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bunnyshadow • 1 March 2014 at 2:59 AM
@dada_dragon ~~~"You're very welcome." Sylvia said with ought hesitation. She eyed the chitauri around her before speaking. "Even I dislike his rule at times. He's to arrogant, confident, selfish." She rubbed her wrist uncomfortably. "His pride is going to be his death one day. Even he isn't completely immortal. My father's intelligence will one day be unable to support him. The day may not be now, or soon, but eventually, it WILL happen." Her eyes darted around the hallway.Loki did not take kindly to criticism, no matter who or what it came from."A great empress?" She was caught slightly off guard at that statement but refused to let surprise show on her pale face. "I'd advise you not to speak like that. He has eyes and ears all around. In addition, 'one day' will never happen. Not until centuries have probably passed, or until you humans have figured out a way to overthrow the throne."Not a single word of thanks at the compliment that could have meant so much more.
dada_dragon • 1 March 2014 at 3:25 AM
"Us humans overthrow the empire?" She asked. "I doubt that'll happen."She had seen what it was like outside... She could hardly see the human race able to fight back... They were either too weakened by hard work or too spoiled to even see the problem..."One thing I've noticed, princess... It's that your facial expressions and emotions often don't match..." She said, trying to smile, despite her continuing fear of offending the princess...@bunnyshadow
bunnyshadow • 2 March 2014 at 4:29 AM
@dada_dragon ~~~"That's the point." Sylvia said, almost as if reading Kita's mind. "It's not difficult to explain. Let's compare my father to, say... Adolf Hitler." "In a way, we're using the same method that Hitler used. My father keeps the humans on the brink of starvation. Hungry enough so that they wouldn't be able to start a uprising, but fed enough so that they will not die.""Even if they tried to start a rebellion, it would never work. Not unless they somehow find a large supply of food at a moments notice." She arched a eyebrow as she turned slightly towards Kita."Of course, you wouldn't hold this information I've shared against me, will you?"
dada_dragon • 2 March 2014 at 4:00 PM
"Of course not, milady." She said quietly.Was the empire really so delicate that human actions could bring it down? Perhaps the rebellion was more of a threat than she imagined... But still, it wasn't worth the risk.Kita caught a glimpse of a nearby skyscraper out the window. Painted on the side in violet was a hawk holding an arrow in its talons... One of the symbols of the rebellion... The rebels were getting more daring... Which would surely mean that the empire would only get more aggressive...@bunnyshadow
bunnyshadow • 2 March 2014 at 4:21 PM
@dada_dragon~~~"In all honesty, ruling this world isn't as amusing as it could be." Sylvia followed Kita's eyes as she looked out the window. "The rebels are terribly under-trained and not at all clever enough to overthrow our empire.""We are biding our time. Patience is the key. We are going to lie in wait until the rebels get arrogant enough to show their faces. Then, as easily as stepping on a unwanted bug, we'll capture and crush them." Her eyes shown brilliantly."They may have the will, and anger... But we have the power and intelligence."
meixiaotian • 2 March 2014 at 7:28 PM
"Once they return, I think we should find a place to be headquarters. It could change every night, but a little organization won't kill us." Pyra said. Hopefully, the rest of the group that would probably bring death upon each of its members would return, they could recover from a chaotic attack on Loki's power, and it would be easier to see what would happen next. Of course, chances were, the next thing would be just as incredibly chaotic and nuts as before.
dada_dragon • 2 March 2014 at 9:14 PM
Kita thought about what Sylvia said for a moment before speaking again."So these rebels... They must be a welcome challenge then..." She said. "I don't know how they compare to you and your father, but they are certainly stronger than ordinary rebels... They destroy chitauri like it's child's play..."She tried to remember what she had seen on the screen Sylvia had given her... There was the boy with the metal hand... She hadn't seen him use it, but she was sure it wasn't decoration... There was the weapons girl... The captain's tiger sister... The girl with the mechanical gloves... The chubby boy... The unconscious one... And Stark...And for all they knew, there could be more of them...@bunnyshadow
bunnyshadow • 4 March 2014 at 2:00 AM
@dada_dragon~~~"All of them." Sylvia said. "All of them are special in some way. Whether it be intelligence, form-shifting or some other power. But they have no idea who or what they are really up against. None of them will ever add up to me." She finished arrogantly. Sylvia stopped, having arrived at a large door with beautiful carvings of gorgeous flowers and other graceful designs."I hope you like your new room."
dada_dragon • 4 March 2014 at 2:40 AM
Kita touched the door, letting her fingers trace the elegant carvings. To put such details into a mere door just seemed so... Frivolous... But at the same time, she loved it.She pushed the door open. It was beautiful. The bed was enormous compared to the small mattress she slept on in the corner of a room she shared with three other girls. It wasn't as nice as Sylvia's, but it was certainly extravagant...She felt a twinge of guilt again. Why should she live in such luxury while others suffered? She tried to tell herself that it would be rude to turn down a gift from the princess, but she knew that wasn't the only reason..."It's lovely." She said. "But it seems a bit much for a palace servant. Are you sure?"@bunnyshadow
bunnyshadow • 5 March 2014 at 1:33 AM
@dada_dragon~~~Sylvia watched with a stout smile at Kita's onvious amazement at the beauty. But somehow, underneath all the surprise, she could tell Kita felt guilt. It shone through her eyes."Yes." She said. "I'm sure. My decisions are done once made.""There's nothing for you to worry about or feel guilty about. Both those feelings are for the weak and useless. You deserve what you're getting, as long as you follow directions and stay by my side."
asi • 5 March 2014 at 2:17 AM
Ray had a nervous kind of personality. That was the kind of energy that drove him to constant fidgeting, coffee addiction and always looking over his shoulder. Understandably, he didn't do great with anticipation.He was kind of worried he'd get sweaty, since he didn't exactly lift Aykays in his spare time, either. And sweating would be kind of gross and definitely awkward, considering his position.Jeez. What on earth made Aykay think he could do that? If she was so convinced he was a former member of the aristocracy- a far fetched theory if there ever was one; a slave, once one of the most privileged prats society had to offer? The little fact that it WAS true didn't make it any less crazy- but whether she thought of him as a rich kid from Beverly Hills or the meanest labour slave, how could he know about being in the miliary?The lazier side of him wanted to get out. Claim ignorance. Give up. Walk away. Find some good coffee. How easy it could be.Of course, Ray wouldn't do that! Tigergirl needed him. It was weird to feel responsible like that, important; but it wasn't completely a bad kind of weird... Even he didn't dare join the rebel club later, he could at least help her. It was the only decent thing to do.And the truth was, he knew all about the military, didn't he.Managing a tight smile, Ray said; "A soldier. Sure. I can do that. Yeah. Count on me..." It was a rather weak effort when it came to reassuring, but it would have to do.Then he drifted off, even succeeding to forget he was nervous while Ray focused on the task at hand: impersonating the Emperor's military personnel.Remembering his training was both as easy as breathing normally was while not supporting Aykay, and as painful as... Well, not as painful as getting shot, that's for sure. But the memories, they weren't pleasant. Ray tried to concentrate on the useful stuff.His back straightened, his gait grew subtly stiffer, and more uniform than before, until all the previously prevalent slack vanished from his posture. It was hard for him to ignore that after four years of factory work, Ray was out of shape. So long eating only the bare minimum, malnourishment had taken its toll and stolen much from his weight and muscle. He was still stronger than the average scrawny factory worker, but he was far from four years ago and Ray had never, even at his peak, been a very strong type. Aykay was really starting to weigh on him now, but Ray forced himself onwards, not letting his military form slump in the slightest. What he now lacked in muscle- and in proper clothes- he'd have to make up for with attitude.Then, suddenly looking again more like his sheepish, anxious self, muttered to her; "Aykay. Does this doctor know what happened to you? I mean, you said she's an informant, that's like someone who deals in information... Like, say. You aren't in danger of being stuffed into a large sack on sight?" his expression was rather strange as the large building grew larger before them. "You should probably know that I have... Issues, with things like large sacks, and events like getting stuffed into them." Ray said all this quite low and rapidly, managing to convey all too well the impression of someone who didn't really want to convey any of this.*R* > ???His name was Edmund Drake. His shoes were sleek and polished till they shone, and the jacket he wore over a plain but dressy shirt and pants was tailor-fit to his thin frame and its rather unnecessary clasps were of genuine silver, and not skimpily done at that. Translation: he had money, and he had money to spare.Reluctantly, Drake admitted how impractical it would be to wear this every day to work- absurd; he'd be the laughing stock of his office if he tried. Even if he did buy enough, managing to maintain that style on his pay (meager), and his allowance (handsome)... The work it'd take would make him look ridiculous and dreadfully pompous if he succeeded, never mind failure. But of course, it was all he could wear when it came to visiting the Solaris manor. Less would make him appear an impoverished beggar against the glamorous and gilded mansion background. More (as if he could), a desperate, clinging, blood-sucking parasite of a social climber. This... This made him look wonderfully modest. Business-y, but respectable. Exactly the kind of impression one wanted to make with the people Drake was reporting to.It would be near on the dozenth time he painstakingly crafted this impression for the same family, but h*** to any who thought such an important couple should remember anyone of his rank. They would be damned disappointed, and very likely drowned in their soup should they show it.Not that these people would ever serve any dish as inferior as soup. Oh no.Drake's job was, simply put, as a fitness analyst for the military. There were a number of tests one had to pass to join the military, and he was one of the guys who did all the math behind it. Normally for those in their late teens. It was only the really influential who could get him to take a job like this. When Drake was younger, the pressure had been on joining up with the much more glorified ranks of the physical line of duty. Luckily, being the youngest son of three, his parents had been able to suppress their displeasure at his more intellectual inclinations. What Drake lacked in brawn he made up with skill in manipulation, mathematics, and ambition in spades. Incidentally, Edmund Drake was due for a promotion.He rather hoped today wouldn't leave his chances dashed and muddy.Drake glared hatefully at his companion. It was their fault, after all.Large, round, innocent blue eyes stared back.Ugh. He didn't like children."This way, sir," a faceless servant quietly stepped forward to show him, before turning to the other and acknowledging with a bow; "Young master."At that, Drake could hardly help but steam with jealousy. His own family wasn't half as wealthy as he wished, and compared to this, his wishes were almost humble.The worst part was the the kid wasn't even theirs. It was just some brat they'd practically scrapped out of the gutter. True, the child was intelligent enough- an IQ higher than his own, he was loath to admit- and he did have the capacity to be as fit as anyone. Drake supposed, if they had to adopt, it was not really bad judgement. They were military, after all. Probably thought personality was something to be beaten like a dog into its place. Didn't know how much was accounted for by hereditary.He was kept waiting much longer than he'd have liked- especially while in the company of one especially hyperactive kid- before the master of the house graced Drake with his appearance. 'Course, this was his boss (or more precisely, his boss's boss's boss), so complaints were promptly stuffed down the metaphorical plumbing system of his consciousness. And there was a positive point: after an hour, his shoelaces were slaughtered, his ears burned, he needed a panadol; and he felt a lot better about making this report, if only to spite this stupid kid. God did he hate children."Sir," Drake said, hastily standing to attention as the man- very straight, well-built, greying, distinguished hair- walked into the room. "I have the results for this child's military testing, as request-""Daddy!" The boy, who for the last quarter of an hour had taken to moping under the seats (which Drake had much preferred) brightened instantly and skipped over to the older man.Who simply frowned. "Don't call me that," he demanded, to Drake's private amusement.Tilting his head to one side, the kid confusedly said; "Eh? But Mummy told me to..."The boss sighed, shook his head, and Drake wondered not for the first time about the strange match. "Rayner, who told you to wait here? Go to your room," he ordered.Suppressing both his urge to crow in delight as the kid slid dejectedly away, and his fury at his apparently unnecessary babysitting stint, Drake managed to pull together a neutral and, he hoped, totally blameless face as he quickly reclaimed the man's attention. "These results can only give an indication as to practical roles the child may potentially consider if it were to pursue a career in the military force. Please note the uncertainty of such a young age, and that only time can really tell- these are the best projections we can make for this age. But in reality, people change comparatively little over the course of their life, and in all probability if the child's scores show it to be unsuited to a path now, it will still be so in however many years time..."When he saw his boss impatiently rolling his wrist in a "hurry up" gesture, Drake could only hurry and cut to the chase."All IQ, physical health and fitness tests were all fine... In perfect order." He said, "In all likelihood, ten years and the right training will have him overqualified for any and all jobs the special corps has to offer, desk and field alike. He has shown quite the affinity for the technical aspect; normally, I would strongly recommend a place in the engineering department," Drake gave a stiff smile. Now to the bad news."However, his mental and emotional aptitude tests... Leave much to be desired. You already guessed correctly about his ADHD tendencies, but it's more than that... Anxiety issues, mood swings, too high a level of sensitivity for actual combat. With that kind of instability, it's unlikely a team would properly accept him, and clearance for any mission higher than rank five would be... Well. Inconceivable for anyone fully right of mind."The older man took all this in silently, with nothing to show for what he was thinking. Drake had to remind himself that these requirements had been created by this very man. He probably didn't need them or the reasoning behind them explained. Trying not to wince at the dreadful silence, Drake could only push on, "I'm afraid he isn't particularly suited to the military at all. Active or desk jockey service."
dada_dragon • 5 March 2014 at 4:14 AM
Kita closed the door. There was no use going into her room now... She wasn't tired and as much as she loved the beautiful room, she would still feel guilty indulging too much...She hadn't known Sylvia to be this generous... At first she had assumed it was because of her powers... but she had taught her how to use a weapon prior to learning that... So what was it?She really was different from her father... And much more difficult to understand..."Of course, Milady." she said. "What do you want me to do?"@bunnyshadow
bunnyshadow • 6 March 2014 at 1:03 AM
@dada_dragon~~~Sylvia stared into the space above Kita's head. She attempted to maintain an arrogant outer aura. Even Sylvia herself was unsure of what she wanted Kita to do. In all honesty, the only thing on her mind was to have the servant around to inform her of emotions. Certainly, she could use Kita to help her with discovering who were loyal and who weren't.Sure, she could use Kita to win arguments and get what she wanted.But most importantly, she wanted to know her father."Just... To tell me the emotions of others when I ask."
dada_dragon • 18 March 2014 at 3:29 AM
Kita nodded. She almost felt sorry for the princess... Being in such a position of power at such a young age... She was very set on her course of action, though she wasn't much of a details person... She wanted this rebel girl captured but as soon as she was asked why, she didn't have an answer... Or at least not a solid one... Sylvia was a youth making adult decisions... Granted, she was incredibly good at what she did, but that had to be a lot of pressure...@bunnyshadow
asi • 17 April 2014 at 8:24 AM
He couldn't help but feel a little... Disappointed, that after all that effort he put into all that dramatic trepidation- were they going to be turned away, interrogated, attacked! No, they were practically welcomed in with open arms... So much for Aykay's so-called loyalist, who didn't even question their affiliation till after she'd got out the heal-y sludge. Heck, she even laughed about being a rebel- that was nothing if not confusing. If this woman was Tiger-girl's definition of the words "Loki-loyalist", Ray wanted in to wherever it was she'd come from.Silently, he had followed her and the doctor- Jersey Car, apparently, or something like that- into a private room and then watched with fearful eyes as the lady did her stuff. Jersey's cool attitude and adroit handling of the situation helped set him slightly less on edge, though the hospital was still far from his favorite place. There definitely wasn't anything relaxing about this scene- and sitting around useless was not a twitchy teen's idea of easy.Needless to say, it got a lot more, well, painful, when it came around to the stitches. Aykay was suddenly gripping his arm, hard. Ray wished he could say something to comfort her, if only to get her to ease up on the arm-pressure- but he was worried that saying anything would distract the doctor, and bring him to her attention. He could only look on and hope that Aykay would be okay...In order to occupy himself, Ray thought about the interactions of Aykay he'd witnessed, both between this doctor-lady and the soldier before. The latter, she'd said was her brother. Now he heard that this guy- Evan? Allen? Something along those lines- was in charge of this area... Who could also sprout car fur and a tail... And he'd thought his own family was strange.It seemed like an age before the woman, Jersey Car, finally finished. Carefully, so as to not be too abrupt on a patient, Ray withdrew his arm from Tiger-girl's grasp, still hoping to wake up tomorrow with full use of all limbs.The next thing that caught his attention was this "PM test". Not having heard of this before, Ray watched curiously... Until Jersey suddenly took notice of him.About time! Honestly, it was a huge relief; the anticipation had been killing him! Now he could finally get this of his chest- this... This... Get this... Uh, what?Ah! He'd completely forgotten what he was supposed to be doing here! What on earth was his story again? What should he do?!Aykay had already been healed and everything. The first solution that sprung to mind- what had always been his favorite solution, ever since he'd first put it into play and left his home behind- was, of course, exit stage left. Only, Ray was exhausted. He could probably get away, but not with Aykay- and what would that say about her innocence? And... What if this "PM test" was something important- what did he know? After all this, how could he put her in danger like that...?God, if this gangly group of rebels hadn't made his life complicated, Ray didn't know what had- except for, obviously, his ill-fated adoption as a child. All he knew was, ever since he ran into this group, his number one strategy was never good enough anymore...He resisted the urge to tap his fingers, to mess with his hair, to pull at the bottom of his shirt, or slip a hand into his pockets or the small bag which held his one makeshift weapon, the metal gloves. He resisted the urge to break eye contact with the doctor; look at his feet or scope out the exits, and he didn't shuffle his shoes or rub his shoulder, which was feeling kind of itchy. Ray didn't- he then accidentally shuffled his shoes. Well, crap. Back home his personal trainer would have KILLED him for that-Oh, yeah. Personal trainer, for the..."Military," Ray answered the doctor shortly, fixing them with an even stare, his expression stiff and unchanging, and when he elaborated, he spoke tonelessly and without pause, like a machine. "The captain-" that WAS what the guy had called himself- "stationed me nearby. I heard the shot," he explained impassively, then (miraculously, considering this is Ray) fell silent again.*R* > ~K~The palace was like the very best parts of Asgard all crammed together in one monster-sized show-home. It was of course, inevitably beautiful, but stood at risk of excessive extravagance- even for eyes more accustomed to grandeur, such as Kitty's. Had the king of this palace been any more flamboyant with its decorations than he was, it would be a truly terrifying thing to behold. Luckily, the Allfather was more into the bold but plain palate, and the resulting air was mostly breathable.After their mother, her sister North was the first to be helped out of the carriage- and as she lingered on the top step, looking out at the palace, a fierce wind breathed through her flaming red hair, before the older girl slowly descended.The youngest sibling thought she caught South rolling her eyes, but when Kitty searched her expression, could only find a polite and innocent smile. On the other hand, East looked a little curious; but asking that one if she'd felt it was out of the question. Frankly, they didn't speak to each other if they could help it. Kitty shook her head faintly and followed those two outside, into the mild evening.Predictably, North was complaining in her low and assertive tones that the freak wind had messed up her hairstyle, that the maids never secured it quite right- etc, etc. Kitty personally couldn't understand why North insisted on wearing it up- down seemed to suit her so much more- yet stepped over to fix it anyway, her skilled fingers gave barely a touch but instantly coaxed the loose strands back into the arrangement.Without so much as a look Kitty's way, North strode off into the palace without them, holding up her dress like she was a born queen. Similarly, their mother then glided away, seamlessly slipping into conversation with the latest arrivals dismounting from the carriages.South smiled prettily, linking her arms with her two remaining sisters. "Shall we go together?"Though less than happy with this arrangement, Kitty didn't protest as she was led into the palace.Far from them having lost North, she was exactly the very first thing they set eyes on when entering the ballroom. Hard to miss when she already stood at the centre, surrounded by a cloud of admirers- and /their/ jealous admirers. It would be an exaggeration to say young men fell for her left and right, but she certainly had no trouble gaining their company.Kitty was tempted to try and join her, but knew from experience that the crowd was like a brick wall and she'd never get through- nor did she truly want to spend the night trailing after North like a lost puppy. In any case, South clearly had no intention of going anywhere near that group, instead steering them in the opposite direction, towards the banquet.Food had a hard-fought second place to North's popularity, and South kindly offered to fetch refreshments, to save all three of them from braving the swarm.Though she didn't take long, East had already gone by the time the redhead got back- probably off to the bar and its moody assortment of intellectuals. While Kitty certainly had had no desire to follow /her/, this did mean she was now stuck alone with South- and that was bad.Why? Because when asked, you couldn't say that South was any less popular than North. Except, instead of being the eye of a hurricane, it went something like this."Gina, you're here!" a girl spotted her and laughed, grabbing South's arm. "It's been simply ages since we last talked... I've missed you!"South smiled brightly and embraced the girl, exclaiming in kind. "I know, I'm sorry! Oh, wow... You look lovely in that dress; it even matches your eyes. But we'll have to talk later though; I have to show around my younger sister."The other sighed lightly. "Oh, how nice of you! Forget dresses, I wish I had a sister like you... Come over and see me later on then, okay?"After promising that a sister was exactly like how she felt about this girl, the two newly-reunited friends parted ways with happy tears in their eyes... And South would only make it two steps before repeating the same asinine performance all over again.Although South's intentions seemed perfectly amiable- as was exclaimed at regular intervals- one couldn't help but slowly feel more and more like some kind of... Charity project.Kitty stared hard at the third sister, looking slightly bewildered as she was towed about the great hall, assaulted on all sides by South's unquenchable supply of acquaintances. Those pretty purple eyes seemed so wholly genuine that it was hard to know what to think.What was worse was that numerous times during the course of the hour, people came up to Kitty thinking- due to her rather plain garb- her a servant. After one particularly embarrassing encounter where a man ordered her to get some kind of alcoholic beverage she'd never even heard of before- and made up mostly of consonants- she'd had enough.When they passed close enough by some side passage, and as her sister was adequately distracted, Kitty seized the opportunity and escaped.The empty hallway was wonderful. Like a storm had been roaring in her ears, and all of a sudden, she could hear a pin drop. While the ballroom had been brightly lit and dazzling, the corridor was bathed in a dusky, natural glow, softening the straight lines and blurring the edges into tranquility. Kitty slumped against the wall in relief, finally able to massage away the kinks that had sprung up in her shoulders. Alone again at last..."Oh, hello."She started, drooping eyes now wide and fearful as Kitty was caught on unawares."Ah, I apologize, I didn't mean to startle you." The stranger lent her an arm to help steady her, and she gazed up to see a young man with a catlike smile.
dada_dragon • 18 April 2014 at 12:23 AM
@asiAykay nodded."Apparently Ethan had no issue replacing me. This guy's got my job now... undercover agent in the area..." she said. "Speaking of which, did you hear that Ethan was arrested? He handed a weapon off to a rebel or something. This guy just told me on the way here... It's... Shocking, I guess. I never thought he'd ever do anything like that..."She knew, of course, that Jessica already knew about the arrest. She had a way of finding things out. Aykay was just trying to keep Jessica in conversation so she didn't have time to think to herself how suspicious this all was...Come to think of it, Jessica seemed awfully nonchalant about the whole thing..."Your PM count is quite high... Just how much have you been transforming lately?" Jessica said, then seeing Ray's look of confusion, "It stands for parasitis morphosi, dear. I assumed you knew, since you were in Captain Ethan's squadron that...""Ethan doesn't talk about it much." Aykay interrupted, not allowing Jessica to finish her suspicious train of thought. "Parasitis morphosi are a parasitic species known for altering the shape of their host... That's why Ethan and I can turn back and forth from tiger to human. It was one of Lo- Master Loki's funded research projects for military advancement. They modified the parasites to carry tiger DNA and to modify the DNA on the host's command. Right, Jessica?"Jessica wrinkled her nose. "Well... That's the over-simplified version, yes... It really is much more complicated than that..."Suddenly, Aykay heard someone moving in the next room... actually, a lot of someones... She barely had time to react when she felt a sharp pain in her arm. Jessica had injected her with something...She grabbed Jessica's arm with her good hand, causing her to drop the syringe. Aykay had a dangerous look in her eye."What... did you do...?"Jessica smirked. "You thought I would fall for that crap?" she asked. "We had already received reports that you were in the group that broke into the prison... There are only two tigers in this area, and it sure wasn't Ethan. And your boyfriend here? He's on the missing list for the factories. A runaway, not military at all..."Aykay growled. "You should just let us go while you still have the chance...""Not likely." Laughed Jessica."Alright, I gave you a chance..."Aykay started to transform, but quickly realized something was wrong... Fur was coming up in patches, but not nearly as fast as it should have... Her fingernails had become claws and her fingers had shortened, but not all the way... She could feel the beginnings of a tail... One eye had the tiger's vision, the other did not... Her teeth were pointed, but human-sized... The bones in her legs had begun shifting, but stopped halfway through, causing her to stumble..."What... Did you... do...?" she asked, reversing the transformation. She could hear the chitauri near the door now..."I simply made sure that you wouldn't cause a disturbance while you're being arrested..." she said. "I hear you took out a few chitauri at the prison, so I... disabled your powers temporarily."She looked over at Ray. She had never felt so vulnerable in her life..."I sure hope you have a plan..." she said. She wished she had a weapon.The door opened, and a man was standing there with a group of chitauri, weapons pointed their way."I'm open to suggestions..." she mumbled, hands in the air._____________________________________Ethan was pacing. He hated waiting, sitting there, able to do nothing... He kicked a piece of trash across the hallway, trying to channel all his anger into the act."Please, Ethan... You're upsetting your mother..."He looked over at his father, who had a comforting arm around his wife. His mother was shaking with sobs that made no noise, except for an occasional whining moan. She clutched a box of tissues in her trembling hands, but Ethan could tell it was almost empty."She'll be fine." his father reassured her. "Our little Aykay is a tough girl.""She's... only... fifteen..." his mother said between sobs. "I... Never... wanted... this... for... her..."Ethan looked away. He couldn't bear to see her like this."I'm going to go check with Jessica and see how she's doing."He walked away, leaving his father to take care of his mother. He couldn't help but feel responsible... He should have gone with her to check out the cabin. What was he thinking? He turned a corner and almost ran into Jessica."Oh, Ethan. I was just about to come see you about your sister..." she said."How is she?" he asked."Well, as far as injuries go, she'll be fine. The shot was pretty clean and it didn't hit anything vital. She might have to take a month or so off to heal, but she was pretty lucky."Ethan smiled. He was glad to hear it."However..." she continued, "I think you should know... We had to sedate her pretty heavily. Something must have happened on that raid that she's pretty upset about. I'm going to go talk to your parents, but I think you should go talk to her while she's still conscious.""Thanks, Jessica..." he said, trying to hide his concern behind a smile. He kissed her on the cheek and walked past her into Aykay's room. "I appreciate the help, sweetie."Aykay looked up at him as he walked in the room. She looked drowsy and her eyes were bright red and puffy. She had been crying... There were bandages wrapped around her shoulder. He winced a little."It looks worse than it feels..." Aykay said quietly. Her voice was a little strange... probably the meds... "Painkillers are wonderful... I can't feel a thing... Which is good, because it hurt a lot before...""What happened?" he asked. "Jess said you were very upset about something."She looked away from him, her eyes wandering over to the window. "They lied, Ethan... We're the bad guys..."Ethan gave her a quizzical look. "What on Earth do you mean?"She looked back at him, her eyelids starting to droop. He probably didn't have much time before she fell asleep."The one who shot me... She was a mother... She was protecting her kids... And when they came in after me... They took her and... And they grabbed the kids and took them away... And they were sobbing for their mother and...""Aykay, relax." He said. "Get some rest. You're confused."She closed her eyes. "We're all confused. This whole thing is wrong, Ethan... Master Loki is wrong... These rebels..."She trailed off, the medication finally taking hold._______________________________________Ethan wished he could've seen the signs back then. He should have done more...
bunnyshadow • 1 May 2014 at 7:35 PM
@dada_dragon@jupiter_hollow~~~The silence grew in size, and it's cold fingers seeped under Sylvia's skin. There was nothing else for her to say, and she could tell that Kita was thinking, and most importantly, judging. Before she could stop herself, she opened her mouth to say : "You can go now."But at the last second, she changed the statement."You... How did you get here? What makes you want to serve the empire?"Her curiosity peaked.
dada_dragon • 1 May 2014 at 7:51 PM
@bunnyshadow Kita was about to walk away when the princess interrupted her. She turned back."I was brought here. My parents were in a rebel group. When their camp was raided, they were arrested, but I was too young, so I was brought here to work instead." she said. "I might have ended up anywhere, but it just so happened that they needed more help at the palace."She hesitated before answering the second question. She had already said enough to get herself in serious trouble with the law. If the princess had wanted to arrest her, she would have already..."What makes me want to serve the empire?" she asked, allowing herself a small smile. "I don't. I want to survive, and serving the empire is probably my best chance."
asi • 23 November 2014 at 3:06 AM
"Who are you?" she asked, blatantly staring at the unfamiliar man, manners forgot.The noble, for that he certainly was, continued to smile cattishly at Kitty, and his hand was on her arm longer than perhaps was strictly proper to help balance the girl. Taking that and his lack of reaction to her own lapse into account, she quickly realized he must be new to court- not just out of practice, because he was certainly very young, though still doubtlessly some decades, perhaps a century or two older than herself.He wasn't anything special to look at. His hair color was sunny, his skin was surprisingly tanned, but nothing to write home about. In fact, he had a sort of underwhelming, helpless face, and she bet he was the type to be constantly wandering around lost, hopelessly behind on his workload, and missing the key of every conversation. She didn't even need to talk to him. Though his clothes were crisp, the leather and buttons polished and downright gleaming, the colors were wrong, the cut didn't really suit him and it wasn't fine enough to belong to the really high class. Her mother wouldn't even feel the need to forgive her if Kitty simply walked away. The smile, was, however, a little cute, and she decided to give him a chance, listening as he answered:"Ah, I'm Adair, Ad-""-air Lorfensen," Kitty finished for him, and then finally felt a bit repentant for her manners in interrupting. Although she really oughtn't be making a good impression, her regret quickly fizzled away to be replaced with warmth at his delighted look."Wow! How did you know?" Adair seemed amazed. She was right then; he had to be really, really new to the city."Oh, you know, a friend of a friend," she murmured, the lie slipping out quiet at her embarrassment. She'd never really been praised like that, even so indirectly. The only kind of surprise Kitty gave people was the kind North had got earlier."Wow," he said again, and she reexamined him. Now that Kitty knew who he was, there was no longer any search for things to say. He was NOT what she'd expected to be the son of a diplomatic dignitary. And suddenly, he was exactly what she wanted."Hey," he said, drawing back her attention. "Might you by any chance know where the party's got to? You see, I happen to be a little bit lost," he admitted, looking modestly abashed.She shook her head, carefully aware of her hair arrangement as she did so. "Sorry, no…""That's okay, I'd rather be lost with you than lost alone." He was smiling again. Then, noticing how she was rubbing her arms ever so slightly, he took of his (nice enough but still all wrong) jacket and gave it to her, complete with gentlemanly worry all over his face. "Here, you look cold! Better put this on."See, Kitty knew what she was good at. She was good at lying. She was good at flying under the radar, being invisible and unnoticed. She was very, very good at overhearing things. All of these things made her disgraceful (if anyone knew about it) "hobby" of working as a maid for a noble family absolutely perfect for her. If there was one thing Kitty was an expert on, it was the gossip at court. Every now and then she'd go further use it to make subtle hints to her family. Without them ever knowing, she'd manipulate them around the biggest upcoming scandals, and they'd come out on top seemingly out of pure dumb luck. Heck, Kitty even enjoyed the simple, lowly work. True, despite all her efforts, she hardly knew what it was like to be praised. But at the very least, the family she worked for had never once complained.And now Kitty knew three new things. One, she'd completely nailed this guy earlier. Two, exactly where the party was. Three: Adair was absolutely perfect.True, he didn't know how high society worked. He didn't know how to meet and greet, how to make nice, how to maneuver and how to manipulate. He probably wouldn't go very far in his destined career path.But she, she did, and since she was likewise destined to marry, she couldn't think of a more perfect match.~K~ > *R*Ray did have a plan. It was about as well thought-through as everything Ray-esque ever- a prime standing example would be that brilliant time he ran away from home. You know, because ending up an oily, rib-thin enslaved coffee-addict was exactly what he had wanted from life.That aside, he didn't falter but moved to grab Yessica, quickly fastening into a chokehold. Despite his nervous, fidgety nature, Ray sure could have an iron grip when he wanted. Grimly, he muttered in the lady's ear; "Only one out of three, see… I may be a runaway, but who says I'm not military?"Then he blushed. "And Aymay and I are definitely not together, okay!?"Despite this lapse in mood, Ray didn't allow himself to lose focus. He knew what he was doing- uh, sort of.This "plan" depended strongly on two unknowns: whether or not the Chitauri and the leader had any kind of recognition or value for this scientist, and if the weapons aimed at them right now were the kind of "blow everything in line of sight to bits" type, or the slightly more friendly single target garden variety. So there were actually two plans: A) use the doctor as a hostage and escape, and B) use her as a meat shield and pray it's somewhat effective. Grim once again, Ray murmured to the lady; "Let's see what your devotion is worth to your master, huh."They were in a dead end room, with not even a window to brighten their way. There was only one way out- meaning either they went through the Chitauri... Or got dragged out by the Chitauri. Squirming or still, result was the same, and he didn't fancy it.Raising his voice, Ray yelled; "Back off or your doc dies!" And he didn't really mean HE'D kill Yessica, although he wasn't entirely adverse to continuing to strangle her, considering what she'd just done. No, because if the Chitauri weren't inclined to back off, then they were really very likely to kill her themselves.'Oh god,' Ray thought to himself. 'We are so screwed.'*R* > ~K~A moment for an explanation of Kitty's family. The names like North, East, and South? They were like small titles that ran in the family on the father's side, due to his position long ago as a minor "god" of the winds and direction. Sound though that may like a big deal, in fact all it had done was land her father in the city of Asgard- and who knew what he would've been reduced to had it not been for the woman he married- saved by the prospect of magic in his blood. Kitty's mother was heir to a major design company, which, under her leadership, soon turned empire. Perhaps it had been a bad match, as it had not raised anyone's opinion of the mother, in fact, lowered it with the majority of Asgard's outlook on magic, leading to her determination to fix this with her daughters. But that was not to say it didn't also have its results. East studied the art with the same tenacity with which she faced all her subjects, and grasped even the most complex concepts with a speed to rival the most dedicated spellcasters. And North, well, she showed a high level of aptitude for magic, though she had yet to take a particular interest in it. The younger two children had shown nothing of the sort, but there was still time, and it wasn't like South, for one, needed it. As for Kitty, who had not yet shown any "marketable" qualities, well. Her mother barely cared, as the girl was still short of being "out" (and thus she currently had no title), and the older three sisters were still unmarried. As to which of them was going to be wed off to rank first, it was probably going to be East. After all, she already had the attention of near every man with a brain turned to science and who wanted a like-minded wife. She just needed to chose whichever had the most suitable position and she would be in the clear (although East wasn't particularly eager to do so, hence the delay). Though more interested in the whole deal, the other two would be a bit harder to place (for the interest was certainly more than twice returned). Hopefully the match of East would give them enough boost to marry those just out of their reach- for they were limited only by class.Until now, Kitty was glad to be off the market, for she did not long to be a trophy wife, sitting on a plush little cushion in a glass case. But now she had met someone to which she could be of /use/... With Lorefensen's position and her skills, they could pave the road for her family into the very uppermost circles of society.As the walking sticks of glitter and fake smiles in the other room would phrase it; this would be a very pretty piece of cake.
dada_dragon • 24 November 2014 at 2:21 AM
The man standing in front of the group of chitauri gave Ray a stern look, then pointed his weapon at Aykay."I doubt you are willing to take that risk."Aykay looked up at the man. He had stern features; a permanently furrowed brow, sharply angled face and a frown that could suck the happiness out of anyone. Despite that, she still recognized him."Who kicked your dog, Captain?" she asked, a smirk plastered on her face, despite the pain that was slowly returning in her injured shoulder."Arrogant as always, Kapelle." he said, turning his attention to her. "I can see you've learned absolutely nothing from your time in prison.""No, I never learn." she said, still smiling."Let me be perfectly frank with you, boy. As it stands, your charges are trespassing and not showing up to your assigned workplace without approved leave by an official. If you do not submit, I will add conspiracy against the emperor and attack on a citizen of the empire to the list. That's the difference between three weeks of hard labor and a VERY long stay in the imperial prison." he said. "As for you, girl... You had your chance to just take your five-year sentence and go on with your life after that, but due to recent events... You're up to twenty years and that's if you're lucky..."Aykay didn't feel very lucky... Clearly these guys didn't know how far Ray was involved in everything or he'd have way more than those weak charges on him..."As for you, Jessica, you are also to be taken in for questioning, considering your husband's recent betrayal."Aykay turned to Jessica, who looked startled, but resigned. She didn't know Jessica was married. It must have happened while she was gone. She was indeed wearing a thin silver band on her ring finger... But who had...She suddenly pieced it together. Her husband's recent betrayal... But there was no way..."Are you kidding me???" she yelled at Jessica. "You married my BROTHER???"Jessica frowned. "Well I thought he'd told you."The captain grabbed hold of Aykay's wrist. She tried to break free, but he had her on her injured side. Everytime she squirmed, pain shot through her arm."Enough of this chattering. Boy, let the doctor go, or everything gets worse for you."Aykay looked up at Ray. Surely he had a backup plan. Or maybe this was part of his original plan... Who really knew with that kid? He had surprised her before with his ingenuity. His strength lay in his unpredictability...@asi
bunnyshadow • 8 May 2015 at 7:03 AM
@dada_dragonSylvia regarded Kita with something that could only resemble respect. If she was in her place, no doubt she would have done the same. It would have been degrading to work for someone she didn't want to, but there really was no other choice; considering how one's own life should be the most important thing to oneself. However, a second thought crept into her mind. Sylvia thought that she would rather die then live as a peasant-slave, forced to do whatever she was told. It would be degrading enough that even if she had managed to get out alive, she would hate herself for the rest of her life. Yet, mortals have unbearable short lives and they value every second with utmost consideration."You have a strong will to survive." Sylvia appraised. Her emerald eyes peered over at the servant."But our reign will last hundreds of thousands of years. And you've had wasted your entire life trying to survive through it all but for naught." She exhaled softly before continuing, her eyebrows arching as the corners of her lips tilted upwards into a smirk."If I were you..." Though she said those words distastefully(she could never imagine herself in the shoes of a mere mortal), she continued speaking."I would live my life to it's fullest instead of wasting away working as a lowly chambermaid... or something of the sort, I would spend it trying to get the most I can while I am still around. What, Kita... What's the point of living, if you can't truly be.. alive?" Sylvia's eyes glinted before she let out a sigh and arrogantly turned the other way."In spite of that, I still would not recommend you trying anything... unsafe. Following my advice would not be the smartest choice for you, as it was all a hypothetical situation." Her slim fingers reached up to rub the back of her neck."You have curried my favor for now."
dada_dragon • 8 May 2015 at 11:46 AM
Kita smiled. She had judged it safe to drop her guard a bit, but she was still monitoring the princess' emotions just in case."It's difficult to live one's life to the fullest when one is dead, princess." She said. "Besides, being a servant is hard, but... and I'm sure you will make use of this... no one notices a servant, most of the time. Those of us brave enough to listen can learn things a free man could not easily learn. Not that we have much use for the information, but it offers some amusement."Her smile got bigger. "For example, I know that Captain Harrison fancies you... That younger captain with the huge scar on his arm... But I also know that he's not someone to pursue as he has a new girlfriend every time he visits the palace, not that you would be at all interested, I'm sure."She knew that the more useful she made herself, the more likely she was to stay in the princess' favour. If the princess ever got bored of her...She made a note to practice her "other power" later. She had considered telling the princess about it, but she couldn't use it well enough for it to be useful yet, and if she told her, but wasn't able to use it... that was a disappointment that she couldn't afford... Not when the princess could change her mind in an instant about her interest in allowing Kita to live.@bunnyshadow
bunnyshadow • 8 May 2015 at 2:52 PM
@dada_dragonSylvia’s thin eyebrows shot up in surprise at the servant girl’s revelation and she turned around to face Kita. She had found Kita’s second statement a lot more intriguing than the first, and for some strange reason, Sylvia couldn’t help but flush at that. Oh how she wished she didn’t turn around to face the mortal! Her embarrassment gave way to denial, which in turn, changed to disbelief, then lastly: defiance.“How absurd!” She said aloud as she fiddled with a strand of her hair. “Unbelievable!” Sylvia released the hair from her grasp.“I’ve only encountered him but a few times, and spoken to him even less so.” Her eyes darted towards the painting hanging on the wall and she turned to the side. “He should know better, especially as a captain serving us, that he has no right to have feelings like that.”Sylvia bit her lip nervously. Well… The mortal WAS pretty attractive for a human, the scar on his arm making him look rather ruggedly handsome. Wait... What was she thinking? He WAS human after all, and Sylvia pushed the thought of ever having a relationship with the likes of him out of her mind. She shook her head angrily.“Whate'er he feels, it matters not. He is nothing but a tool. No better is he than you, though this information could prove useful if I ever have need of him. If what you say is true, it will only hinder his service towards the empire…” She paused and glanced over to Kita before announcing her intention.“I must avoid him.”
dada_dragon • 8 May 2015 at 3:29 PM
Kita tried unsuccessfully to try and stifle a laugh. She had expected disgust, not embarrassment. It caught her off-guard."I'm sorry princess. Your reaction surprised me." She said apologetically. "And don't be too surprised. Humans are illogical. We often find interest in things out of our reach... I suppose that is why you prefer the help of chitauri... They're much simpler.""I mean... Look at Captain Kaoelle... His sister is a rebel and he chose to assist her. He's put plenty of rebels behind bars, bit he hands her a weapon." She said, thinking of him sitting there, quietly accepting the accusations of treason. "And the sister.. You say she will return, but logic would say that she could be in grave danger should she return... But she will because he is her brother.""Humans make little sense." She admitted.@bunnyshadow
bunnyshadow • 8 May 2015 at 4:18 PM
@dada_dragonSylvia rolled her eyes at Kita’s laughter. The human simply wasn't intelligent enough to understand her thoughts. However, she was not patient enough, or for the fact, willing enough to explain to the poor mortal. “I suppose I can understand that. As I said earlier, humans rely on their heart, not their head to think.”Sylvia strolled over to the lavish bed. “What has been done, is done. Betrayal deserves no forgiveness. Soon enough, they will be nothing but meat for Fenrir.” Her eyes sparkled in amusement as she perched on the edge of the bed.“Sit.” Sylvia said.“I have nothing else to do to pass the time, so let us play a short game. Any duties you have for the night shall be dismissed.”
dada_dragon • 8 May 2015 at 4:39 PM
Kita sat reluctantly on the bed."A game, milady?" She asked.The princess didn't seem to be the type to play idle games... Her intentions didn't seem cruel, but...@bunnyshadow
asi • 8 May 2015 at 5:45 PM
Ray's hold on Jessica slackened as he listened to the words and examined the man who spoke them. He very nearly smiled, or worse, smirked. But Ray managed to retain a straight face despite the multitude of silly thoughts which kept popping into his mind. Like, this guy thought Ray WASN'T insane enough to charge right through that wall of Chitauri? Now that was a far cry from the factory overseers who treated him like a crazed animal, when he hardly ever bothered to mess with anything there... Yet right now, he had actually been completely prepared to smash straight through those dumb metal suits, his figurative guns blazing (their real ones). And secondly? Of all the crimes he'd committed in his life, the ones he was going to get caught for were trespassing and PLAYING HOOKY? Just that was enough to make Ray want to roll into a ball and giggle hysterically. Next they'd be after him for coffee-abuse, right? Riiiight? Forget the fact that all those cups had of course been obtained via less than savoury means- where else would a slave get them- just arrest him for overdosing on caffeine. As for three weeks of hard labour, now that was real funny! This guy CANNOT have stepped foot in a factory before, because if he had, then the guy would know that ALL SLAVE LABOR WAS HARD. Short of literally working him to death (admittedly a worry), what else could they do? The guy just sounded like an idiot saying this! No, but that wasn't even the best part. This dude, this I-think-I'm-so-tough-and-buff military dude, who to Ray seemed completely naïve and soft and underestimated him so awfully... When he'd said, 'Let me be perfectly frank'... He'd sounded sooooo British! It was killing Ray, he just couldn't take it. His face twitched ever so slightly, and that was the only sign Ray gave that he might be going a little mad on the inside. Needless to say, he didn't really follow the whole Jessica-Marriage thing. He was too busy trying to shape his straight face into a distressed one, moaning, "Three whole weeks? Oh man, nooo," in just about the weakest performance he'd ever gave. When he noticed Aykay was looking at him, he shot her an even more nervy than usual smile. "Hey, girl," he said, because that was what the captain had used to address her and that had worked okay- and it wasn't like Ray could remember her name- "These people seem so nice, we should just go with them, don't you think?"
dada_dragon • 8 May 2015 at 6:58 PM
Aykay couldn't believe him.He was smiling? No, not just smiling... he was on the verge of laughter. She had never pretended to understand Ray... He was a loose cannon of nervous energy, surprising physical strength and a hidden past that she could only guess at, but that smile was unexpected, even for her."Well it looks like your boyfriend here is smarter than he looks." laughed the captain cruelly, tightening his grip on her bad arm, causing her to make an involuntary whimpering sound.Captain David had been in her class at the military academy. He'd been a likable guy back then, but had since become the world's leading authority on being an insufferable jerk."Smarter than you." She growled, then catching herself, added, "He isn't my boyfriend."The captain, still holding her firmly at the wrist, pulled her towards the door. He turned to one of the chitauri guards and pointed at Ray."Trekkkis ratera kannnnket." He told him.'Three guards on that one.' she mentally translated. They were uncertain about Ray. To be honest, so was she. Was he planning something still? Or was he just wanting the shorter sentence and throwing her under the bus... She couldn't really blame him if he did. It was her fault they were in this mess. She wished she could read his expressions...Jessica was escorted out with them, though they let her walk on her own. Aykay avoided her eyes. How could Ethan not tell her? She'd known for a long time that they were together, but marriage? She knew it was irrational and selfish, but she felt hurt that he would get married without her there..."Your brother too... What an unfortunate bit of news that was. I suppose it was you he was helping. He always had a weak spot when it came to you. It was adorable really." he said, enjoying every minute of this. "Your mother must be devastated."Aykay turned on him suddenly, her fingernails becoming claws and her teeth sharpening into fangs. She could feel herself growing in size and the beginnings of fur on her arms and face, but the change stopped there. Her powers had still not returned completely.She supposed that it looked grotesque, but she wasn't going for looks."Youggh leearrrve my mrotthhrrrr ourrrrt of thrrrris." She growled, her vocal chords somewhere between tiger and human, holding her clawed free hand dangerously close to his neck.He simply laughed as the chitauri leveled their weapons at her."Would you really want your mother to suffer any more than she already has, dear? Because I will not hesitate to give the order.She briefly considered her options before returning to her human form. She lowered her hand and reluctantly allowed them to slip handcuffs over her wrists.She wished she could fight them off, but without access to the tiger's body... the whole body... She wouldn't stand a chance. And her mother... She couldn't bear to hurt her. "Pathetic." He sneered. He grabbed his transmitter. "Captain Harrison, I've found one of the raiders from the prison and a runaway, as well as Captain Ethan's wife as you requested. Bringing them your way."Aykay didn't try struggling again, as she was loaded into a military vehicle. She secretly hoped that Ray was planning something, because without her being able to shapeshift effectively, she had nothing to offer.@asi
bunnyshadow • 9 May 2015 at 1:32 AM
@dada_dragon "Yes, yes." Sylvia agreed. She had known that humans could be slow at understanding at times, but it never ceased to amaze her that they needed so much reiterance. It's almost like they don't understand the first time around, so they always need clarification for fear of doing something wrong. Well... Sylvia supposed the servant should fear her, so she let this use repetition slide this time around ."A simple game. Nothing but a rendition of a old human one." She stretched her arms before crossing her right leg over her left."It has been a nice way to pass time while on patrol, but I've but had excruciating experiences trying to entertain myself by playing it with the chitauri." Sylvia pushed back some stray hairs behind her ear."It's a easy game, one that uses the If situation. Even a mortal should understand it quickly enough. I shall go first." Her hands reached up and she rubbed her cheeks as she thought."If you were to be immortal, would you be happy? How would you live your life? Would you serve the Empire or keep to your own?" Sylvia left out the entire other option of helping the filthy humans, as she would never think that an intelligent immortal would do just so.
dada_dragon • 9 May 2015 at 1:54 AM
Kita thought for a moment."Would I be happy? I would like to say yes, but that's a long time to be alive... As far as serving the empire goes... I don't know. I might go off on my own, somewhere I can be by myself. Being constantly aware of what everyone else is feeling gives me a headache... It'd be a nice break."She supposed it was her turn."If you could be a normal human for a day, would you?" she quickly corrected herself, "Well not human, but a normal... um... well I just mean not royalty..."She suddenly realized that she didn't know what Sylvia was. She wasn't human, everyone knew that, but it just seemed rude to say "so what species are you again?" 'Species' seemed like an animal word... Hardly a question to ask a princess...@bunnyshadow