Noir

Kino Kino watched as Mitsurugi operated the machinery that was presented before them, with several other pillars within a stone's throw away that presumably possessed the same function. Watching what the goddess (whom she lacked full certainty of addressing her as such) was doing, she raised a brow in curiosity. "Mitsurugi-san? What are you doing? Are you watching something?" She asked. Part of Kino itched to put the one pillar nearby the the Temple to use.

Kino Her people? The revelation surprised the nun slightly, wondering what an amount her people actually pertained to. So there are a lot of friends in this thing! Enma chanted excitedly, I'll go inside and try to talk them out- No, she corrected. If you go in there, you might have no way out. These souls willingly bind themselves to it, remember? It's likely that they aren't welcome to intruders, nor have reason to negotiate, either. The hasty Enma quickly turned silent, agreeing with her sister's discernment. Such bound souls were not worth risking her freedom for. Kino let out a sigh in response to Mitsurugi's reservedness, before returning to address her again as she continued collecting items from the crates nearby. "There's not a lot I can do for the moment, then. I apologize," Kino said, mildly regretful that she could not be of significant use at the moment, returning the piece of metal to Mitsurugi. "It is as you say; the souls within this sheathe willingly bind themselves to it. If a soul willingly clings itself to an object and sticks with it. I could send my sister in to communicate, but I fear she would have no way out....and it is against my nature to forcibly take lost souls with me. Those who follow me follow me with the promise of freedom; those who don't stay for reasons akin to my own, having personal missions to fulfill." Staring into the distance, Kino notices the wooden pillars within certain walking distance from them, extending in an almost parallel arrangement eastward. The structures piqued her curiosity, "Mitsurugi-san, look at those towering pillars extending there -- what do you think they are? Do you think we should go have a look?"

Welp.

Kino See? All good things to those who wait. The unexpected favor enticed the two siblings equally. So there are friends ensnared in this thing? We must set them free- Not until we know what it is. Kino eyed the seemingly ancient sheathe handed to her; it seemed dubious for what it looked like, and, true to its owner's word, there was some form of magic...some form of ensnarement or binding that existed within the piece of metal, as if it were alive. Try hearing it -- connecting with it. A few moments passed with Enma in a rare silence before she gathered something. Servitude to the one who wields the sword, she answered. The faintest whisper as it might have been, Enma had at least one clue. She frowned at what she had seemingly heard. Duty and servitude are no fun. They should join us in freedom. Can you get anything else? I'm trying, but not all new friends are open-minded like me. Slightly curious and hesitant about what belied within the sheathe, Kino returned to address Mitsurugi. "Mitsurugi-san," She began. "Not to be rude to you, but may I ask the circumstances of which you acquired this sheathe? Perhaps it would be easier for me to comprehend...whatever it is that is trapped within this belonging of yours if you told me anything you know about it."

Kino As Kino set the note down on her tale, she noticed her sentient companion collecting orbs from crates as they spoke, raising a brow in curiosity at her current activity. Nonetheless, she agreed with Mitsurugi's opinion of people with wrong, deluded ideals producing the same results. It was then, however, that Mitsurugi had asked a favor of the nun, piquing her curiosity even more. "I would agree with you. Is there something you require of me? I shall aid you in any way I am able, as thanks for your little rescue earlier." Nee-san, you aren't going to be wasting your time helping this girl, are you? We have to play and find new friends! Kindness is repaid, Enma. Something you may try and learn for yourself, once in a while. Kino returned, knowing that she had won the exchange easily, gaining small amusement from her spoiled younger sister's pouting tone.

Kino “I was raised in a religious order of monks and nuns. Cult-like, perhaps, if you will. According to my guardians, my sister and I were abandoned at birth. The order said that my sister and I were prophecized to do unspeakable, horrible things....which would explain why our parents left us. Yet the order took us in, raising us to duties such as ceremonial burials, burial rites, cemetery duties, and the like. Our purpose was simple; to free lost souls left in this world, to aid those near death, and tending to the dead as well. This vial of water is but one such artifact bestowed upon us. It is what allows me to stay alive -- it is what allows me to save the lives of others. Our order's monastery is a very remote and secret place -- due to it being the site where such holy water belies. One may say that it, at the very least, prolongs one's lifespan substantially. It is a very rare and holy artifact -- nothing like it, perhaps, exists in my world anymore. Many search for it, but, needless to say, we keep our home very safe, the pool of holy water even more so. We did not want those evil of heart to use the water. We swore to use the water only to help, never for our own benefit. Our order lived on that purpose for many years. It might not be a children's fairy tale that many a young girl like me and sister would favor, but we were just happy to have each other. Our guardians, our brothers and sisters, we all lived in harmony and in solace of our mission in life. In any case. I was tending to burial rites one fateful day with Enma, my younger sister. We were very close, and we would do everything together -- we would sleep together, have meals together, work together, and be together....we were inseparable, as it were. That day, however....our order was attacked by a group of self-proclaimed exorcists, after the holy water that existed in our well. Our order was averse to violence; we did not have the capability to fight back. Many of our kin were slaughtered in minutes. And....my sister sacrificed herself for me that day,” She recounted the painful experience of her sister taking a fatal blow in her stead. “I was the only one that survived. I didn’t want to be separated from her – I had thought of -- tried -- to rip this bauble from me, wherein would my soul remain lost along with my deceased brothers and sisters. Strangely, however, I head them speak. I saw my sister in front of me, however devoid of flesh she was then, only her soul and spirit remaining, along with my brothers and sisters in the order. They had gathered as one, behind me, the only survivor of their esteemed order. But no longer were they the people I respected....I hear them now, Mitsurugi-san. Their anger over their unfair deaths. Their desire for others to join them for their cruel fate.....I know not of what had corrupted them. I would die with them, but I can't -- at least, not yet. I have their duty to uphold....to become strong enough to fight against those who had invaded our home and took control of the holy water. They follow me now, knowing that I am the only one still alive, who is able to put things right in their stead. And that is why I wander -- to gather the souls ensnared in this world, for them to aid me, and, after their service is complete, for me to guide them to their way....it may seem selfish, perhaps, but I desire to pass away from the world with them after my mission is complete. A young girl such as myself can only do so much alone. Could this be the prophecy we were foretold of having? I know not...." You are never alone, nee-san. Enma called from within, You have me. You have our family. And each friend we make follows you willingly. I know, Enma. She responded. But that does not make it right. She returned her attention to Mitsurugi once again. “Thus ends my tale,” She concluded, a rather woebegone expression plastered on her exterior as she gathered the last of what remained of her reminiscent tale, and sealed it away in her heart. “But my sister is with me now. We talk telepathically in my mind. I’d release her and introduce her to you, but part of me insists otherwise – she’s adorable and I love her, but she’s a rather loose cannon if not controlled. Perhaps someday, under some circumstance, will I find it safe for you to meet her.” She chuckled as she said those words, expectant of the embarrassment that would come from her sister, whom, as she expected, responded to her with a flustered tone in her head. Kino-nee! How many times have I told you not to embarrass me like that? And I don’t always try to take whomever you talk to with me! More often than not you do, my dear sister. Don’t worry, though. You’ll have your fun – sooner, or later.

Venus Venus was wordless for most of the exchange that was currently ensuing between the two new individuals and the rest of the team. In matters alien to the artist, Venus listened more than he spoke or asked; the analytical and resourceful artist would suffice in gathering information solely from the inquisitive minds of the other members, only nodding in acquiescence in any instance he would be addressed. From what Venus had the attention and inclination to gather, Venus and his assigned group of subordinates were to aid their new acquaintances in a rescue mission, and to seek out information that would be useful to evidence the crimes of the hostile at hand. While not requisites, Venus also gathered several conditions that would make their mission more favourable – plundering any valuables they could find in the process, putting a strain on the enemy security simultaneously, a stone for two birds, as it may. Venus knew not what part of the mission he would particularly be involved in, nor could he gather which of such missions he wound find most interest in, as well. The motivation of rescuing was a prospect rather foreign to Venus. Granted, the mission itself, given the strength of the given group in numbers, and what with the several weaknesses that were there to exploit, Venus surmised that the odds for success were rather considerable – as far as the major objectives were involved, at least. From what Lucio spoke of the enemy’s motivations as she recollected the history of the world they were now to fight in, Venus related disdainfully of the dynamic that existed between hearts possessing power, more often than not with their empty promises nothing more than means to satiate the greed that came with their privilege. A mild hint of irritation returned to Venus as he remembered his conversation with Hiroki being interrupted, before returning to the reminiscence and reminder that Venus, too, despite his heritage, had once lost many a dear thing he possessed as a result (and something he would have been able to divulge to her). The relief of disclosing that secret to another, however it had managed to come to Venus, would have to wait.

Kino Kino remained phlegmatic, her face unchanging for the whole journey even when Mitsurugi was assaulted by the wild snake. Finding a certain impression at her skill of killing the animal, her cogitations shifted to one of concern as she withdrew an old cloth from her belongings, wanting to heal her the injury the reptile had caused. "Are you hurt, Mitsurugi-san?" She asked, "Let me help you." If only she had missed or any other sort, Enma reawakened in her mind, in an almost pouting tone. She could have been one of us. Pray not of unnecessary death, dear sister. She then returned her attentions to Mitsurugi, addressing what she had said earlier before they were attacked. "You needn't worry about me, though. To start...." Her voice shifted to one of slight lamentation, though her facial expression remained the usual, impenetrable mask we wore. Withdrawing the necklace of holy water she wore on her heck, its dim, yet luminescent blue glow radiating from the container that held it, she began to articulate her origins to her. "It's because I'm already dead. Or at least I would be, if it weren't for this bauble of holy water. It is the only thing keeping me alive..."

Kino Mitsurugi's words caused Kino to lose her smile. Knowing now that the woman before her was, indeed, a deity of sorts unknown to her, to say that she was a follower of another might ha Maybe it's time you introduced me, nee-san. Hush. Kino would always respond to her sister in an indifferent tone, always unphased, never bothered by her impertinent pestering. "I am neither a mage nor magus, or of any of such sort, I am afraid," Kino professed. "Mine is a power I have....adopted, or accepted as a result of some complex circumstances. I would not be able to tell that you were indeed a god, then, Mitsurugi-san. My apologies." Nonetheless, the deity had invited Kino to stroll together, and quite frankly, the nun had little reason to refuse -- perhaps even find some closure with her current condition, knowing that she wasn't the only unorthodox person in such a world anymore. "I would be honored to partake of such leisure with you. Perhaps it is fate that has bound us as thus....you seem skeptical of my origins though. It's a long story...one that isn't very nice to hear either, but if you would be interested to hear me out, I will oblige."

Kino "A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Mitsurugi-san." Kino curtsied as she managed a smile. "If I may be so bold, though, Saigai-no-Kami? Are you by any chance named after a god or any other sort?" This girl fashions herself a god? Enma asked. Must be a fun one to play with. That, I find uncertain. Hush, now, Enma -- I will speak to you soon. Kino-nee, I sense friends in the northeast. Her sister pestered, delighted voices chanting in unison with her. They will not wait. Patience, sister. She replied, For until our exchange is complete.

The Unnoticed Girl Latens had hoped that the approaching shade would rid her of that wraith, having successfully shoved her into it -- however, despite an exchange of agony and struggle, the black only served to enrage it as the darkness now coated the angered, wild wraith as it lashed violently at her. Fear reentered her bloodstream. She wondered if the black had done anything to the wraith's senses; after proceeding slightly further away from the Wraith, she stood still, wanting to take a second or two to see if the Wraith detected her through her movement, or if the black influence had any effect. She largely hoped that it would go through her harmlessly again, knowing that she needed to time her moves carefully, like a game of chess, lest she lose her life there and then.

Kino Having exited the castle later than the others, Kino found herself caught in the arms of another, a rather beautiful girl of her racial heritage. Japanese, much like herself, her pair of golden eyes bearing the same hue of the nun's unblemished hair. She seemed rather similar to her, at a glance; both wore robes of a new grayed coloration, though Kino could see that the girl's naturally assumed the dull color, whereas Kino's ceremonial garbs, once a white hue that matched the purity of virgin snow, had withered into the gray as per the ages that passed with it, collected by stains of dirt, and dust. Kino had not feared for her life when she fell from the castle; she lacked the ability to feel physical pain, or anguish. Frigid blood ran in her veins, her heart barely beating within her, sustaining whatever it was that allowed her to assume her sentient, human form. She was grateful for Mitsurugi's kind gesture, nevertheless, and, getting herself up, began to introduce herself. "I am well," She solemnly replied. "You have my gratitude, miss. It is my pleasure to make your acquaintance. My name is Kino Saginomiya. And of yours?" Let me say hello, a voice interrupted her from within as she made acquaintances with the girl before her. The voice connected to Kino telepathically, and Kino did well to respond in kind. In time, Enma. Her sister's undead form was not of a being one would easily accept with little suspicion or worry. If she were to set her mischievous young sister free, she knew not of the implications that would follow. In time you will. Where are we playing today? Our friends, too, are eager…. An amalgamated chorus of voices chanted the excited spirit’s words, before a cacophony of excited wails and cheers heard only by the ghostly siblings resounded in her mind, trailing behind her. Patience, sister. We are venturing into unknown ground. She replied. Look at all the life here! Enma whispered, an almost fell tone blending it with the mischief in her ghastly voice. Kino surveyed the surroundings that encircled her, knowing that it had been many a year since she had been in a place brimming with the fervor of civilization, the robust and lively shows of activity and interacting things that only existed in her dreams, once a privilege she had, and now, one that she had willingly forsaken. We must all play, sister! More will join us. They will all join us. We'll be one big happy family. Those who possess life need not bear our fate, she corrected. The people here needed to enjoy their lives while it clung to them still, being the most precious thing one could possess, as many of Kino's elders would have told her. Even in her ghostly form, she was still bound barely by the thinnest thread of life, maintaining her sentient form in flesh and bone, yet connected to the hallowed dimension of death as it struggled to dominate her. The two sides made Kino, a thin divide between breath and grave, as she would proceed with her duties in a life she knew not when it would end. You dislike competition, Kino-nee. How sweet of you to be so....possessive. Perhaps, she hid a bemused chuckle. Time and tide wait for no one. Let us familiarize ourselves with the people here. We have eternity. We ARE eternity. An eternity that is to end, she advised her, again. Whenever it may be. But you and I will stay together always, won't you, dear sister? Forevermore, she answered, not a hint of contrition or wavering as she said so. She had willingly taken this responsibility, a hellish, gauche one as it would have been, to be together with her sister -- the closest she could get to be with her, to feel her, to talk with her, to continue loving her, while maintaining her inherited responsibility to gather the last souls that existed out there, hungry and desperate for release. A debarred unison as it would have been, the extent of that love, was perhaps, to the two sisters, one that afforded any price that their being together would demand.

Bumping the thread. Added Clamperl and Porygon to the list. Looking for DeepSeaTooth/DeepSeaScale!

The Unnoticed Girl Determined to have better timing this time round, Latens awaited until the wraith approached a certain distance before she turned intangible again. When it would go through her fully, she would attempt to shove it into the creeping darkness behind her again, her heart pacing faster and faster, knowing that there was little time before she could proceed forward....

My Secondary Kino Saginomiya, The Shepherdess of Lost Souls

Venus Venus' conversation with Hiroki was suddenly interrupted by a thread of silk enclothing an spherical object, dangling down from above before him. Venus raised an eyebrow upon noticing that Aurora had passed her the object; the sphere was much bigger than Venus had previously requested the gold to be, and now there was only one crucible instead of two. Curiosity biting into him, he carefully collected the spherical ball of silk and unwrapped it from it's webs, to discover a golden nugget, much bigger than he had expected it to be, glimmering inside. Carefully inspecting the newly shaped gold, Venus discovered that the golden sphere had little impurities for its size -- nothing Venus couldn't fix with a bit of polishing, but the size of the golden ingot now meant that he could use it for much more, instead of limited ideas due to the lack of reliable crucibles. How the spider managed to contain that amount of gold, Venus knew not, but he was evidently impressed that the carnivorous arachnid had a much higher intellect than Venus himself would give credit for. Sighing contentedly, Venus decided to keep his promise, withdrawing the potatoes from his sack before carefully tying them up with Aurora's thin threads, before lightly tugging on the string as a response. "A remarkable craft, Aurora -- claim your due, and you have my gratitude." Venus replied, loud enough so that the spider could hear him from above. "I'm surprised how that spider managed to come up with this," He returned his attention to Hiroki, showing her the golden nugget that he had received, before withdrawing it back into his sack. "And in such a short time, too. My apologies for that interruption, though. To return to our previous banter," He continued, "I believe it is admirable to continue doing what you do best -- in that it lets you define you, and in that it makes you special. Perhaps one day you'll turn out to be the best fighter there is. You're young and you have talent -- it's certainly a possibility. Well, look at me now -- I'm perhaps a decade or so older than you are, and I've already established myself very well in my passions. As an artist, an actor, a director. It all comes with continued passion, my dear. That of the fiery fervor that burns within, whatever your motivations may be. And trust me, perhaps you're one of the brightest stars in the group in the regard." As he said this, he recalled the journey of his becoming of an artist, all the passion and training that came behind it, and the fame and applause he gained with his efforts. The nostalgia of all that shifted into a certain longing, and Venus knew that he needed to express such thoughts to relieve himself. Surprised at how the ballroom and his conversation in Hiroki had managed to stir such sentiments within him, a reluctant tone wafted in his voice as he gave his next sentence hesitantly. "....Perhaps you wouldn't mind hearing the story of how I became the artist I am?"

Venus Venus gave a slight, feigned frown. Perhaps the girl was too young to be able to decipher the reasons behind that passion, but there was always something behind it that cemented it. Perhaps the girl wanted to find out herself, not knowing her true motivations, understandably so. "One does not come into the world desiring battle," He professed. "Nor does one usually want to without reason. With all due respect, in the end, I guess I'm simply....unconvinced you did it on a whim," He placed a finger on his chin in thought. "Perhaps I'll take a guess on why you did it....affirm or deny my guesses at your discretion. Perhaps you do that to fight for your beloved? You were....inspired by something or someone, perhaps? Or perhaps yet again you are like me, and want to be strong for fame, to show the world that you're capable of much more than you are...? For fighting to be your...true face, as it would?"

Venus The artist remained calm at Hiroki's sudden irritation, beginning to understand the reasons behind her facade and deceitful presentation; it was likely that the girl had a passion for fighting, but, bearing the appearance of a young girl, it certainly would come across as a ridiculous idea to many. "Ah. And so you don your disguise to avoid the scorn that would come for you as per your...youthful appearance. Yet again, you and I find something in common. I do apologize for the insensitive insult, but I must admit, that wasn't the answer I expected." Venus giggled again; the revelations of this girl were giving an odd, amusing feeling to the artist, as if he had first lost something, but then gained something new, perhaps even better. "I'll keep my end of the bargain, then." Venus could not remember the last time he did so -- gingerly, he removed the mask that shielded his eyes and nose, revealing the deformity that lay beneath it. It wasn't a significant marring; only one side of his face had been scarred, with the flesh sullied with what seemed to be a burn wound, the eye narrowly thin, weak, and devoid of an eyeball, leaving only the sclera in its socket. It was a face that would earn him disgust and trepidation, though Venus hoped that the girl's current agitation would manage to quell her fear of the seemingly horrid revelation. "You're the first in many a year to see me under my mask." Venus realized how he'd been speaking more casually -- perhaps due to the fact that he was now talking to a younger girl, one he knew couldn't match his tongue as much in conversation. "You see, dear Hiroki, you and I both wear masks to avoid judgment by others. I thought you and I would be similar in that we would have disfigurements, but....this is quite the same, nonetheless. You dress yourself the way you do so that your competitors and peers would not deride you of your capabilities to fight, I presume? Certainly, you have a gift in what you want to do, but there's your young bodice as an impediment. I, on the other hand, wear a mask to avoid scaring people with my appearance. You won't be stuck being young forever. I, alas.....I've not found any way to cure these injuries. It wasn't always like this. It happened from an injury that happened-" The artist stopped abruptly at that, for once consumed by the remembrance the ballroom had given to him on his previous glance as he passed by. Visions of previous memories entered Venus' mind, memories that had since haunted the artist's every nightmare. The eyes that peered beneath the leather visor softened as he became influenced by the moment of sorrowful reminiscence, leaving the two in silence for a few moments. Knowing that he had left the conversation in the air, Venus spoke again. "Do you know the stories of the Frankenstein's Monster and the Phantom of the Opera?" He asked her, in a muse of his own thoughts, putting his mask back on. "Both were good men, seeking acceptance, love and attention. But their hideous appearances marred them, alienated them, earning only fear, rejection, disdain, devoid of all compassion of all who laid eyes of them. They succumbed to that rejection and hate, and it turned them into the monsters they were. People are never born monsters, Hiroki. They're often forced to become one," His lamentation grew, knowing that he, too, had did horrible things as a result of the monster he had first become at hand, and had once, or perhaps still, embraced. For the usually eccentric and unorthodox Venus, his current state left him rather humane. His bitter memories seemed to have engraved such a reminder of him, something that would always maintain part of his humanity, part of his rationale. "As if no other choice would accept them as they are. I don't fault your previous fear of me -- even now, I too, question myself here and there, if I'm becoming more a monster than I am a man." Another moment of silence passed. Venus realized that he had centered too much conversation on himself, and proceeded to address matters involving her, instead. "So, my young friend....why is it that you possess such passion to fight? What sparked your love for fighting at such a young age?"

Venus Venus raised an eyebrow in surprise at Hiroki's admission. The Hellfire Knight did not carry a marred appearance behind her drapes -- Venus tried to bring up reasons on why should would do so to his head, to little avail. Before him, she was the epitome of a young child, caught red-handed in telling a lie. Yet the artist only chuckled upon learning the truth, as opposed to the anger and pique the girl had expected from him. "Worry not, my meek young maiden." Lowering his hand from his face, he urged to caress the admittedly endearing sight of the embarrassed young girl on the head, but resisted, knowing that he didn't want to discomfort her further. "Say it again I will -- you and I have something similar. We wear masks and lie about our reasons for wearing them -- yet another thing we seem to have in common, now that you've been honest with me. And again, pray tell -- wherefore lie about your disfigurement? I trust you have your respectful reasons, but is lying the most ample solution? Wherefore must a young maiden such as you disguise yourself in such somber garbs? If you tell me your reasons, I'll tell you my own."

Venus The Hellfire Knight's disquietude did not go unnoticed by the artist. Surely, he was dressed to impress, but he had to admit that the way he expressed himself did serve to intimidate at times, especially to that of a young girl. Venus mustered the softest smile he could, attempted to quell that worry she had, to remove any barriers that would impede their conversation. His approach was rather blunt, however, "I sense you are fearful of me, my mechanical miss. Rest assured, however, that I simply desire conversation. It's been....scarce, to be able to articulate an artist's thoughts to our subordinates in this group, perhaps, but you and I seem to have....something in common." Satisfied that he had gained Hiroki's approval, albeit a reluctant one, Venus seated himself at a comfortable distance from the girl, enough so that he wasn't too close, but also sufficient for the girl to hear him. "Pray tell -- what but a thing befell you that led to your disfigurement?" He said, trailing his fingers up his face to brush his hair, nearing his mask. "I do apologize to pry, but nothing I mean ill of, you have my word. I overheard this earlier when you were mentioning to that friend of yours."

Venus Venus and the group had been divulged with the information on multiple worlds and universes plagued by heartless beings known as Trespassers – they only continued to grow stronger in number and strength as they continued their leisurely stay in the castle. Venus and his subordinates were thus chosen to fight against them. The thought almost seemed hilarious – Venus had come here to save, when all he had done with his gun was kill. If he had fashioned himself a hero, many a thing in his life would not have come to occur, the madness that came with the unfortunate incident that instigated his profession as not only an actor, but also an assassin. Many a life he had taken, even if against most other criminals. Venus had sought to fill the void in his heart for what he had lost, and since the day many a year ago he had been faced with the ugly reality of death, sought to purify it, practition it in a way that seemed beautiful. But it was a seemingly suitable means of atonement. What he would kill and destroy would serve to save than deplete – the value of those black specters would add little to his already sullen conscience than a human life would. It would not reverse the impacts of his crimes, that, Venus knew, yet there was a tinge of self-gratification that came with the idea -- for the many lives he had once taken, he would aid in saving many more in many a mysterious and alien world unknown to him. He had remained silent throughout what had happened, when the mysterious man gave his explanation. An answer of reaffirmation would be redundant; Venus was already stuck here, and he, at best, would make the most of it. It was natural that he would partake in this seemingly important, albeit vague affair, and he had his own benefits and reasons for contributing to it. Delivering a small nod in acquiescence as a response, he departed the room, wanting to attend to his previously interrupted business with Aurora. The spider had been aiding another by weaving a silk of gold and black, from what he could notice as he caught a glimpse of the taciturn arachnid. Mildly intrigued by the substance, though not enough for it for Venus to give it question, Venus decided to cut to the chase with what he wanted Aurora to do for him. “I pray the wine is appeasing to your tastes,” He said, as Venus began to unload the plethora of golden items he had received from Eon, the cosmic dragon. He kept only the dust he had from him, and simultaneously retrieved an empty bullet shell casing from his sack of mixed items. Venus always stored materials that he perceived would be useful at later times, and as he inspected his sack of items more thoroughly, something he had not done for many a week, or month, he found himself surprised at the items he found in his inventory – apart from his daily valuables such as his roses, bullets, his notebook, and the like, Venus found more items put inside; a deed of which Venus did not know whether to bless or condemn his servants for. He found a few potatoes. Ideas formulated in his head, knowing that Venus now had a more diverse array of methods to reshape and use the gold. “Deliquesce it,” He began. “In whatever way you are able. The bullet casing should work as a suitable crucible, but you’d have to break it in two first. Alternatively,” He said, withdrawing a potato from his deposit of items. Potatoes have always been a very useful food to Venus -- be it as a reliable energy food or electrical source, and in this case, gold casting. They were also flexible in that they could be shaped in the way Venus wanted them to. In addition, a single small bullet case would not be able to store all of the molten gold; there was a mild hint of disappointment that he lacked a better resource, but he was mostly grateful that he had a sufficing, albeit inferior, alternative. He began carving the shape of a rose into the potato – though a glance, it simply resembled two oblong shapes, meant for a flower and a leaf, without significant detail. He then placed the impromptu crucible beside the pile of golden items. “This will store in the gold in a different desired shape, so I’d appreciate it if you’d put more focus on this one. Perhaps you might find potatoes flavored with the aftermath of molten gold satisfying to your tastes? Eat it, if you will. And one more thing – I’m not ascertained as to how potent your venom is, but mild enough as it may or may not be, it may be useful in cleansing impurities from the gold when it’s done. I detest impure gold, but nothing I will set my expectations too high on. A good job of which you may impress me with,” He said, withdrawing more potatoes from his sack, though keeping one for himself in case of future use, “And the rest of these potatoes you may have for your satiation. Hasten not on the job – art is but best done when it is unrushed. I will return anon, silent spider.” With his business with Aurora complete, all the artist could do was to explore the room while waiting for Aurora to complete her end of the bargain. Appeasing his previous, sole interest that easily faded in the ballroom, he returned to find Hiroki in the corner of the room, seated with her cloak draped behind her. The Hellfire Knight was – what was most notable about her. He found the methods of which she killed and destroyed perhaps exceptionally gauche than the rest, as per the extent of her power her mechanical suit granted her. But Venus found something about the girl relatable – something he remembered her say, something he had perceived and collected out of coincidence when she revealed it to another. "I was severely disfigured as a child." It was a similarity between the girl and the artist that in the two wore masks, hiding their physical appearances for their own individual reasons. Venus only knew then, however, that the young girl had hid her face and body to prevent whatever disfigurement lay beneath the complex, bulky suit of machinery blanketed by her cloak. It was an identity she assumed, much like the beloved persona of a star many back in his homeland saw Venus as. A being wearing a mask, instead of the one behind it. Venus wondered what the girl had seen when the party had witnessed glimpses of their own deaths – perhaps in part with her appearance she hid beneath her, Venus had found her response comparatively mild when juxtaposed with the rest of the group. Vulnerable she was still, but her response admittedly gave him a slight impression, especially considering her presumed age. Venus approached her, looking for a place to seat himself nearby her. Venus knew that conversing with the Hellfire Knight would be no amiable exchange of greetings and merry banter; contrasting Venus' loquaciousness, the girl seemed taciturn, like Aurora, and Venus would rather not pry into a person that didn’t appreciate conversation. “May I?”

Venus Venus caught sight of the one figure whose chest was impaled as the newcomers made their introductory entrance. Weapons hacked mercilessly into his flesh, it was a gauche scene for the artist, unfazed as he was by the sudden, unorthodox display. He first saw the poor, eviscerated thing, and then he saw himself. Venus had always been exposed to himself; he saw himself in the mirror. He saw himself in theatrical posters and on the front page of the news. In the underworld of his folk in which he consorted in, he could even see himself, disguised and unknown, in wanted posters of him. But this was different -- Venus saw himself move, and speak, and act. For once, Venus was granted the enchanting privilege to see himself in the eyes of a spectator. But he didn't see himself perform and appease the crowd that he always did. He didn't see himself conducting the acts, making his puppets brim to life as they sang and danced. He instead saw himself writhe in the field of flowers as they bloomed. He heard himself laugh, manically, lunatically, unlike any other time he had remembered himself doing so. It mattered not that he was the one in the spotlight, the one centred amidst the field of his blossoms bursting into bloom; excitement and anticipation surpassed subtle hints of surprise and fear as he concentrated on the scene given before him. The grenades were not set in unison; one by one they burst in a magnificent flurry of art, one exploding immediately after a previous had detonated. Venus knew not how long it passed before they stopped – in a reveal after the smoke cleared, nothing but splatters of his paint and blood remained, along with various scraps of his finest garbs – nothing so much as hair that belonged to Venus, otherwise, had been left behind. It was a beautiful scene. Venus knew not if the depiction of his death before him would be the best way he were to lose his life, if his soul was to leave his body and surrender to death’s door. It was a belike outcome – much time had passed since Venus had entertained the thoughts of his own death in the ugly world, knowing the death itself need not be as disgusting even if the cold, harsh reality seemingly dictated it so. If he were to die, he would die beautifully – he would not see himself spread-eagled in a dull, plain setting. His death would be no less than a masterpiece, and, if he were denied that chance, he would not die at the hands of another, as well. A scene that many a timorous soul would find blood-curdling and disgusting, Venus instead found fascinating, feeling a simper rise to his lips. He knew not, however, that if his smile was one out of resignation, lamentation, joy, or excitement. The only ones that should fire are the ones that are ready to be fired at, he remembered reminding himself. Long agone had Venus’ fate and life, in spite of his profession as a flamboyant and famous artiste and icon, been bound to the cruel mistress that was death. May it come sooner or later, Venus did not trepid in the face of death nor fear the day it would come to claim him. He had lost so much from it as a result – and had been the cause of far too much of it, as well. It was natural that death, whom had draped his artistic brutality in the shadows, would come to and claim her due in a day only she herself knew. Maybe she was expecting him in whatever place she was now, might like another certain someone whom she cherished, whom too had lost herself to death earlier than he did. Venus did not know of his thoughts on the afterlife or whether heaven or hell existed; perhaps death would enable him to see her again, but Venus certainly didn’t have the luxury of departing in the peaceful heavens for his actions -- the person whom he wanted to reach, on the other hand, had passed too innocently to be subdued to the darklands. Venus had little to entertain on the prospect of what would happen after his death, but he knew that he would not let his death end so unsightly, however it may come. The image soon began to fade as Venus returned to reality, disturbed by the array of coughing and writhing noises of several of his teammates on the floor. Venus could have assumed wrongly – but the fact remained that he alone did not take as harsh an impact as they did. He presumed that they too, had managed to witness glimpses their deaths akin to his own experience. Mild contempt entered him as he surmised on their vulnerable forms; the lot of these people feared death, albeit understandably so, for death was perhaps manifestation of their biggest fears and horrors, in ways where the treasure of life would fade, perhaps in ways in their own idiosyncratic, unimaginable mirages. One would find it to be normal for one to fear death, but Venus had been bound to it for too long too much to feel even the faintest dread.

Venus Most of the previous irritation Venus had harbored had gradually faded as the team began to adjourn to and explore the aged, ancient castle. A man who had lived a life of prolonged luxury, Venus maintained a phlegmatic, uninterested exterior as he surveyed the rooms and venues, for the most part unimpressed by what the castle had to offer; he had been exposed enough to such grandeur and palatial places that he began to find them commonplace and dull, finding more....normal and, in the eyes of the spoiled nobles he once used to chatter with, 'substandard' residences more welcoming. He had found those places, instead, to be more idiosyncratic and refreshing to his tastes, most of such opportunities coming from his days and work as an assassin, where he would be forced into staying at modest inns or homespun alleyways instead of the comfortable rooms and five-star hotels he had been so accustomed to. He, at best, managed to entertain his curiosity to the long untouched ballroom, yet its lack of maintenance and radiance throughout the years of abandonment meant that Venus would knew of other dance halls of a much higher standard than what had been laid out before him, much like the one in his theater. Venus had always possessed a love for such places, but the ballroom displayed before him reawakened memories he had long kept -- it had admittedly been quite a while since Venus had engaged in a dance, knowing that he had not done so ever since a certain incident that happened a year ago. He reached for his sack he hid beneath his cloak close to his chest, where the ruby rose of ore laid itself, like a carmine, exposed heart. The heart had been meant for someone else -- as of why he still had it, only Venus would know. Reaching for his bag as his thoughts swayed at the reminiscence brought about by the hall before him, a hardened surface reached his fingers as he remembered the golden items he had picked up from Eon; they were useless to him as of now, unless he had a way to melt them, or at the very least, reduce them to smaller pieces; the weight of these items admittedly took a toll on him, and the current situation had no significant demand for vigilance nor preparation, leaving most of the group entitled to their own activities and engagements. Returning to the main room, Venus noticed Aurora in a corner, busy weaving...something of a sort he had little interest in knowing better. The predatory teammate likely had her insatiable hunger still unchecked. The idea of asking the spider's assistance with the gold struck him, but Venus knew he had to have some way to return the favor first, and killing a teammate for his or her flesh and feeding it to her in exchange certainly wasn't an option. The only edible Venus had with him at that moment was an exquisite, expensive glass of red wine. It was likely that one of his obsequiously loyal servants put it in his bag in case he needed a fine drink. Venus took a small sip of the bottle of wine, enjoying the fragrance of the alcohol it gave me blended with the scent of rose petals that laid within in, enhancing the flavor. Would spiders do well with wine? He had little to lose, quite frankly; monstrous as she looked with a presumable instinct to bite off any being of flesh that stood near, she had mostly partaken in aiding the injured members of the party during the previous battle. Aggressive as she was, Venus had reason to believe that she had little hostility towards the members of the group. Her arachnid lineage seemed sufficient for what Venus needed, and wondered if the drink would suffice in appeasing the spider. He had little need for the beverage, at the end of the day. Approaching Aurora, Venus held out the bottle of wine and placed it in front of her. "For you," he said; he remained unsure of whether or not it was a suitable offering. "Unsure I am if you're one to drink wine, but maybe its color might appease you. And enjoy it if you would -- a favor I must ask of you, my altruistic arachnid."

I'll be back home in a bit, I'll PM you when I am. Please reserve it for me, tyvm

So you guys breed like, anything? Is it possible to discuss a trade of several 5 x 31s from me for a 6 x 31 from you? Do you guys do this?