Hello, everyone! after dealing with real life and the other nonsense of living, panny and i have decided to bring back war of change. give a round of applause. we’ve worked through all of the information and hopefully improved coherency and cohesion; however, tell us if we missed something. eventually, we’ll announce an event to celebrate the re-opening, so look out for information on that. -RAIDNE, THE HEAD ADMIN
From the moonless night, screams of terror and fear resound, spreading across the world and infecting the masses; however, those sleepless nights occurred years ago. A new era began with the fires of war, and with no end in sight, the residents of Selene Isle trudge through life, basking in the momentary peace. Despite their prayers for continued monotony and peace, a storm brews, stirred to life by the continued presence of Rapture and Wraith. And as we set our sights on the seemingly peace laden isle, we must ask: how shall this tale end?
As the years passed, the number of true pairs increased; however, they continued to live in the shadows, catering to the whims of the mundane. Seven Moons kept watch over them all, instructing them and assisting them, but for many, the attitudes and ideals of the organization were smoldering, suffocating. With Seven Moons and the mundanes, they could not grasp the freedom, the power dangling before their eyes. In the beginning, rebellion was a dream, a fantasy, a figment—developed by the repressed and carried forward due to the nature of humanity. No one expected the call to sound, and no one expected the call to be answered. However, it happened.
One more boy to lend a hand to you Is this just desire or the truth
Tagged: @nascent & Rika Matsumaru Kinda want Nas to come in a bit later, and the outing of them as a pair can unfold ;D
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Another night, another round. It was still relatively early, as well. She hoped the company tonight would make it a little easier. It had now been a few weeks since she herself had contacted her Fighter. After their last meeting, the behavior was even more unusual. He'd texted her, or tried to. She never really responded. At this point she wasn't even sure why'd she given it to him. Stress was a thing Belle was used to and could deal with, but this was pushing her limits. This was more than simply ignoring a disagreeable person.
Between being busy, she couldn't help but tap her nails, and leaning against the bar, she couldn't help but tap her nails. It was a miracle she hadn't started biting them. but when you spent as much as she did on little things like that, you weren't going to. At the moment, Belle was just trying to do her job, wandering the floor, band playing in the background, making people feel welcome, picking out new invites and focusing on them a little more. She tended to be more hands on deck than a lot of managers would be, so having her phone number was pretty much an invite, but Belle liked it when people had 'heard of her'.
Busy nights were good, it meant she hadn't kicked everyone off of the invite list nor let the establishment fall so low no one wanted to come. Still had people begging to get in, but after her Fighter pulled his little stunt they were a bit more cautious than usual. That wasn't a bad thing. Just something.
But dear lord she needed someone to talk to. Maybe one of the tolerable, or even nice, regulars would pop in. There were a few of them, but never enough of them either. Everyone else seemed to have a good time every night, Belle never quite seemed to get there. Maybe it was because she wasn't letting herself, she was taking her job too seriously, or it was just everyone else. But it couldn't be. She'd met good people. She just hoped one of them would turn up tonight as well.
That meant that once again she would leave the separate life that she lived during the day, and enter the one she felt like she had been living for an eternity. Rika had been a part of Rapture for quite a while now and she was one of the elite within the walls of the group. Most referred to her as Dolla, or maybe in better terms.. sloth. She was one of the best fighters within the walls of Rapture's tight knit community but there was always a catch with those such as herself.. the fact that as the sloth the girl was normally a very lazy person. Very very lazy, but that didn't mean she wasn't strong or that she couldn't take someone down easily if she wished.
Yet that night, for some reason Rika felt a bit more rejuvenated than normal. Recent events had been going well and missions hadn't been to hard lately. Other than the fact that her normal partner had been out of time, since she had almost killed them again. She knew that most likely she would get another lecture for doing so, but most of the partners she was given were completely useless to her. There were very few that actually caught the sloth's attention and it was those whom she could work with an no one else.
Another doctor bill would no doubt be docked from her paycheck, not like she wasn't used it by now. It was only the guy's leg, she hadn't killed him this time so she didn't know what the big deal was. So it was definitely about time that the sloth was able to relax the night away, she didn't have any missions and that meant the normal for her nights. It meant spending all her time at nightshand and possibly getting drunk in the process. It had been a while since she had done so, and it seemed liked it was a very good idea for the woman.
As she entered the facility as a normal she quickly made her way to the bar on her own without help. It was pretty obvious who she was as she generally showed up at the place almost every night. Rika also had pretty close ties to the owner, so it wasn't a surprise that most if not all the employee's knew her by name. There where a few times the girl even stayed the night lofting in the upper floor of the facility where rooms were secretly hidden and of course the owner's as well. Green hues sought out an all too familiar red head now as she saw her gracefully move across the floor.
"Belle, how's the night life." she said absently knowing eventually the woman would come to her herself. She looked like she wasn't having all that much amount of fun. Perhaps it would be Rika who could change that bit of night into a party.
The beginning of the night went on as it did. Shouting to get the bar staff off their asses and making sure the band knew what they were doing. The stress lately, with everything going on, was beginning to bubble to the surface slightly. To say the least she needed to take her mind off of it. A shame it was illegal to get drunk on the job. It might be more fun that way. Chasing everyone wasn't always a fun job, but it had it's moments. She was glad she didn't have to clean anything up.
For everyone else the night was fresh and held for them many prospects. Ahead of her, the night was just a long bumpy road, with a bed at the end. It had been a while since she'd had a really good night working. The good nights were excellent, bad nights didn't exist, and middle of the road nights were the norm.
Good job she was in luck tonight. A regular she quite enjoyed the company of was in the house.
With her words, she smiled. This was definitely better than most of the other company "Jesus really? You again?" She leaned against the bar table. "As it is usually; exciting for everyone but me and my lackies. Can't get a quiet night can I?" Luckily for her, being who she was, she was allowed to give more attention to one person than the others. It was the barstaff's job to do the running. She was the public face of Nightshade, she'd never really seen the owner out and about. But she wasn't about to make a sing and dance about it. "What's your poison tonight then Rika?"
This was a good turn of events. Some of the Rapture lot made good company. Most of them just drank.
Just as the girl had predicted her words had indeed attracted the attention of the other woman.
It wasn't odd in the least either as Rika was around often and well.. poor Belle normally couldn't catch a break. A small smirk lit up the face of the girl when the woman began speaking to her. It was obvious that a few nights never went well and Nightshade was ever as busy today with all the commotion going on as it was. Her words like venom on the tongue only made the sloth smile more at her welcome. She expected nothing less from the other, in fact if she had been nice Rika might have actually been worried about the woman's health.
"You know I always snoop around. Tonight I'll just make myself known is all." she said with a snarky little tone herself. To be honest, Rika couldn't imagine a better night though, as the woman actually made her quite happy. It was nights like this one that she actually appreciated her time off. "A quiet night would mean you in a good mood Belle, I'm not sure which I'm more afraid of." she replied almost instantly. Rika was kind of used to Belle's quick remarks, and had learned to throw them back quite as easily as the other.
Of course the dreaded choice came the the girl moved her cheek to he palm now. "I don't know what kind of mood I'm in tonight. What do you suggest." she mused a bit. Honestly, Rika wasn't really of proper drinking age but who gave a shit when you could kill them if they refused. Partially because she pretty much helped own this place and was one of its higher ranking customers who paid well. "I'll probably be getting another doctor bill soon. Managed to cut my partners leg off this time" she said absently almost as if talking about the weather.
One thing Belle wasn't bothered about was 'under age drinking'. Being part of the group who owned Nightshade certainly helped, but Belle didn't understand such a high age limit. Her first trip to the Americas, for example, was incredibly frustrating. She was twenty, and had been drinking legally for six years with meals, and on her own for two. It was lunacy to her. It frustrated her just as much when she found out Selene would work under those laws, too. Idiots.
"You should make yourself known more often. Do my mental health a world of good." Rika was like a breath of fresh air when she decided to pester the red haired woman. She knew just a well as most that her job was somewhat unforgiving in the non manual kind of way. Her comments always brightened up the somewhat dim mood she usually found herself it. One of the few people she didn't have trouble genuinely liking. "I don't even think that would put me in a good mood, I'd just be bored. Now that is scary."
There were few people who could barter with her and keep up. It was good fun in and of itself, just wanting to know who would spit what back and just how amusing it would be. "Augh, why ask me? You know I can't have anything! How cold of you." Belle thought for a bit though, considering the options. Eventually she turned towards the lines of spirits and liquors. "Can always start the night with a bang I suppose. How's a jaggerbomb sound?" A common drink, sure, but it was good one. If you didn't know where to start, but wanted something strong and quick, it tended to be the go-to.
And it seemed the Rapture girl couldn't quite keep herself out of some kind of trouble. "And so the sun shines; here you are buying drinks." Belle's amused comment came. "I'd say that surely can't be legal, but let's be real here, that doesn't really apply." Belle had never seen Rika loose her temper, or seen anyone who'd gotten on her not so agreeable side. Which suggested there was a reason. There was no part of her that planned to find out what it was like. "How do you even go about doing that on accident? Or at least I assume it's a accident..."
Rika let out a small smirk as she heard the woman's comment in response to her 'availableness' in the joint. The smirk slowly shifted to a full on smile as she thought of what she meant to the woman if she wished to see her more. "You probably will see me a lot more soon enough." she said calmly. Word had been circling within Nightshade and Rapture long enough to know that things were happening and spiraling quickly out of control. It seemed that the previous owner of nightshade had gotten into a bit of trouble and it seemed someone was going to have to take her place. It worried Rika, as the person they were talking about was a good friend of hers and had come to respect. While the sloth didn't generally like work, things that had belonged to the woman she felt a bit of pull to take care of them.
So unlike her normal attitude she had stepped forward on the matter, but now was a waiting game. It was the decision of the genus to what would happen now, but it was hard to see any other outcome than the one she had suggested. Rika had known her better than anyone after all. The words of the red head made the smile on the girls brighten up once again, "It seems I was mistaken then. I'm not sure it would be a good sight to see you in such a manner. You are frightening enough taking out the riff raff." she hummed some as her chin rested within the palm of her hand. Rika genuinely enjoyed the company that the woman brought her, but in the depths of her heart she longed for something more.. something fascinating she could call her own.
Rika's attention was once again caught by that of the red head as she spoke. "Heh, my apologizes, maybe we can go out on a spree on night just you and me. Then you could drink whenever you wanted." she suggested casually as her free hand seemed to absently tap on the counter where she sat. It wasn't an impatience but more of a habit when her mind was caught up within too many things. As always the woman had a quick fix to any problem the blonde had questioned about, as tonight's was the drink choice. "Hmm sounds fine with me, though anything you make is always good." she added on the last bit as a complement only she was good enough to hear.
It seemed that even Belle was used to her conversation of bills that seemed to pile up. "I always have money to buy drinks." she mused calmly. Even with the doctor bills that came in she had too much to spend. Another smirk crossed her face, "nothing in this city is every legal. Why do you think they separated us on a island on our own? This place has gangs, drugs, countless worries, just because you can't see them doesn't mean they aren't there." she said absently. At her question a small laugh came from the girl, it was a perfectly normal question but it still amused her. "Hmmm.. because it wasn't an accident." she said simply giving another one of her award winning smirks that came so simply from just being around the woman.
One more boy to lend a hand to you Is this just desire or the truth
Tagged: @nascent & Rika Matsumaru (I think you can come in after Nemz's next post, Nas, if that's ok with you, Nemz~)
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To whatever degree of manner that kept Rika in this little den of her's, Belle wasn't bothered, so long as the drab of it all could be forced at bay by her company. She could probably guess what ends would bring her in more frequently; like she had said, she spent so much time here when ever she could and whenever Nightshade was open that the next step would be to work there. Belle could never run this place for as long as she remained unaligned. Rapture knew she sided with no one, but she could only sense that it was a matter of time now before that changed.
There were few people Belle was really drawn to in any real way. Despite Rika's known ability, something Belle wasn't ignorant to, her age was part of it. Just a few years shy of ten years apart. There was no part of Belle was was motherly, but a large part a protector. In some ways, it was a shame that the red head had not been the Fighter of such a person. It would have been a task that fit her suitably. The task that the universe had given her however...where sourly different.
"I like the sound of that. I'd be nice to be with someone other than myself and the glass." Truth be told, she didn't mind being by herself. But certainly she liked company more. On another hand, she didn't want to risk something other than a platonic relationship with, realistically, her superior. If she even swung that way. As it happened, Belle swung all of them. "Flattery? God I need more people in here like you." Belle mused. Shortly the prescribed drink found itself on the table, along with another. Belle gave a wink to the younger. "I'm sure one won't hurt." She picked up the small double shot glass, titling it towards Rika in a small toast of sorts "Bottoms up I suppose!" She seemed to sing, before promptly doing so. A shot in a shot.
As Rika spoke Belle would turn her attentions briefly towards the staff, just to make sure they were doing theirs jobs. She was at work after all, but her listening focus was still with her. She had a point. Often with the way Belle disconnected herself from the worlds of Fighters and Sacrifices, more so since she'd been found by her's, she would forget exactly where she was. Needless to say of why she was here. "I do tend to ignore most of what goes on. I work under you Rapture lot but, - and excuse me - can't say I really care much for whatever crap you've got in the words. You pay me! That's as involved as I'd like to get for now." They paid her, and it was money she'd never had needed in truth. Here, however, her CEO status meant nothing. And she liked that. A lot.
Stepping back, Belle rested her hands on her hips with an eyebrow raised curiously. In that moment she did almost look like a mother. "Now I'll take your word for that, I have no want to get into details. It's too early in the night for that." In a moment of breaking character, Belle's phone vibrated, and she took it out for a quick look. As it has stood for months, Belle never checked her phone. Or got texts. She'd never had a need to. That wasn't to say Belle knew why she'd looked. More texts she'd never respond to from on.
Putting it away, she seemed to come back around. "So, now that your partner, was it? Is lacking a leg, what's you next game plan? Unless the plan wasn't to keep them at all?" A knowing kind of smile crossed Belle's face. Not an altogether smug look, but the looked that said they knew where this could go. Not that Belle would ever make assumptions about a person like Rika. Unless it was appropriately amusing for the pair of them, anyway.
The night seemed like it would last forever, such a night was one that the woman actually liked. Rika had always loved the night, and the life that came with it. It was the time that she tended to shed the outer coat of what she was (or perhaps used to be) and became what she really was, a rapture elite. Even as lazy as she tended to be every once in a while she still couldn't help but decide that this night wasn't going to be of its normalcy. That didn't bother the blonde at all as she didn't quite like when things were boring.
When the woman said that it would be nice to go out a sly smile came across the Dolla's face. Rika quite enjoyed the company of the woman and her making herself known outside of work was something Rika would like to see. After all, this was the only time she ever actually saw the woman. "I'd think you'd be used to the glass as your only company, but I don't mind extending my presence as well." she mused calmly. The elite thought for a moment as the bell attached to the bracelet on her wrist chimed slightly.
"Flattery gets you everywhere now in days." she said casually at Belle's response to her comment. Though the woman was on game just as she always was. There within the moment a drink sat before her as another slid beside it and a small brow rose. It didn't take long for the girl to realize just what had happened and what was going on. A small chuckle came from Rika before a soft smile "Yeah, I'm sure one wouldn't hurt, especially someone like you." she teased slightly. At the bottoms up the girl lifted her glass before taking almost all of the drink in a few swigs she had.
As she started speaking of the island it felt as bitter as it was sweet. The woman seemed to be listening as she did other things but Rika didn't really mind. The woman answering was enough to let her know that she had been listening. To be quite honest, it wasn't a surprise to hear the woman admit that she really didn't pay. Another small chuckle came from Rika as she said such things. "Hmm and I'm fine with that.. besides, any further information wouldn't really help either sides. You would become a liability and you would have rapture breathing down your neck." she said absently.
Rika couldn't help but look up at the woman's response to her last statement. Standing there.. she almost looked like she was reprimanding the girl and that caused a smile to form. Finally after a moment another laugh came from the girl as she finished off her first drink of the night. "Oh.. it was the plan all along, he was too weak." she said amused. If the elites were going to pair the girl, they had better do it with someone who could stand the wait of her abilities.
She wouldn't be brought down by someone who couldn't even avoid her attacks. "If they hadn't been so slow or weak they wouldn't have lost a leg is all." she mused calmly. Just like talking about the weather once gain, "of course I wouldn't dream of hurting anyone I actually care about." she said as a added side just in case the woman was curious.
TAGS: @bellefausts || OOC: sure i don't mind~ MADEBYPANNY@warofchange
Somewhere between you and I Is someplace I'd rather be
Meanwhile, outside Nightshade...
Weeks.
It had been weeks, and not one response. To a single text. Not one after the morning he'd awoken in her bed to new clothes laid out for him and one of the most magnificent breakfasts he'd ever had. And that after such a night...
Not one response. It was like they'd never even met. Sure, he was just another sex worker and she was the manager of Rapture's exclusive nightclub, but he'd thought... somehow, despite how she just passed everything off, how impersonal she made it... that something about them -- if not the sex or his willingness to do literally anything for her, then at least the name they shared -- would matter to her. Just a little. At least enough to contact him. And so once again Theo found himself outside of her club. No invitation, of course, but that wasn't about to stop him. Sure, he could have rung her up, or showed the bouncers that he had her number and claimed to be a 'personal friend'... but given the extent to which she'd forgotten him, Theo wasn't interested in doing things the easy way. Oh no...
Back home, he'd been forgotten by his parents until he became a "problem child". In school he'd been ignored until he'd become a thorn in the order of things. Maybe it had been stupid to think things would be different here, that anyone would pay the pretty little blonde any heed unless they wanted something of him -- that anyone would actually give a damn about him in general. He'd thought she might. He'd almost convinced himself she would, eventually... that somehow their bond changed things. She'd treated him like a person, not a nuisance or a toy or an obligation -- she'd been the first, really, in that regard. But only when he was around... the minute he was out of sight her concern amounted to a generous tip and a phone number he couldn't even be sure she was using anymore. With Belle he'd gotten just a taste of something... different. A different way of being. Of being interacted with, of being related to. Just the briefest taste and then, like waking from a dream, it was over and he was back at Amour Cafe waiting for the next client to make a toy out of him.
He didn't want her to hate him. She hated men in general and he wanted, more than anything, to be the exception somehow. The last thing Theo wanted was for her to hate him specifically... and yet here he was, across the street from Nightshade again...
... about to do something really stupid.
The truth about Crescent Moon was that you could get just about anything here if you had the right connections and the right amount of cash. Being a prostitute wasn't always easy or simple work but it had its perks. You got to know who's who and all manner of secrets in short order. Your employers knew where you shouldn't go and told you, and clients could help you find out why. From there it was just putting the pieces together and a map slowly started to emerge of every illicit thing the district could offer, from gang territories and worse to simple, honest kids living in cheap housing who liked getting into trouble, especially when there was money involved. That last bit was far more useful than most people could even imagine... and Theo was about to prove why.
Because six of them, armed with some inexpensive fireworks, were approaching the corner of the building. Theo got a text -- all in place. They'd wait for his signal and stay out of sight until then. A deep breath, coming out a sigh. 'Please don't hate me, Belle...' was his chief thought as he dialed her number. Whether she actually picked up -- unlikely -- or it just went to voicemail didn't matter: the words he spoke would be the same.
"I'm coming in."
Dressed for subtlety in a dark gray hoodie and black close-fitting jeans, Theo crossed the street while typing a short message out on his phone. At the touch of 'SEND', the distraction began. Two of the kids, lit sparklers in hand, dashed from the alley as though chasing each other, running right past the guards. The flare of light and hiss of lit powder was enough to draw their eyes, but only briefly. On its own it would've made a pitiful distraction. It was just the opener, meant to bring attention to the four street kids who had a whole pile of fireworks sitting now in plain sight right on the sidewalk. Several of which were already lit. The first small rocket shot skyward with no lack of sound, exploding in the sky over the building with a dazzling shower of green flame trails and golden pops. Half a dozen more followed as Theo, hood up to cover his face and pretending to just be some regular person out walking, approached the still-guarded entrance. Another text. The guards were already reporting the impromptu spectacle when one of the kids "accidentally" knocked a multi-rocket box over just after lighting it, causing it to fall facing straight down the sidewalk.
The first rocket that whizzed past the bouncers nearly hit Theo as well -- the plan had its risks, but to hell with it. He just barely stepped aside in time. One bouncer ducked into the doorway for cover while the other ran the other way, out into the street just enough to avoid the line of fire. The kids, acting panicked, scattered. Car horns blared as drivers reacted. The scene had just enough chaos for Theo to rush the club doors and get in.
But not unnoticed.
The bouncer in the doorway tried to stop him, making to grab his arm, but Theo slipped past his reach and bolted inside. Once in, getting caught didn't matter -- it was the stir, the chase, that he wanted. The bouncer pursuing him was hot on his trail and the game was on.
One way or another, he was going to talk to her tonight.
One more boy to lend a hand to you Is this just desire or the truth
Tagged: @nascent & Rika Matsumaru Sorry in Advance Nemz xD
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For now the good company continued, for however much longer that might be. Unfortunately for the pair of them, it wouldn't be too long now. "I am used to it. That's the problem." Belle grinned. Once you realized you've gotten used to something, it was time to change it up, you'd gotten boring, too. Or, that was Belle's way of looking at things. If you're not ever used to it, it's always new, and always worth continuing to do. Like this job of her's. The element of dealing with new and changing people made it always fresh. Something being boring occasionally didn't mean it wasn't worth your time.
As it stood, Belle's knowledge Rapture tended to exclude the bells. The small sound that Rika's made seemed to catch her off guard for a few moments. Maybe it was more to do with Rika's age, though. Young but Elite. It spoke volumes of her ability, but it didn't always erase the deception her youth provided to those who didn't know better. "Does it now? News to me." That slyness in her face seemed to say a little, mostly telling of her unwillingness to seem nice for the sake of how she was received.
"Not in the slightest." The older woman confirmed for her. There were only a few occasions in her life where she'd gone passed her point of consciousness. She was young, and shots on by one get one free. You don't pass up an offer like that.
The last thing she wanted was Rapture breathing down her neck. Mostly because she had a lot to hide. "Hmm, I suppose not." She mused, in a tone that implied a revealed knowing. Honestly, she didn't want to know. That kind of information didn't sell anyway. As the pause continued though, Belle grew curious. The workings of gangs were somewhat beyond her grasp. Obviously working here she had an idea of the who's and the why's, but the real stuffing was a little more complicated and illicit. That kind of thing wasn't falling from anyone's mouth. Belle guessed the day she heard something like that accidentally, would be the day she might as well just join Rapture altogether.
Belle nodded when she had finished. "Taking out the trash. I see what you mean." It did make sense. In between the structure of a group and the strength of individuals. Though, the loosing a leg part still threw her for a loop. "They certainly won't be picking up the slack now. I don't imagine you'll be giving them flowers or a get well soon card?" She chuckled. It was funny really. You can't improve if you don't have the means to. A leg was pretty important for most things.
That was when her phone went off. Belle rolled her eyes. "Do you mind?" The question came. She reached into her pocket to pick up the phone, but not before she looked at the name. And she seemed to freeze. And for some reason she answer. To three words, and a dead line. Slowly, she put the cellphone back in her pocket, and turned to Rika. Within the space, the faint loudness, above the band and the noise, of fireworks. Before a staff member came up to her, looking slightly panicked, informed her quietly about the intruder she already knew about. And by now, Belle was looking somewhat shaken, too.
She turned to Rika, making up another one of the shots, but otherwise seeming to carry on as normal. "Some nights, you know?" She sighed. At the moment, she trusted her staff members to get the job done. She wasn't prepared to deal with this right now. Not here. Why couldn't he have just let it die.
Let her wait for a nice little Blank to come along.
Ah, so that was it was it? The woman had grown board of just the empty glass in her hand, and now Rika had become a missing piece in the equation. It was wonders what a friend could do for your health, mind, and drinking issues. Not that she would actually help with any of those. "Guess I need to liven up your party night." she mused with a small smirk that she was sure the other woman would catch.
It also dawned upon the younger girl of the sly smile that moved across the features of the older woman when she replied to her flattery comment. "Hmm? I thought someone as wonderful as you would have known as such." she said with a small smirk of her own. Perhaps Rika had over done it a bit, but she really did think Belle was one hell of a worker, as well as a good friend. She was happy to have her as a friend any day. A small smile came as she absently swirled what little bit of her drink she hadn't chugged yet.
Her response to a single drink didn't surprise Rika and a small chuckle came. "I would be surprised otherwise, I've never seen you slip up not even once." she said with a grin. Taking another swig of the drink she had made her Rika listened quietly to Belle's own reaction to the information and what that would mean for her and for nightshade. It was good that Belle didn't want to know which meant Rika didn't have to be a nightshade member around her. She could simply be Rika, and she was just content with that.
A snort came from her however when she spoke of the member she had well.. dismembered. "Why should he expect something like that from me? It was his own stupidity that got him hurt." she grumbled a bit. Really she was lectured enough about it from the other elite. Rika knew it wasn't the best way to go about it, but she couldn't help herself she just got so frustrated. There was only so much she could take, before she flew out of her very nice contained coop. "No, he's been dispelled and won't ever be returning." she said absently.
The trash was a good way to put it, what did surprise her was the woman's phone going off. Not that it was a odd thing, but for the woman it was... Rika couldn't remember a time someone had actually called her before. With a quick shake of her head Rika let the woman know that she didn't care. Rika did however, notice the woman's reaction to who the call was from. Everything seemed to happen to fast and within a moment, suddenly the sound of fireworks was off. A frown crossed the elite's face as she glanced behind her towards the door.
"Fireworks.. that ... wasn't planned." she said a bit flatly. Her hand twitched slightly and her eyes flicked to the steps that lead upstairs. Her scythe was up there, resting in peace while she was drinking. Part of her wanted to move to go get it, something telling her trouble was coming. Yet at the sound of Belle's voice her green orbs flicked back. She seemed like nothing was wrong and Rika quieted some, believing it was nothing more than a few children looking to cause trouble.
"Indeed.. those are always the worst." she said absently downing the rest of the drink the woman had given her earlier.
TAGS: @bellefausts || OOC: lol rika you have no idea |D MADEBYPANNY@warofchange
Getting inside was the easy part. It was staying there that was going to prove challenging.
Theo ducked and wove around patrons, trying to shake the bouncer from his trail. He was going to get caught eventually, of that there was no question. He simply had to get caught in such a way that they detained him instead of threw him back out onto the streets. That was where this plan really got tricky, because he'd have to improvise with whatever was at hand when he got in. That wasn't to say he was charging in blind... he just needed the right opportunity.
From a pocket the young intruder whipped out a small digital camera. Nightshade's exclusivity meant that those who came here expected a certain sense of privacy, that whatever dealings and activities they indulged in here would be kept fairly discreet. That was the demoniac's angle -- the 'duck and run paparazzi' approach to things. He didn't need to actually take any pictures -- hell, the camera didn't even have a memory card -- he simply had to get far enough into the club that he could have, create just barely enough of a scene that his capture would mean questions, not pavement.
"Somebody grab that kid!"
And the bouncer trying desperately to catch up with him (but utterly lacking Theo's lithe agility and light-footedness) wasn't going to make that job hard. He just had to make it to the edge of the dance floor, make it look like he was trying to disappear into the crowd...
Fifteen feet. He wove around and through pair and small groups chatting with drinks in hand, pulling back his hood to see to the sides easier. Ten feet. He could feel the thrum of the music, smell the faintly dry waft of the smoke machines. His heart pounded in his head alongside the cackling demonic voice revelling in the thrill of the chase. Five feet. He slowed, looking right and left, partly to pretend he hadn't been inside before and partly hoping to catch a glimpse of Belle. He couldn't see either of the crescent-shaped bars that well -- too many people in the way. But still he looked, camera in hand.
Two feet.
"Gotcha!"
Heavy arms clamped around his waist and across his shoulders, squeezing him tight. The young man squirmed and struggled, mostly just to breathe as the meat-slab of a doorman "secured" him. People were staring now, looking on with expressions ranging from surprise and confusion to shock and disappointment. Someone spotted the camera in the youth's hand and suddenly people were either pointing to it or ducking out of sight.
Everything had worked.
"Alright, kid, this is as far as you go." And with that he was hauled off.
Two minutes later the Fighter was sat in an uncomfortable chair in a small back room, hands zip-tied to his seat and camera laid out on a nearby table. One of Belle's subordinates came in and dismissed the burly bouncer back to his post, giving Theo a disapproving glare.
"So... what's with the camera, kid?"
Theo answered with silence.
"Okay, let's start with you name."
No answer, just cold eyes.
"If you don't talk you'll only be making it harder on yourself. You can be out and on your way back to whatever hole you crawled out of in a matter of minutes if you cooperate."
Theo smirked. "You're not the one I want to talk to."
This was definitely not the answer the employee was looking for. "You've got a lot of nerve, kid. Who hired you to dash in here like that? Where'd you stash the camera's memory card? Photographing our clients on Nightshade property is strictly forbidden and not something we look kindly on. Now you'd best start answering me or --"
"My phone is in my left hand pocket. If you want to know why I'm here, check my recent calls and texts."
As the phone was retrieved and the contents examined, Theo felt a dark satisfaction in the look of increasing confusion on the older man's face. He always enjoyed moments like this, unravelling someone's preconceptions and watching them scramble for handholds on facts that put them squarely on the wrong foot. His "relationship" with Belle obviously wasn't something this man was at all expecting... the stupified expression alone was enough to give Theo a slight momentary sense of satisfaction.
After a very, very long pause, Theo's captor looked at him and spoke. "You're out of your mind, kid."
"Yeah," Theo grinned evilly. "So they keep telling me."
One more boy to lend a hand to you Is this just desire or the truth
Tagged: @nascent & Rika Matsumaru Sorry in Advance Nemz xD
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As the commotion unfolded, people turning around to see what was going on, and why, exactly, some kid was breaking in and apparently document whatever was going on inside. Belle could feel herself getting...angry. Belle didn't get angry. She was the master of keeping a cool head under stress, of wearing the mask to seem like she had a surface you could no deface with even your best efforts.
And to everyone here, that's what she was. Off or on duty, it was her job to make sure these things didn't happen. This would be the second time she replaced Security Staff because of him. No one was good enough, it seemed. Or he was just too go. Belle wasn't likely to believe the later of the two options. She refused to, for the most part. Her eyes seemed to get dark, this was obviously something she didn't want the deal with. But she wasn't happy to let Rika just grab her Scythe and behead him. No, she wouldn't let her do that for some reason...
Belle ran a hand through her hair, standing up straight, suddenly seeming exhausted and tired.
The way the patrons looked at her now, after this...They weren't going to let her leave her dogs to handle this. He possibly had video footage of a private establishment and the people inside it. That was, to say the least, unacceptable. "Aren't they just. Excuse me." There was no way around this. Even her staff members began to look at her funny. With the owner gone, this was her problem. She moved away from the bar.
Given than Rika was likely to take ownership of Nightshade with the previous owners extended absence, it wouldn't surprise her if she followed. Belle was too focused to stop her. And Belle would be a fool to do so if she wanted to know what was going on...and why Belle cared so much. Obviously this wasn't just some kids prank, or Belle wouldn't have been so uptight.
She was sure the look on the bouncers faces when she entered the back room would be enough to please Theo. The thought alone annoyed her. She didn't want any part in anything that made him happy.
She had figured that something was going on that the other just wasn't telling her. Rika generally trusted that the secrets of others were best kept secret, after all.. once she knew them then she too would be bound by the secret that was carried with them. So.. it was better off not being told.. unless it involved her which is what this situation was turning out to be quite fast. It seemed some troublemaker had gotten within nightshade, and it wasn't something of the ordinary situation..
Panic quickly spread through the patrons and Rika's eyes quickly dulled back to their normal quality. It was rarely the case when they weren't so, but Belle seemed to bring that quality back to life around her. Right now however, this was nightshade business that she was soon about to nosedive into. Rika had a feeling that this was going to be a problem, but despite Belle's attempts to conceal the problem.. it had happened despite it. The priority of the guests within Nightshade was her responsibility. All the talk of what was going on within the elite's of Rapture, this place was to be her's soon anyway.
Without any hesitation the woman slowly stood herself leaving the empty glass on the counter. Without a word she silently moved while Belle was dealing with the information and the rowdy customers, to her room grabbing the scythe that she hid there. It was easy to avoid the crowd as she went the back way to the lower floor. Guards lined the entrance for only those with permission to enter. Many things were kept secret in the lower floors, much of Rapture's true information. Even Belle was only allowed so far underground.
The guards moved aside without hesitance, and Rika knew that Belle wouldn't be far behind her. Her scythe was held behind her with her left gloved hand. Making sure it was just off the ground enough not to drag. She was quickly ushered to the holding cell where the man had been taken. Opening the door without hesitation the man inside seemed to almost pale seeing that she had been the one to come. Rika gave him a glance to let him know to put down the phone and quickly escape from the glare of her hues.
Knowing she didn't have long before Belle showed up her hues moved to the other now his hands ziptied to the chair. A soft sigh escaped her lips before her green hues looked him over. "Care to explain why you're here... you don't strike me as paparazi, though I must be made painfully aware why you had a camera with you. This establishment doesn't allow such trifle things.. but.. your camera has no wear .. so I assume you just bought it.. meaning you probably didn't come here for pictures did you?"
Sometimes she wondered how idiotic the staff of this place could be. At least the guards to the underground were much better.. as they were directly under rapture and her discretion, this place would be soon enough. "Care to tell me why you're really here then?" she asked eyes half closed as if almost bored by the other. He didn't strike her as from any of the other factions.. but why would he go so far as to bring a camera he never intended to use, just to get himself captured?
TAGS: @bellefausts , @nascent || OOC: fun is fun; hope you don't mind she got their first ;^; MADEBYPANNY@warofchange
He had fully expected it to be Belle who next walked through that door, all full of anger and fury -- preferable, at least in his mind, to her pretending he didn't exist. But then someone completely unknown, cutting a figure that was at once innocent-looking and terrifying, walked in instead, toting a large deadly-looking scythe. It wasn't altogether unlike the grim reaper in the body of a school girl; a preposterous concept, perhaps, but looking at her filled him with dread.
And, ever so quietly, the voice within him whispered words he didn't want to hear. Blood-stained. Cruel maiden. Young reaper. Severer. Theo's blood ran cold. Why was someone like this...
... and then it struck him, square between the eyes. He was a fool. An idiot. He'd honestly thought his antics tonight wouldn't reach any further than Belle... he'd gotten so used to thinking of it as her club that he'd honestly forgotten who the 'shadows of Nightshade' were. Rapture. And suddenly he didn't just feel like he was one floor underground but rather one thousand miles beneath a dark ocean, drowning in forces much, much bigger than he was.
He'd thought he was so clever, could just poke at a lion's den and not get the claws put to him. Theo had bitten off far more than he could chew.
"... To meet someone." His voice trembled just slightly as he spoke, but only for a moment. He fought for resolve and calm, finding at least some measure of it after a moment or two. "I was trying to get--" He debated briefly how much to say... but in this situation there didn't seem to be much he could keep to himself.
And at that very moment Belle entered, and the situation shifted yet again. He took in a deep breath, trying to steady himself. "--to get her attention." Theo's eyes traveled to Belle with an apologetic look... one he was fairly sure she would want nothing to do with. The whole point of doing all this had been to get a chance to talk to her alone for however long. Not only was that almost certainly not happening now, but the degrees to which all of this had made things worse... Like an idiot, he'd gone and gotten Rapture involved. And unless he was careful, very selective in what he did and didn't say, the shadowy overseers of Amour Cafe might get dragged into this mishap as well.
The scythe-woman was right about the camera - like every other prop and tool in the night's performance it was freshly acquired, paid for from his savings. It was the kind that looked expensive but was actually a cheap piece of junk; considering he hadn't needed it to actually work anyway that hadn't been a problem.
"I'm a fan of Belle's." He confessed, looking at the Rapture warrior. Everything he said would be the truth... just not the whole truth. "From back during her days in the fashion industry." If he could pass himself off as some dumb fanboy with no actual connection to Belle then he might yet keep this all from blowing up. Above all he had to keep their shared Name from becoming public knowledge, now that he'd gone and gotten himself into this mess. Theo was sweating now. Too much to lose... he hadn't planned for this, damnit!
"I'm sorry." Theo's gaze traveled to Belle now. "I literally just... just wanted to talk to you. I didn't imagine... I didn't think this would..."
His breath almost caught in his chest when he realized the contents of his phone, the one sitting out on the table, how it could blow his whole story wide open in a heartbeat. 'Please don't let her look...' The thought ran through his head on a loop. This was bad... really, reallybad.
"Please... I didn't want to cause any serious trouble."