Arena
"...I do not think you understand the extent to which this curse runs. And besides, after the events of yesterday, I...do not wish to use my Semblance." She looked uncomfortable with the idea of doing so, gripping her arm tightly as she avoided looking in his direction.
"I am nature's weapon. You are unfit to carry on your species, and I shall ensure that you do not do so!" - Charles Darwin, XCOM SniperDAMMIT JACK.
"How do you think you'll control it if you fear it?" Jack asked her. "I understand it sucked, however, just because it nearly ended in tears doesn't mean you should live in terror of it. You use it, you conquer it and you make it your bitch. You told me about the curse, but you're not a whiny little bitch. You're a huntress."
edited 28th Sep '15 11:55:45 PM by TroyandHawk
Good to be backNovus 3
As soon as Alexia entered the living room and Erin saw her, the ghost girl's emotions seemed to fluctuate. She was a mess, basically.
Is that her? My...sister? I have a sister...sister...I do not know how to respond to this. I am...emotionally compromised.
Alexia meanwhile, listened to Glen's words. The look on her face went from passive, to shocked, to worried. The younger princess massaged her forehead and let out a sigh.
"I need to talk to Alice about this."
Novus 4, Amphitheater
Alexia nodded to Ai and Charisse, although she really had no idea what they were saying. Something about competition and outfits? The princess...well, she's never actually been they type to try and stand out so...
"So, ummm, c-can you explain all that? W-what exactly do I have to do?"
Novus 4, the Palace
The one who accepted Alexia's invitation would take a short airship trip from Beacon Academy to the Royal palace. And who would be there to greet them at the skydocks but Alice? The elder princess looked slightly tired, and there were slight bags under her eyes, however.
"Alice! Sister, you...look great!" Alexia greeted happily, running over to hug her older sister.
Indeed, Alice had cut her hair, and was wearing something other than her classic shirt and pants.
◊
The elder princess hugged her sister back and shuffled awkwardly. "Well, mother, er...insisted? Er, hello, Alexia."
BLIND AND BLINDER
“…Is that really what you're worried about?” Lucas said. “Maybe you're struggling with what's going on, but I wouldn't say you're the worst at school. I don't know many other people who can tear a grimm apart with their punches. And I'd rather go on a mission with you than someone else.”
PAGEANT: EARLIER
Lexi would soon get a text response from Lucas. I might as well join you there. There's no way I'm getting out of it, might as well try and not humiliate myself.
NOW
“…Hello Alice,” Lucas said to the princess, sounding quieter than usual.
Novus 3
You'll figure out how tae respond tae all o' this, trust me. Responded Glen, in an attempt at a soothing tone Felt much o' the same when I found out my granda died, just takes time I suppose.
Let me know if you want tae introduce yourself sometime, alright?
Now focusing on those not residing in his head, the Highlander began to speak, obviously containing his rage "I'm damn near certain that you dinnae want tae be here speakin' wi' me right now, an' trust me, the feelin's mutual so let's get tae the heart o' this. I dinnae want a bastart like Alexandros anywhere near my homeland, an' I especially dinnae want him givin' my people his weapons. You an' me both ken that whatever he's doin' is nae beneficial for either o' our people an' it needs tae end now."
Taking a moment to take a few deep breaths and calm himself, Glen continued "If you need tae speak wi' your sister, make it quick, because I'm startin' tae wonder if it'd nae be a bad idea tae find this Alexandros phitean* an' speak tae him on my own."
Flashback.
...Under normal circumstances, Falken wouldn't have exactly been against a girl cuddling up against him. But with the liquor and party getting a bit hectic...
"H-Hey, you're cute and all that, but how...'bout ya let me get up before ya try to crush my ribs." The air-head nervously joked, looking surprisingly embarrassed.
Contest Conversation.
Falken exhaled, rubbing the back of his head and neck out of frustration with what he'd said going through one ear and out the other. That red-headed git had just flat-out ignored his advice and Ayers had sort of dragged Stormer off.
"...So much for that, I 'spose. Ah, well, more time to figure out what I'm gonna do, yup." The air-head hummed, glancing around the room.
Hope you weren't expecting anything witty here. Maybe some day.Novus 3
I do not think I can deal with this now. I am sorry. I...I think, I would like some time alone. Thank you.
Erin then vanished deeper into Glen's mind, turning her into more of a faint presence.
Alexia crossed her arms, a severe expression on her face. "I'd rather not start a war because of Alexandros, thank you. Though, you are right. I'll talk to Alice, and soon."
A sigh.
"I don't like this situation any more than you do."
Novus 4: Pageant
Chelsea frowned slightly, seemingly sizing up Remus in her mind.
"My clothes are too small for you, I think. First things first, we find a dress that fits you and goes well with Volsung!"
Seth looked at his sister with an incredelous look. "Goes well with his weapon?"
Novus 4: Palace
And then Alice immediately backed away, face flushed and looking as if she wanted to melt.
"H-hey, w-what are you doing? In public...in front of my sister, idiot!" the elder princess stuttered, turning away from Medus and clutching her chest.
Alexia giggled. Her sister was...well, she was a lot less troubled than she had been. Medus and Ieria were definitely good for Alice.
Alice straightened her glasses and coughed. "A-anyway, you head directly to the Wardrobe. I'll follow later."
A frown. Alexia could see the barely-restrained anger in her sister.
"The palace has a...guest."
Alice said the word "guest" as if it meant "someone I'd like to murder".
Novus 3
Grimacing, Glen said "Aye, fine. I just dinnae want that bastart in my homeland ever again unless it's his head on a feckin' pike. An' trust me when I say, war is the last thing I want's a war too."
Once again taking a moment to return to a more levelheaded state, the Highlander added "Just inform me when I can speak wi' him. I dinnae need a fancy meetin' or anything set up, I just need tae hae words wi' Alexandros next time he's wi'in airship distance."
Palace
Medus blinked and stared for a moment before who it could be clicked. But...he wouldn't really? Why am I wondering? Yes, he would. The rocker shifted into a more balanced stance. "Seriously? Him? Wasn't he happy enough we helped save his precious hospital?" Medus asked, in a tone of disbelief.
-dramatic music ensues-Ampitheatre
"Let's work it out together," Ai said. "Charisse can be third opinion, if you want."
She snapped her fingers.
"And Mau, you're gonna need outfits and accessories and I guess hair extensions and..."
Palace
Ai followed, a blatant tagalong without a formal invitation. She'd fallen asleep on the trip over, something of a feat when local airship rides lasted mere minutes.
She needed to be there for Alexia and Mau, anyway. She walked out with a spring in her step and hands held behind her back loftily.
"Alice! You sound less tired," she said. "I don't dig the cut, though."
She stuck out her tongue cheekily, trying to keep the situation lighthearted, and hid behind Alexia.
edited 29th Sep '15 1:40:50 AM by opnerf
Pageant Preparation
She returned Yun's kiss with a small hum, nodding. She had an impression that the pageant is today of all days. Having it be two days later was... way more reassuring.
"...alright." Hope took a deep breath, smiling. "...if I am to compete, I have to think outside the box."
"Alex just sent me a message, something about choosing the gear for the pageant. Wanna tag along? We might as well see what am I in for."
Palace
Hope tapped the frame of her wheelchair impatiently.
Well, no matter. Even if she wasn't competing, she could still keep company to those who did. And... there was an idea brewing in her mind that could perhaps leave her both comfortable and able to compete.
She glanced at Alice and immediately looked away when she and Medus shared a kiss. Their relationship was all too familiar to something else she would rather have a memory rather than reality for now.
Alice mentioned a guest and the tone of voice left her without doubts who was she referring to.
...I've never met the man, now that I think of it. Stupid Anomaly business.
With a sigh she reached over for Imuka's hand, holding it gently. "In we go into a foreign land, Imu." She smiled lightly, trying to give her teammate some confidence.
edited 29th Sep '15 1:23:58 AM by FergardStratoavis
Pageant Prep
Alexia smiled. Alright, she didn't have to worry about anything, with Ai and Charisse helping her.
"Thank you both so much! So, umm, so...do you think the both of you can come along to the palace?"
Palace
Alexia winced. Alice's mention of that man...well, Maximilian Alexandros being in the Royal Palace? This would not end well. Not to mention the incident Sir Glen had mentioned. (Alexia had messaged her sister about the situation last night after talking with Sir Glen.)
"He's selling. Olympos has made new breakthroughs. He's here to talk to the Ministry of Trade." Alice replied to Medus with gritted teeth, fists clenched and shaking.
"Speak of the devil..."
At that moment, the students would look up to see the golden airship that had transported them to Epsilon's lair. It landed on the skydock next to their own ship.
From the airship came a lone figure, trailing him were large black cases, suspended in mid-air by anti-grav technology and moving with his will.
The man was, of course, Max
◊ himself, looking as smug as always. He was alone. No bodyguards.
The "King of Business" casually strode towards Alice, a small smirk on his face.
"Mister Alexandros." Alexia greeted stiffly, hand on her sister's shoulder to comfort her and keep her from snapping.
"Princess." Max's tone was light and friendly.
"Sigma." Alice greeted, pouring all of her contempt into that word.
The man only smiled wider, and amusedly chuckled. "Alpha."
Palace
Medus observed the hostilities casually before piping up. "Is your desire to have everything twice it's normal size and golden compensating for something?" The rocker asked Alexandros. He held up his hands in a gesture of peace and surrender before continuing. "Because I'm just thinking, having everything gold all the time has to get boring to see. And I understand, rich people like extra space but really you just make it all seem a tad ridiculous."
-dramatic music ensues-Plan B
As Rheia fruitlessly searched the grounds, she felt her Scroll buzzing in her pocket. Whipping it out, she read through the message.
It was from Alexia, who she vaguely remember had extremely significant relations to the throne of Vale. Apparently she was being invited over to her home to look at dresses. Rheia took a few seconds to think about it.
Eh, why not?
Thirty Minutes Later
Considering she was dealing with royalty where they lived Rheia resolved to restrain herself. There was no need to make a comment that would prove lethal to her future studies at Beacon. She vaguely noted the girl she'd seen earlier was hiding behind Hope, and resolved to talk to her.
With zero frame of reference for who Alexandros was, she decided to remain silent on the matter and wait for someone who knew where they were going.
"Seven is here too, dressed like the concept of choosing clothes that look nice together was an arcane secret far beyond their grasp."Amphitheater
Charisse was still on the ground, shaking her head. "Y-yeah... Sure, whatever.."
She kept muttering something under her breath. Something about not even being good enough to draw stick figures.
Palace
Charisse simply stared at Alexandros, basically motionless and just eying him neutrally.
Her eyes flickered magenta once in a while, but for the most part they stayed a darker shade of green.
She was trying her hardest to stay calm, but that was easier said than done. Her nails drove themselves into her palms to serve as a distraction. It worked a bit.
G was here - 2/9/24Palace
I want to kill him. I want to tear his head off. I want to crush his skull. I want rip to shreds! Mia's voice repeated those words, over and over as Max appeared. Her Aura was even starting to leak, and the everyone could start feeling a tad bit heavier on the platform, a barely-noticable shift in gravity.
"Hmm. I like to flaunt my stuff. Show the people who I am." Alexandros replied to Medus idly.
Alice almost punched him, if not for her sister gripping her shoulder.
Max turned his gaze towards Hope, then Lucas. A small flicker of an emotion appeared on his face. And then.
"Scan."
At his command, the floating black crates started emanating red lasers, scanning both Hope and Lucas.
Alice was ready to strike, and even Alexia had gripped Serena's hilt. However...
"Calm yourselves, my ladies. I'm simply going to give...a demonstration."
"It's truly a shame. Injuries. Imperfections. They really shouldn't exist, don't you think?" Max asked, casually. "Enkidu, diagnosis."
The black crate spoke in a mechanical voice.
Type 4. Leg.
It popped open and Alexia almost slashed at it.
It ejected...a human leg? No, wait, it looked like a real leg...but she could see...circuitry?
Alice frowned, staring at the leg warily.
Max took the leg...and presented it to Hope.
"One of our prototypes. It connects to your nerves. You can even feel with it."
Then, he turned to look at the black machine again. "Enkidu. Prototype E-14."
The crate opened again and produced something like a contact. Just a tiny one, transparent.
Max grinned. "One of our newest. Try."
He gave it to Lucas. "It doesn't do color, and of course, that's the only one I have on me, so it's only on one eye..."
He turned to smirk arrogantly at the uncomfortable and clearly mistrusting princesses.
"Those are real. And this is just a small sample of what I can offer the world. Heh. I can do so much more. Are not sacrifices worth this?"
Mia screamed inside Charisse, but managed to control herself at the last second, preventing any damage to the skydock and the people.
Alice, however, punched Alexandros in the face.
Max reeled and...laughed, touching his bruised face. "Good punch. Now, I must be going, Highness, I have business with the Trade Ministry."
Palace
Rheia decided that whoever this Alexandros was, she didn't like him very much. He was arrogant. He was so cocksure that he was practically blind. And he scanned two of the nearby people - one of whom was Hope.
Rheia stayed calm. She was in the presence of royalty. It would not be wise to make rash decisions.
Alexandros proffered Hope legs. He gave Lucas a contact lens. She suddenly felt really heavy all as this happened, which only served to make her far more confused. What was going on?
Still, Rheia stayed calm. She was in the presence of royalty. It would not be wise to make rash decisions.
Though even as she looked more confused than anything else, she still felt satisfaction on hearing the smack of Alice's fist connecting with the businessman's face.
edited 29th Sep '15 8:43:45 AM by SpartyMcFly
"Seven is here too, dressed like the concept of choosing clothes that look nice together was an arcane secret far beyond their grasp."Palace
Ai grasped Charisse and Mia's hand. Stay calm, her expression told them.
How far had Alexandros gone in his research to have developed legs with functional nerve endings? Then again, Ayers had an arm that did something similar. In the back of Ai's mind, she wondered if Alexandros had a synthetic spine in development, and at what human cost.
As he walked by them, Ai whirled around, cupped her hands to her mouth and shouted back.
"You still suck, Max!" she said.
She turned to the others.
"For someone who thinks he's doing the world a service he sure likes to rub it in everyone's noses."
Beacon
"If you want me to." Yun replied.
Palace
Yun stood behind Hope, set on the artificial leg with a wary glare. He didn't trust Alexandros, not sure of where the man stood now that the incident with Epsilon was over.
Bullshit. If there is no consequence how will we learn? He thought, shifting his eyepatch to uncover his cybernetic and leaning down to observe the prosthetic. Occasionally, his eyes flickered around, observing his shaken friends.
"That may be, but he certainly doesn't half-ass his work." Yun said, standing up once Alexandros. "Tech's not my expertise, but I can't really see anything out of the ordinary with the leg at least. Imuka, Alice." He continued, looking at the two "If Hope and Lucas allow it, do you think you could scan them for anything out of the ordinary? Or should we just dispose of them?"
edited 29th Sep '15 10:20:31 AM by svenorzokarkoff
Palace
At first Imuka had watched Alexandros with her fangs showing slightly, obviously, not enjoying meeting him here in what was suposed to be just a fun little thing with friends... But as the demonstration went on, her fangs were exposed less, and less, and it was gently sliding back to ear pins, but not because of depression this time, but more....
She was unsure how to feel about this.
Palace:Alexandros Gains Another Enemy
Al watched in silence as Max tried to offer the examples of the worth of his sacrifices, not making a single movement or remark, only watching, carefully. Until he left.
Alexandros had a special way of annoying Alfred, a way he hasn't experienced in a long time, his employer didn't provoke it from him, at least not so obviously and in this way. Besides he gave him a living out of the slums, unlike Alexandros, who gave him nothing.
But Max reminded Al of an old memory. In every way. He angered him. Enough for it to actually show on him. His expression was more emotional and genuine than usual.
"More like he's trying to antagonize the entirety of Remnant. He's a rich man playing a rich man's game, if he wouldn't be smug about it the game wouldn't be worth it. He shows that it's a game to him too, The creation of our doubt through his motives, the little gestures of "Kindness". The constant need to show off. He treats us like we're a bunch of ants, meant to be pitied, but kept at a distance from his sweet rich ass. Never to even be considered on his level or elevated to it"

ARENA
Jack quietly walked past her, closing the door to the arena and making sure it was locked. "Clan Reisentoter takes a lot of pride in it's berserkers. Hell, in a past life, I was one." He sighed. "However, like you. It threatens to control them. And so, we have Der Kreigbad. Two berserkers just whale on each other until they're tired, stress is lost and strength is shown. I feel that what happened to you could be solved by Der Kreigbad, releasing your berserker and let it drive for a little bit. So, activate your semblance and attack me."
edited 28th Sep '15 9:21:45 PM by TroyandHawk
Good to be back