mayfield_rpg | Vingt-Quatre † another year unacknowledged

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c: ciel

Vingt-Quatre † another year unacknowledged

[Ciel didn't sleep the night of May 2nd. The 3rd doesn't really mean much to her. She can't say she looked forward to or dreaded the day, but remembering clearly what she received from the Post Office at the same time exactly one year ago... She's undeniably apprehensive, yes. So it wasn't really a surprise to find the package by the mailbox, when she took a quick glance outside the living room window at the crack of dawn.

...No sense dragging it out. She's come to terms with a number of things since anyway; the past year has been draining, but good things have happened. So not really thinking about what it may be, she takes the box inside and effortlessly opens it on the living room table.

...

A... book. A recipe book of baked goods, to be more specific. The last time she saw this must be a decade or so ago.

H...ah. This town really has a sense of humor, huh? Briefly closing her eyes, she rubs her temple beneath the frame of her glasses. After continuing to idly stare at it for a few more seconds with an expressionless face, she resumes the day by throwing out the packaging and bringing the tome with her to the kitchen.

This is useless to her as a memento. She doesn't have much time these days to wallow on by herself anyway, so maybe it's a strangely fortunate thing that of all possible objects, it ended up being the records of her parents' hard work. With how much cooking she's been doing since her arrival here, it's well feasible that she'll be able to make a great deal of what's written down in there on her own - provided that Mayfield's got the necessary ingredients, anyway.

She's already decided on a typical pancakes breakfast today, but this'll be a good read before work. ...Maybe she should bring it with her too, she could try a few things out after class.]

[Phone - Public]

[Right, there was also prom. Then THAT MEANS ONE THING.] I'm sure everyone must be aware of it by now, but don't forget that Prom is on the 18th, roughly two weeks from now! Talented tailors and seamstresses are already offering their services, so it shouldn't be hard to find something nice to wear. As Mr. Quinn already mentioned last week, dates are optional, so don't be afraid to come alone. You may even meet someone there, so don't be shy!

That said! [here it comes...] I'm in care of a sheltered young boy who's not very good around people. He is quite important to me, so I'd like to find him a charming young lady around his age to accompany him to Prom. ...Though a boy wouldn't matter either actually, I'd be okay with that! He may be a bit crass and rude at times and talk like he's much older than his prepubescent looks, but you have my word that he's an exemplary gentlemen when he behaves. Sporting the image of wise and cool, he is actually quite knowledgeable in history and prides himself to be quite intelligent and capable. He does seem to harbor an uncanny weakness to women with golden blond hair and crimson red eyes, but please don't be deterred. With raven hair smooth as silk and pale skin like fine porcelain, his appearances are actually quite angelic. If that's still not quite enough to cause consideration, I'm willing to negotiate with anyone interested... other means to incite acceptance. So if there's any interest or more questions, please let me know!

[Hmm. Hmm. It may be obvious to some, but there IS more than one shotapire in town, isn't there... but it's not like she's PURPOSEFULLY trying to create some confusion, not at all--!]

[Action]
I. Grocery store → Church ;; Early Afternoon
[Guess who's carrying 5 million bags of stuff again! ...No beef, potatoes, carrots ~~and other typical curry ingredients~~ and such today, however. Still in her civilian clothes, Ciel seems to be exclusively carrying flour, fruits, sugar, eggs, and other things one would presumably need in baking. She's doing fine whether you're just watching from the sides or walking towards her, she's usually pretty good at balance right...]

--Ah, please be careful!

[STILL MIGHT BE IN EVERYONE'S BEST INTEREST to avoid collisions just in case, though... Better be safe than sorry! She's got like two dozen eggs in there, that would be bad to break, ;;;]

II. Church ;; Afternoon
[Anyone who steps in during the evening will be slammed in the face with the enticing sweet scent of baked good. ...But isn't the kitchen in the back? Even if it may be going through excessive use today (which is actually is...), how does it really spread--

--Oh.

If you walk further in, the fact that there's a plate of mixed berry flaugnarde next to a tray of two dozens canelé might explain why it smelled so good. Both are still hot too, upon closer inspection; it must have been baked within the last hour. No one else seems to be around, but the smell is definitely coming from the hallway leading towards the left.

...

What do?]

III. Church ;; Late Evening
[The night is much calmer. Despite everything, this date today means something, she supposed, so at least something has to be said to whoever Above to acknowledge the significance.

In the end, Ciel settles on reciting the Memorare in French. Prostrated in front of the Altar with her headdress on, which is rare, she chants quietly.]

Souvenez-vous, ô très miséricordieuse Vierge Marie, qu'on n'a jamais entendu dire qu'aucun de ceux qui ont eu recours à votre protection, imploré votre assistance, ou réclamé votre secours ait été abandonné.

Animé d'une pareille confiance, ô Vierge des Vierges, ô ma Mère, je cours vers vous, et gémissant sous le poids de mes péchés, je me prosterne à vos pieds. O mère du Verbe incarné, ne méprisez pas mes prières, mais écoutez-les favorablement et daignez les exaucer.

Amen.

[Once she's done, however, she doesn't stand up from the spot. ...She owes more than a simple prayer, doesn't she? So even if the Church is silent once more, she'll keep her eyes closed and stay bowed.]
((OOC: Hover on text for direct translation! o/))

IV. Town ;; Late Night
[It's past midnight. It may be on a particularly tall tree. It may be on a lamppost. It may even be on the roof of your house. Wherever it is, upon closer inspection, the night sky isn't the only thing there. ...Actually, someone seems to be perched/sitting on top of that place without effort, while idly taking their time to stargaze.

Nothing too strange about that, right... Interrupt?]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I wasn't referring to the heart, I was only speaking of forms. No matter how human an Astartes feels or acts, he is still constrained by his body.

[ Garviel gives them an interested look, when she mentions the demon-repelling properties, then sighs. ] A pity, that. In my own time, I was forced to oppose daemons with nothing but fire, blade, and bolter. And even those were... less than optimal against things that were not fully corporeal. Flame and blade worked best, though I am unsure as to why that is.

That much? You bleed and die like anyone else, don't you? Just because your body went through modifications doesn't change that fact. [it might have taken a dip in morbid territory, but still it's true...]

Dealing with the spiritual is our specialty. As you've already seen, the Black Keys themselves are testament of the real power of Faith. ...Well. You don't have to worry about that sort of thing here, now do you? [she cracks a small smile.]

Yes and no. We do die from trauma like anyone else but.... bleeding is rather harder for us to do, but I'll spare you the demonstration.

[ He nods, and considers her words about Faith, comparing them to words from Sindermann. He mulls them over in his head, and finally says. ]

I do not worry, true, but I have seen malicious demons here. Some... thing assaulted the church not long ago.

[RAISING A HAND UP TO STOP HIM THERE with a faint and helpless chuckle]

...I meant that figuratively, Garviel, so it's quite alright.

Ah. Do you mean the dark masses of writhing tentacles from a few months ago? That was the work of an enemy Servant. They've been droned since, so I don't believe that we'll see a repeat. I do keep an eye on this place all the time and can take care of it by myself, so you don't need to worry at all.

Even so, if people are being harmed, you can at least expect me to fight. While it isn't needed often here, it is one thing I -can- do, and do well.

As for the church proper, I'll leave that to you of course, I'm more talking about the demons wandering the town leaving devastation in their wake, as they were.

[Crossing her arms and giving a small sigh.] People getting hurt doesn't necessarily mean you'll be given a target to cut down. We've already spoken about this before, haven't we? Regardless... You know where to find me, if you or anyone you come across is in need of medical attention. I'll do my best to assist.

[She nods.] I patrol during the night, but I've managed to find some help who are willing to do so during the day. If it's something big, I'm sure that we'll catch wind of it quickly anyway. Things can be dealt with accordingly then.

I had a somewhat happy thought, just now. It occurs to me that there have been less... malefactors plaguing the town of late amongst the population. There are the known problems, like the Major, but beyond that, it would appear most everyone kidnapped and brought here are eitherly actively good people or just want to keep to themselves.

Well, that I've seen anyway.

The Major himself is easily enough dealt with if he goes out control, as he inevitably does, and he doesn't fight well enough to defend himself from a normal warrior, let alone an Astartes like myself.

'The enemy of my enemy' should be a saying you would be familiar with too, I'd imagine? Individuals like the Major are only interested in watching the world burn. In his case specifically, there isn't "good", nor is there "bad". There's just "war", but with the notoriety that he's managed to earn, it should be okay as long as we're vigilant: he can't do anything obvious without being caught at all sides.

[she doesn't know if "happy" is the term she'd use... but she won't burst his bubble.]

Have you engaged him personally? [perking up in vague curiosity... she's never had to cross the German herself, she only heard about him from others.]

Yes. I have slain him, in fact. It was retribution for his treatment of Usagi Tsukino.

[ His enormous, hamlike fists clench, ceramite straining. ]

He is a rather pathetic warrior.

[...He never changes.]

One battle doesn't win you a war, Garviel. The Major is the best example to showcase that no matter how many times you cut him down, it will not amount to anything, because he will always come back. In fact, I wouldn't even say you've 'won' anything by killing him. It's exactly in stirring strife that he thrives in. By killing him, you just promote what he wants.

I know this. It was just punishment, it wasn't a fight.

Maybe it wasn't even that. Just vengeance.

[ Loken sags. ]

I learned a bit about him. He's... not human, though he looks it. Some kind of machine abomination, beyond the cybernetic enhancements that a broken Astartes or even a Skitarii would receive. He is... disgusting. But that could be useful. He could be imprisoned indefinitely if badly damaged.

Not if during the kill, he was the only one who seemed to enjoy himself. Vengeance is a self-destructive path no matter under which light it's put under. You realize this, do you not?

[...She quietly breathes out.]

A cyborg, or an android? Is he completely machine, or does he still have some parts that are human? Like the brain and the heart, for example. If his personality is a program, something like hacking may be possible? [she's no pro on that front, but she's heard a few things here and there.]

I do. I spent 6 months in the state of psychotic madness because I lost myself to vengeance. I won't let it happen again but... his treatment of Mamzel Tsukino was beyond the pale.

[ Loken thinks about it for a moment and says. ] I believe he is a cyborg. He was too... human in his actions to be an Abominable intelligence as far as I can understand it. He has reasoning that is human, if monstrous and twisted. I can understand his thought processes, even as I realize they are loathsome.

Has she been doing her best to spend minimal time inside the house? Honestly, even droning may be preferable to living with him. There are other preventive measures that we can take if we think, no doubt.

[She hums in acquiescence.] I do mean it in a physical sense. When you cut him down, did you take note of any flesh or organs? If you have killed him, how did you achieve it? [Hence why she asked about the brain and the heart, the two quickest ways to take a living being out.]

From what I understand, yes, she has. As for his flesh and organs he has flesh true enough, but his insides are... mechanical in nature. I shot him in the chest with a bolt-round. A mass reactive shot to the chest has a fair chance of killing even an Astartes if he is unarmored. A normal human would have his organs exploded and his ribs splayed out. He simply had a large hole in him that dripped oil and showed mechanical parts as he was knocked over.

He continued to mock me and A.... my companion [ There is a brief hesitancy, a flash of pain as he remembers Arf. ]

I sawed his head off with the chainsword, finally silencing him.

[She nods at that, good.] So he has no organic heart, but severing the head ensures death? ...I see. Do you have any information about the brain?

Don't let him get to you. Psychological warfare must be something else that he excels at, and allowing him to enrage you will only be playing right into his hand. [...] Do you have trouble keeping control of yourself, when emotionally agitated?

That isn't why I killed him. It was simply part of the undertaking. If I wound a foe so severely, unless I intend to keep him for questioning, a quick kill with the chainsword is generally our best option

[ He considers the question. ] It depends on the level of emotional agitation. I have lost control 3 times in 200 years of war. Once, when my gene-sire was mortally wounded on Davin, once when my entire company was threatened with annihilation during an frontal assault, and once when my closest battle brother was slain by another member of the Mournival in front of me. Most of the time I am thought to be a cold and reserved fighter, honestly. I'm not considered to be a man of choleric humors by my peers.

[She frowns lightly.] What do you mean? I'm asking if you know anything about whether his brain is organic or not. ...Given your elaboration however, I would assume not?

...Mm. It should be okay then, you don't need me to tell you to be careful. For claiming to be cold and reserved, I know you've formed close bonds with people here. Just keep your head clear and focus on what needs to be done, if something does happen to those close to you.

I'm sorry. No, I didn't check his skull, but I suspect it must be organic. I've fought several human-shaped artificial beings before and he didn't have the same.... feel.

[ He nods his head. ]

Well, yes. You know, Ciel... if something serious happened to you, I'd be most... unhappy.

That's good enough, thank you.

[At that she just... gives him a look.

Then a faint but well-meaning OH YOU sigh (though admittedly... is he underestimating her that badly or what?).] I'm more than capable of holding my own, Garviel. You won't be able to touch me if I was serious. Aren't there others in this town you should be far more concerned about?

You always say that. And I know it to be true. This isn't a question of whether I can touch you, or who else I should be concerned about. I have some ideas as to the nature of your strength. [ And just how monstrous it is. ] This an emotional attachment rather than a logical concern. I'm saying if someone were to harm you I'd be upset. [ And things that do upset Garviel tend to be the worse for it in short order, massively more powerful than him or no. ]

[She chuckles, effortlessly shrugging off his concerns and clearing away any tension that the topic might've brought forth.]

That won't happen either, I know how to take care of myself. I need to after all, if I want to devote my time into making sure that others don't rush headfirst into trouble. Secular as you may be, have faith in my abilities and judgment if nothing else, won't you?

[ Garviel nods his head. ]
I do.

....

I would like to know one thing though. Why do you devote your time to making sure others don't get in trouble. Is it an act of devotion? A personal expression of desire or morality?

Thank you. So don't worry about it, okay?

Hm... Aha. Nothing so deep or complex, I'm afraid. It's for the same reason why you would always choose to engage into battle whenever the chance comes. Cutting any tangible opposition down is one thing you feel like you can do best no matter the consequences, right? For me, I just favor a supportive role, and that means keeping those who aren't ready off the battlefield no matter how much they may claim otherwise. Does that make sense?

[ Loken shakes his head. ] No, not no matter what the consequences. That would make me no better than the World Eaters. I understand there is a time for more subtle solutions than just... the edge of the chainsword. If that was the case, I'd not have felt remorse and guilt at my recent actions. [ That would also make him something of a psychotic, but he doesn't elaborate on that point. Even psychotics have a place for service in the Legiones Astartes. Just mostly in the Space Wolves and the World Eaters.]

[ He feels compelled at this point to explain a little. ]

Ciel. Do you know what I would really do? If my duty was done, and the Imperial truth promulgated throughout my galaxy, and humanity was at peace? What I'd actually -want- to do, instead of what I am compelled to do by honor and duty?

[ He goes quiet, letting her guess. ]

Vingt-Quatre † another year unacknowledged

Oh gosh I'm so sorry I thought it was your tag. I lost the thread :(

ffff /pats... and continues to try keeping good track on my side!

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