm
”Ah, I see... Well, I hope you continue minimal contact with her. The less you know about her weaknesses, the easier it is to tolerate her, I suppose. You don’t seem like the sort who would handle an incompetent leader very well.” If anything, it was a compliment from Mali, as vague as it was.
But he would not dwell on that train of thought, not when it was likely he’d continue to endlessly complain about some woman who unfortunately had more power than him at this time.
“Then that was the only choice, and a good one, on your part. Ignorance doesn’t seem to suit you either. I can already sense you won’t find it hard to work within the Negaverse, if you’re left to your own devices. Unfortunately, that is not the case tonight. We are on a hunt for some creature. May I ask, what is your weapon, and do you have a back up, given that you are a lieutenant?”
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Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2020 9:43 am
It was true that he did not appreciate incompetent people, especially when they held a seat of power over him. Rakovanite could wonder 'how' and 'why' someone like that had been granted such abilities. He could lament the waste of power. But his opinions of and within the Negaverse seemed to matter very little to just about everyone. He was no one. His scope of knowledge and experience was so small.
For now.
As with Mali, Rakovanite was eager for a time when he would need little supervision and instruction. With proper training and knowledge, he could dictate his own path, one that best suited his strengths and abilities. He just needed to dedicate the time and effort into achieving such a rank, and that still seemed... tedious...
He held out a hand in front of him, and three black and red Coca-Cola bottle caps appeared in his open palm. "'Weapon' is perhaps a gratuitous term for what I was given. My attempts to remedy this have been met with indifference." He'd been so annoyed to summon his magically-enhanced 'weapon' only to see a handful of trash. It was impractical. If he was to be fighting, he should have something to defend himself. Bottle caps were barely a hindrance. It was as much a distraction to him to attempt to use them as if was to anyone he might throw them at.
Rakovanite hated his weapons, with more passion than he held for almost anything else.
"I tried to carry a blade at one point, but it disappeared into the ether and was never returned to me. They seem to vanish with my normal clothes when I power up and be eaten by the space pocket if I try to stash one there. It is inconvenient to attempt to work around this obnoxious flaw in the system. It is as if they want me to die. Or be useless."
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Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2020 10:18 am
"Ah... Yes, those are unfortunate, aren't they? Despite the incredible power that comes with becoming stronger, everyone starts off with weak, petty little trinkets. But rest assured, once you get stronger, I'm certain they will turn into a weapon that can tear apart whoever dares to cross your path." Mali' seemed to enjoy talking tonight, a surprise to him as much as it would be to anyone else who knew him. Most likely it was due to the fact that Rakovanite was familiar, and they seemed to share more than a few preferences when it came to their work method.
Who was to say?
"Right... I have yet to understand why the hell it works that way. I can only surmise that it's due to some flawed logic that man-made shaped metal has some sort of negative affect against this 'magic' we all hold in one way or another. And it's not until you get your true weapon that the magic forms into an actual deadly device. But I'm certain you're a creative sort. It's more effort, but a sharpened pole or branch can be just as effective as a blade, especially given the fact that there are so many do gooders out here that claim they will stop you and refuse to do what it actually takes."
For emphasis, Mali reached out to a nearby tree and easily tore a thick branch aside, before using his bare fingers to peel back the bark and give it a pointed tip.
"Still a point, still a way to make them bleed, if need be. Magic won't consume a stick, as stupid as that sounds. And unlike me, you have considerable physical power to deal blows with as well. Don't forget that."
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