Quote: Wake up, Sheeple (3): A viral video: a security camera aimed at a door in a back alleyway. A dark-clothed figure looks like they are trying to break in. It’s almost comical in how desperately they are yanking on the door, and then, in a fit of rage, they take a step back and their hood falls off. The face is obscure and impossible to make out, and suddenly it looks like a lizard person. They attack the door once more and then scramble off with an over-exaggerated run. Is this it, real proof of an actual lizard person?? Is it a youma? The internet says it’s a hoax, and it’s hard to take it seriously anyway, even if there is something strange about it. It’s become something of a local joke; people have made memes about it and are dressing up as lizards and posing in similar alleys. And yet, there have been a string of attempted break-ins, with strange claw marks around the door handles.
Waru had been at home, on his a**, watching T.V - had seen it pop up - grainy footage that led to him immediately standing up and stepping into --
Wonders that the rift in spacetime was right there. Had always been there, a pull away. At his fingertips and at the ready with just a little more concentration then what he was used to exerting. The ******** power was there for it though. Granted and gained and riling to be used.
For purposes better than this - he was sure - but Albite had a dragon to hunt. Newsworthy missives that he was gonna uptake a mission for. Everything that rankled just south of sounding like a certain Merchant he'd met not even months ago.
Who better to know this kinda s**t than one of the only two other dragons he knew? Couldn't find the fish out of water that was Lev. Lovely thing that she was, she'd taken up vanishing acts, like she was a pro at it. Like she was practicing to take Kamacites place in the sun, what with how good she seemed at disappearing.
Fafnir though? Oh, Faffles was a different story. Iced out queen of a thing, and he couldn't have escaped a rooms notice if he'd wanted to. N' his firebrand had mentioned their 'working relations', infiltration stuff. Where to find him, how to ask him things, how to not 'murk the one decent ops agent' he'd had on his side. N'less he talked s**t, n then all the *murking* would commence.
A sort of - 'Hell hath no fury like Albite hearing his boss scorned' - type of murking. Albite wondered if his boss was still sore about it. Missed kisses that could've been? If he was just telling Albite where to go because he knew he wouldn't let up until his curiosity for 'lizard people that were definitely hot merchant demons' was sated. Sent him this ones way because, who better to know than the people who ran the news, or whatever it was infiltration did?
Whatever ---
Would knock down that confusing door another night. Would knock down Fafnirs door first. Insistently patient little rapping, and he was learning to knock for some people. To count to twenty in his head before he just burst into an office like he owned it....for some people..especially people he wanted s**t from, maybe. Was getting the idea that it paid to be courteous even though he was het up to go.
Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2021 7:43 pm
When he’d heard the knock at the door, Fafnir had not expected the tall, familiar looking corrupt to be standing on the other side when he opened it.
Surprise had him standing there for a moment, blinking, before he swept the other a look down and up again. What had his name been? Albite? He belonged to Faustite, didn’t he? After the fiasco at the party, he’d tried to forget what had happened and everyone involved. Now here was one of the chief instigators… and he’d been promoted. The shirt was an improvement, his equal rank was not.
“Oh.” He said. Fafnir was honestly surprised at how civil his voice sounded. “Are you looking for General Netherite? He’s not in, but I can take a message for him, if you like.”
Full customer service voice was in effect, his face carefully sculpted for ‘pleasant, but uninterested’. Had Faustite sent him? Why? Surely the general knew all he had to do was send a message and Fafnir would have come to him… sending a lackey seemed out of sorts.
General who? Whatever, Albite didn't know, didn't care, and whoever the hell Nephertiti was? Yeah nope, didn't need to know. Just needed the tall iced glass of passive disinterest before him.
"Who? No, you're Fafnir right? Like, that's you - you're he - which is what I'm here for, because there's aliens - or maybe it's youma - could be youma?" Probably definitely possibly youma, if the grainy off-tilt footage had been anything to go by. Spoke with his hands as much as he spoke with his body, made to make an impression, bold sweep of eyes across the tall drink before him, gentle peek at the office beyond, before his attention was stolen right back
"Whatever, it's all got a scaled vibe n' you're scaled with a vibe - plus - this is like a Senshi matter to handle, yeah? Super Negaverse agent s**t, also - you're the guy. At least, our Firebrand reminded me you were the kind of guy who did this stuff. Pr, n Hr, n..whatever sorts of relationship s**t we put out there. Can't be good, if there's a youma bouncing around getting caught on film." albite wanted to investigate it, dust it, bring the poor guy home if it was some random youmafied agent who'd gotten stranded out in a district - was breaking into places outta desperations.
The motions had seemed human enough - and it hadn't looked like some fool in a mask.
"So whatdya say, you up for it? I mean - you're already standing n' everything. Might as well get a little more up - Earthside." joyous grin and energy that dripped in swaths, in excited bounce on tipped heels.
Whimsical Blue
Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2021 9:41 am
One full eyebrow lifted as Fafnir regarded the babbling senshi with something like skepticism mixed with exasperation.
"You, who are a senshi, want me, who is also a senshi, to go investigate something that is probably a youma, which neither of us can command, control or bond with, and thus have virtually no reason to deal with?" He said, his voice flat.
Was Albite an idiot? Was this who Faustite preferred to fill his personal team with? Fafnir wanted to pinch the bridge of his nose, pressure running up into his forehead. He settled for closing his eyes for a moment and taking a deep breath.
"You know I don't actually have scales and the horns aren't real, right?" He said before he reopened his eyes. Reaching up, he pulled the head band from his hair, horns attached, and held it out for the other senshi to inspect. "Its a costume piece. I didn't even get to choose it. I'm not actually a dragon, just named after one." Albite's energy made him feel exhausted, and they hadn't even gone anywhere yet. He could see very little benefit from getting tied up with this senshi... for all his exuberance, he wasn't well connected, and he wasn't of a higher rank. He didn't offer anything that would improve Fafnir's own situation... unless you counted as a meat shield, and if that energy translated to fighting, a possible protector. Not a terrible reason to connect with someone, but...
"I work to keep a good public image, that's true, but usually that means I'm talking to the news and the police. It doesn't usually involve chasing down wayward monsters."
For every point Fafnir ticked off - a nod - reflective of all the thought processing that Albite absolutely was not doing. Fafnir had points, sure, but were they good ones? Sounded more like excuses to him.
"Counter to - uh - allathat?" offers against the options laid out, smile that wouldn't fade; as in motion standing still as one could be. Albite overflowed with the need to be. His mouth, his hands, tapping a heel. "It'd be fun, for one? Senshi were made to dust s**t up, especially youma? You're pretty as any PR person ever could be, which means you're also probably deadly as <********>" and Albite had Wanted , from minute one of meeting stacked scales in stacked heels and legs that ran like Laurelites.
To bridge a gap, lay a foundation and well lit path that led back to ---- to Faustites office? To team ups and friendships that stung like frostbite? To picking at the layer of 'bitches be beneath me' gaze he'd caught at the party. That Fafnir had leveled at him in tone and stance. He was pavloved for it, that s**t might as well have been a 'come hither bell' wired directly to Albites brain.
"I know they ain't real, you're like my girl, Meri? Succubabe Senshi, yeah? All the visual of a youma-to-be, but none of the 'auric vibe'. It's still a damned good visual - asked for or not." what albite wouldn't have given for some horns. To step into a room and have been more than beef on display...except he loved that too..soo...
"Do you want me to say please? Buy you dinner, a drink? I can definitely do the things - like - unless you legit have something better going on right this second? It could be a good break, yeah?" plead in tone, beg for five minutes, and of course Fafnir could've told him to take a flying ******** leap into the rift. Except that sounded pretty fun too..he coulda grabbed his boss, made a whole damn time of it.
Whimsical Blue
Posted: Mon Nov 01, 2021 10:25 am
He just... he just rolled right over everything Fafnir had said and the blue corrupt stared at him in exasperation. This guy was... irrepressible. He'd made up his mind on something, and he was not going to be dissuaded by any thoughtful, logical arguement. Fafnir wasn't even sure he'd give up at a flat 'No'...
"I'm sorry to disappoint, but I'm only competent in battle, I'm not some sort of Chuck Norris." He said as he relaxed a leg, his hips tilting with the posture of bored and exasperated. "If we get into trouble, you're going to have to handle it. I'll help, of course, but you're doing the grunt work."
He didn't really know why he was agreeing to this. Maybe it was the offer to say please, the idiotic way he offered to buy him dinner like youma hunting was some sort of date. A cheap date, probably, that involved fast food... Ugh.
"I doubt we're going to find anything, but I guess it'll look good that we're taking initiative to get ahead of any trouble going on. You got an idea where to start looking?" Was he really going to push back his schedule for this? Maybe he could roll it all into his energy gathering time and not get put off too badly.
"You couldn't disappoint me if you tried." All Albite heard all the way down was that Fafnir had 'agreed'. Watched with warm eyes as everything tick - tick - ticked down a notch. How Fafnir seemed to ease into the whole concept of it, however reluctantly. Cause Albite had heard his complaints, offered understanding, and then? Effortlessly dismissed every last gripe. Walked right past one and all in equal measure; because he wanted it. A chance out at something fun, and even if nothing came of it? Having a moment to figure out why it was his Firefly was so het up on this one in particular.
The professionalism, the power, the legs? Maybe the legs? Coulda been allatheabove even. Albite knew he liked those eyes though. 'How dare you harass me you dust mote'- didn't have to hear him say it to see it flash and flare. Waited for those sharp eyes to roll right outta the guys head so he coulda chased them down the hall.
"That's the spirit Dragonair~ No worries yeah? Troubles my middle name and I've got enough a** to make a mule jealous. So handling the hard hauling n' hits comes second nature to me at this point." Flashed canines and barked an excited laugh for getting the green light of 'go on ahead'. Albite was all sorts of ready for the a tallblue Carma to hit the s**t out of his tail light chasing Dogma. Expected it, part and parcel with most of his outings.
"Now think - like - really happy thoughts! Because I am s**t at teleporting - but uh - practice makes perfect." and Fafnir had asked where they were looking - if Albite had an idea of where to start.
What Albite had?
Grainy footage of warehouses and storefronts - an idea of an area - judged it all out by the amount of graffiti that had littered the surrounding brickwork - the trash in the alley - the ---
Albite grinned canine bright. Winked at Fafnir as he reached for him - took tentative hold -- and yanked him bodily from warm, dark, halls filled with their voices and the detritus of rift dust and ancient times past. Out into the night. Onto flattop tarmac rooftops and neon spread. Wind that bustled by briskly with fall chill and the scent that was distinctly Earth.
How he stumbled for the sickening pull - told the darkness that left spots in his vision to ******** right the hell off - for how he'd taken to wearing the rift pendant as a silvery, rock rough, reminder. How it seemed to make the trick of skipping through space and time just a tad bit easier. If not more graceful on his end.
Whimsical Blue
Posted: Sun Nov 14, 2021 11:31 am
For just a moment, Fafnir felt a weird knot of emotions about Albite's response. It was impossible to really parse what that tangle held, especially when he wasn't sure he wanted to examine it too closely, so he took the whole of it and shoved it down deep, covering the lapse with a deep frown.
And then those emotions were swiftly replaced with a deep disgust.
"Did you just call me a Pokemon?" He said with acid disbelief. "Are you twelve?" Not that he expected Albite to feel any sort of anything for the rebuke, the incorrigible a*****e, but the point was moot because he took hold of his wrist and pulled the two of them from the depths of the Dark Kingdom to a cold rooftop downtown. Fafnir did not like the queasy feeling it gave him... apparently, the other senshi had not made much effort yet to cultivate his teleporting skill.
Tugging his arm free, he moved towards the edge of the roof to let his stomach settle, distracting himself with a survey of where they'd landed. Cars, people, late night activity. Not a lot of foot traffic with the cold weather, which could be to their benefit. Focus on their mission, stupid or not, was at least something to ground himself on.
"So, do you know where that footage was taken? Or anything else about this creature you think you saw? We need a place to start."
"I'm at least 21" would be twenty-two soon. Had been at this at least two years, didn't feel like droning on though. Aimed the words and his most sincere smile at Fafnir's back as the long legged corrupt took to the ledge and --
All of Albites happiness to have someone to play detective with. To have someone to take out again. For reasons. Any reasons at all. For how he loved the company, loved all his Sister Senshi with all of himself. Even the prickly ones who pierced like the cold. Albite was suddenly very grateful for the sliver of a shirt-bra-corset bit he had on.
Knew he'd warm up as they moved.
Wanted to see that, suddenly. See Fafnir move. Liked people in all the ways they lived - wanted to know this one - outside of some coifed party statuette set on stilted heels. Wanted the person who was as expressive with body language as his face was with his feelings -- Didn't care if those expressions resembled a man staring down last weeks garbage left out to rot in the midday sun.
It was still something -- and something? Something would always be more exciting. Would take sneers over glass eyed nothing wrapped in too quiet stillness anyday.
"Nope -- I mean -- kinda? So like. Reptilian, clawed, scaly --" ticked off points on his fingers like he was counting from one to ten - "Humanoid though. Like. For all that it was grainy as ******** footage? For all that the media is calling it a hoax? Hoaxes don't take down doors the way that thing did--- don't leave gouges in..." tsked and tucked his arms behind his back as he sidled up to the side.
Surveyed their surroundings.
"It'd been breaking into shops. Places with metal doors n' heavy locks---all the reports coming in seem to show that the thing likes sticking to side streets. Like its trying to stay outta sight. Yanno? Looked like it dressed that way too. Like, n everyone else thinks it was wearing a mask - yeah - but why wear a reptile mask and a hoodie and like -- stuff over it, if that's all it was?" hummed and thought of rough brickwork and metal frames. Of concrete painted dirty on purpose.
Some cheap place....
Wondered if it was some desperate half youma down on its luck -- if it was some Senshi or Agent run amok.... lower ranked, had to be. Didn't teleport. Ran. N Albite figured that even if it were a person? Free energy - A good lesson to teach such a careless thief!
Whimsical Blue
Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2021 9:34 am
Of course he didn't have any real information on the video. Fafnir was starting to suspect all the research he'd done on it had just been to watch it, since the details he gave were ones anyone could get just by viewing the video. He wanted to sigh again.
Pulling out the little communication pen, he pulled the two halves apart into the tablet form and called up the messaging system. He typed one handed for a few moments before sending it, closing up the pen with a neat, decisive motion.
"It'll be a little bit before I get a response most likely, so we should take a look around while we wait. The Infos branch should have something to help us as far as where that video came from at the least. Once we have that address we can head over there." He didn't bother asking if that sounded okay to Albite... everything probably sounded good to Albite. Fafnir wasn't really used to taking a leadership role in missions... either he worked solo, as he did currently, or he was subordinate on a team, as he had been working with Labyrinthite's team. This was a strange feeling. Not unwelcome, just strange.
He didn't rush as he paced down the edge of the roof, but he wasn't on a stroll either, arms loose at his sides and his eyes scanning the area below. He even opened up his inner senses, stretching to feel even the faintest of energy signatures if possible. Officers and youma had a feel to them. If this was a youma, maybe that's how they'd find it. If was just a regular person in a mask, as he suspected, though... this could end up being a long night.
"Why are you so eager about all of this?" He asked softly over his shoulder.
If admiration coulda had a look? It was all on Albites face, in his form, the way he followed at pace and seemed to trace the way Fafnir held himself with his eyes. Gaze trained just so -- that smile endlessly wide -- enamored in all sorts of ways for how professional the other was. He had connections, and poise.
Prowled about like he knew how to get s**t done..
Wanted what he had and wanted to learn how to have it. Figured he would get it through osmosis faster than asking stupid questions, for all that his mouth ran endlessly and into dead end's with such ease. Better to go out and *see* the guy in action.
"So eager about..." and that was a thought. Hands laced behind his hair, tangled up in locks as he dragged his eyes from the hemline and Fafnirs perfect heels up into the sky. Squinted for stars and saw none - a shame. Turned that question over time and again, because he so rarely had an answer for it that was sufficient, that didn't end in a verbal essay.
Something too long, messy, and senseless to be spoken at ease.
"This -- like -- 'this'?" splayed to show the whole of the city, to encompass them, the mission that was questionable, the idea of it. "Or this like 'you'. Or this like..." words sighed over the sound of steam hissing from flattops, and rats skittering pipelines. How it all shrank quiet beyond the boundaries of the street-side to just the two of them feeling s**t out...
"T'be honest? I'm eager about damned near everything Fafnir...I get bored easy, I like missions, n I don't mind the grunt ends of the work, but more importantly? I recognize good s**t when I see it. Like, people, yanno?" Shrug that rolled on as he tried to meet the soft ask with an equally soft answer.
Thought about how Faustite thought Fafnir was *something*. How he was inclined to agree with his boss. Even if he didn't have the words to describe what kind of something it was. Knew whatever was said, how it would've been multisyllabic and sharp on the end of someone's tongue. Would've emulated something beautiful and deadly in one. Fafnir was the ever put together piece that one put on their arm. Intelligence on a higher end.
"N'you my friend? Good people, interesting people, like...I'm pretty free range with how I run? It's not a leash, it's a whistle, n so long as I pop in to heed it every now n' then -- I get to just...'Go'. Then I meet all these others, yeah? Senshi, agents, and so on. I get to wondering -- all sorts of things. Then there's you? N it's like - all the best things simmering under all those other things...and I just had to see." bit his lip and huffed some semi-curious sound, because he knew that made as little sense as anything.
He wanted to go out because he wanted to, and he wanted to take Fafnir with him because he could, and he wanted to hunt monsters and skate ledges and eat...because..because..because...
Wants begetting other wants begetting things to try for and have, and if the doors got slammed in his face and on his toes he'd try again, and if it all came to nothing? It was hardly a waste, because it was time spent with others doing something.
"Were you like...were you actually especially busy tonight? Aside from playing at being a really handsome doorstop." briefest flit of 'regret' that got smothered under the knowledge that Fafnir could leave at his earliest convenience. That Albite would bring him a 'sorry for knocking at all hours' apology plant if he really had trod all over the guys time...or maybe a snack?
Something...
Whimsical Blue
Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2021 5:11 pm
Someone else would have made a face. Fafnir's mouth thinned in disapproval.
That wasn't really an answer to his question, which had been more specifically about this weird video mission, but in a general sort of way, it was an answer. Apparently, some people couldn't leave well enough alone, and when bored, went looking for trouble. He didn't understand that, but then, he was rarely allowed to be bored, while also having free time in which to indulge that boredom. It was... interesting though, to note that he seemed to have taken special interest in Fafnir himself. He wasn't sure exactly what about him had caught Albite's interest, but it happened often enough it wasn't entirely surprising. Chase had taken special interest in him. Many people took special interest, because he had money, because he was beautiful, because his mother had influence and thus so did he by association. It could have been any and none of those reasons.
"I don't entirely believe your judgement on what is 'good'." He commented dryly. Fafnir wasn't... good, he was competent, and worked very hard to be very competent at what he did. "And you should know, sometimes people don't appreciate it when you try to see what's behind their masks. They have them for a reason."
His dark hair danced down his back as he shook his head, stepping up to the corner of the building and crouching down, letting his wrists drape over his bare knees as he studied the back door to the building across from them, trying to decide if it matched that video.
"I was busy. I'm always busy. My life is scheduled out till March." He said, his fingers tapping on his knee. Finally he rose, dismissing the door. "But I'm a professional. I moved things around to make time. This is technically coming out of my training and energy gathering time. If I can't make my quota, then you can pitch in to help."
He turned to head down the length of the roof now, waiting for the chime of his tablet.
Couldn’t help the chuckle that burned deep in his chest, ate Fafnirs doubt with casual ease - for how unbothered by it he was. Cause really? He didn’t blame the guy, who didn’t know him from Adam or Steve it a fairly shallow hole in a wall.
Albite couldn’t help himself though, for how easily he was caught up in his own simplistic wants - saw a thing - thought it fun - sought it out.
“That is *ahh-ll* sorts of fair faffls, like. I can’t blame you, yanno? I’ve been pretty spot on so far though.” Felt like he had a helluva track record going for his success hounding Faustite into picking him, hunting down those that others seemed to steer clear of for one reason or another, and maybe, deep down, he was in it for the chance at seeing ‘beyond the mask’.
Most of the time though?
Sixth sense and the need for f u n. To see all those people that others whispered about for himself, because that was how he liked it. Rumors and speculations be damned. How his own wild method had panned out more often than not. To be spontaneous and take risks worthy of the reward— a shame Fafnir seemed hard wired and tied to the opposite track of that. The pause Albite had to take to imagine being block booked out months in advanced — until March!?!
The actual hell did this guy get any free time in for himself!
“Fafnir — man. Lissn, If all else fails and this s**t ends up going belly up for bust — I’ll get your quota for you.” Eased his bouncing at Fafnirs back enough to weave severity into the words. To make them into a promise worth keeping.
Even if he couldn’t understand the why, he could get the gesture. The guy had moved a while calandra worth of stuff about to accommodate him.
“I promise, pinky promise even? Cause, it’s so cool - you thought this little side quest was worth your really valuable time, huh? I — that’s a lot — uh, means a lot? I really appreciate it.” and maybe he’d do it again, and maybe he could..
“You deserve some free time too though. Something about all work n no play making people ******** miserable. N’ it’s not like I care if you’re professional or not, even if I totally wish I could do the whole —- how did the boss put it” had th way been talking about PR things, or soirées, or .. “Whatever, be the kinda person he’d take to, yanno - fancier places?”
Whimsical Blue
Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2021 1:48 pm
Faffls... Fafnir grimaced the moment the word was out of Albite's mouth. Being around this guy was like being on a roller-coaster rushing between 'tolerable' and '******** annoying' every five seconds.
Case in point, his immediate promise to get his quota for him if this put him off schedule. What was he even supposed to think of this himbo nut-job? He was rather like a puppy...
"I get free time." He said dryly. "I just have it scheduled to fit around the other obligations I have. Just because I'm not spontaneous doesn't mean I don't get time to myself. That's what happens when you have a lot of responsibility."
A soft chime drew his attention and when he pulled out his tablet, the expected message waited for them. He angled the tablet and turned, scanning their surroundings, before pointing down a side street.
"The video came from down that way. They were able to pinpoint the security camera it came from, so we'll be able to look at the actual place it happened. Probably doubtful there is any signs left, but its worth taking a look."
"Uh-hun. Y'see, I'm not judging you for not being spontaneous. Some people like corset's, n' strawberry ice cream. Just like some people like being bound up for time so they're always busy? All regimented structures and the like. I get that."
To offer up admiration, to give Fafnir a wink and nod, playful ease in tone because he was impressed more than he was admonishing of the mans finer points.
Little ping that got his hackles up and his head swiveled in the direction Fafnir pointed. Was already moving even as his voice carried, would speak to air, would speak to Fafnir as he followed--
"Hell, I like being always busy - yeh - just - not the scheduled sort? I couldn't handle it. I'd fail, so I just - don't."
He wasn't sure if he ever could've managed to mark his life out in time slots. Shouldered Fafnirs professionalism and held strong under it. How those icy blues played up an image of an entirely different sort of Atlas. Not heft of muscles that held up the world, but a slender pillar that played an amazing balancing act.
That snipped out minutes, hours, and moments. Oh, how he would've reacted if he had people on him like that. If his General was like that? Found that for as annoyed a front as he put up about being snatched around whenever -- that he never really had any true complaints about it. Probably because he enjoyed the feeling of running until he dropped, until the end of the day begged he crash like a ton of bricks into blissful unawareness. Where the only things he really scheduled in? Were times around his actual jobs, scattered things that took up days, or evenings, or...
No real structure to them when they weren't regular. No real structure to most thing's. Life happened to him, and he reacted to it. Things poured in like a tide and he enjoyed the struggle of swimming out against it...
"There should be some signs left - even if like - they fixed the lock n cleaned up the alleyway?" how he wondered if there would be marks around the hinge, or along the walls, obvious youma claws or soft tool marks that spoke of Phillip's flat heads and crude kitchen knives. "I wonder if they stole anything after they busted in.." could imagine strings of caution tape, if even DC police populous cared that much to do that little. He wasn't sure if the place the supposed beast had burst into was more store front or holding house for various wares.
