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| The Drums of War; PRP - Chish (Apio)|Agatha | |
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| Topic Started: Oct 9 2016, 10:43 PM (136 Views) | |
| Agatha Jo | Oct 9 2016, 10:43 PM Post #1 |
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The White Mage
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There were several things that had needed to be taken care of before Chishan and Agatha could escape for their much needed, year long vacation in Kami’s Hyperbolic Time Chamber. While it was true that only a day would pass in real time, it didn’t make it any easier for either of them to prepare as though only a twentyfour hours would go by, rather than three hundred sixtyfive days. Her fiance needed to focus on making sure the Night Fury was set and going well on its repairs, and the both of them needed to take time to check in with their various people. A solid week would pass before the two were ready to enter the chamber -- a time that was quickly drawing near, and boy was Agatha greatly looking forward to it. But there was still one thing she needed to do, something she hadn’t even spoken to Chishan about yet. Her lover knew, of course, that she was planning on creating her own organization to combat against the cult. They knew who she was, knew what information she had, and there was no longer any reason for her to keep her campaign against them on the down low. She still intended on being cautious, of course, but it was time to take a more proactive stance. She couldn’t take them down on her own. She couldn’t even take them down with just Chishan, Monica and Apio. They needed help, all of them. If they wanted to fight and tear down an organization that had been around for decades without anyone knowing about them, they would need a force just as intricate as that of the cult’s. And that was something she needed to discuss with Apio. Her soon to be brother-in-law had been exceptionally quiet ever since Namek, even a bit cold toward Chishan. It was something that greatly worried the gypsy, which of course she’d never tried to hide, but as she was wont to do she had left Apio alone about it. Agatha already knew that Monica had been breathing down his neck trying to figure out what was going on, and if it was something he wasn’t going to talk to his own lover about that he surely wasn’t going to talk to Agatha. He knew she was there if he ever needed her, and that was the important thing. That mentality had suited them both just fine for some time, as Agatha had been one of the few people that Apio would still go out of his way to converse and spend time with. However, ever since she and Chishan had gotten engaged Apio had become noticeably colder to her, as well. Perhaps colder wasn’t the right word. More… reserved? It hurt to see him distance himself from her for no reason that she could understand, and though she’d never said as much to him Agatha was transparent enough with her emotions that he would know how she felt. That, and Monica probably made it pretty clear to him as well. Still, she never bothered him. It wasn’t her place. Monica and Chishan could and would take their turns trying to figure out why Apio was being so moody lately, but that was something Agatha had sternly promised to herself that she would not do; if only so that he would never feel like he’d have to put up his guard around her, or feel like she was trying to pry about things he didn’t wish to discuss. She wanted him to be comfortable around her, no matter what, so she left him alone regarding whatever was bothering him despite how greatly she wanted to ask. Even with him being more silent toward her, it still had its advantages. The primary one being that any time she came to him about something he would know without a doubt it wouldn’t be an attempt to invade his privacy. Which was why she had not hesitated when it was time to shoot him a quick message and inform him that she needed to speak with him alone when he had a free moment. His response had come quickly enough and they set up a time that was good for both of them to meet on Bohemia, where she could be assured no one would accidentally stumble into their conversation. Her father lived on her ship now, but after everything that had happened on Earth and Namek he had become quite attached to the crew on Chishan’s ship. As a veteran soldier, he felt welcomed and understood by them, and not just that but they gave him work to do. He was greatly enjoying helping them fix things on the ship that he could help with; it kept his mind off things, kept him productive. Because of this, he was away working with them. Moira… well in truth, Agatha wasn’t entirely sure where Moira was but her assumption was that her student was off somewhere by herself trying to come to terms with what happened with Rubic. Emotions outside of unadulterated optimism were new to the android, and she was having a difficult time finding a way to forgive -- something she’d already had trouble understanding even when it came to others forgiving her. Moira would figure it out in time, Agatha knew. If she had questions or wanted to discuss something, she always came to the gypsy. But she needed time to herself, and that was something the redhead was more than willing to give. Either way, the ship was completely vacant except for herself as she waited for Apio to arrive. As always, she was prepared to be a good hostess. She had a few drinks available and had prepared a small tray of snack foods. It would be nothing out of the ordinary, as Agatha always liked to feed people when she had time to prepare such things. Set up in the common area of the ship that had been fitting more or less like a living room, she sat on her couch, leaning over several papers on the coffee table that were arrayed in an organized chaos around her crystal ball that was fixed to the center of the piece of furniture. The front door was locked, but Apio knew the code and was long since welcomed to simply walk in without knocking first. Her brows were furrowed slightly in thought as she read over the documents, halfway through a muffin that she idly consumed as she waited. Jealousy was an ugly thing. Apio had somehow managed to never find himself envious of his older brother. In truth, it wasn’t just Chishan that he had to be covetous of. Diive had been the one worthy of praise before the Lightning Lord had even joined the army. He’d been trained by King Vegeta himself and that was an honor that many, if none, had earned in a long time. Apio had still been young when all of that was happening but he understood the pride he was supposed to feel in his family’s name. The royal family and theirs had always been intertwined, with the latter faithfully serving the former since practically the beginning. Their father was a respected warrior before he had sired any children, enough so that any of his spawn were not immediately carted into pods and sent off into the great beyond. There was a choice. Chishan and Apio had, miraculously, been chosen to stay on Vegeta-sei. Their power levels had been decent enough that they were practically assigned to their fates. Chishan, being the older, would eventually become a First-Class officer and most likely become a court advisor. Apio would rise up to Second-Class and run a squad of soldiers. That’s what it seemed they were meant to do. But boy, had that spun way out of direction. Chishan had been stronger than him from the moment they finally reconnected. Assisted by the demon Ruzatz inside, the older had beat down the younger within an inch of his life. Only when Chishan had taken control back did the assault end and Apio’s life was spared. An event that many may have assumed would cause some anger or even hatred. Saiyans were a vengeful group, who prided themselves in their honor and battle prowess. Apio had always been a bit different, enjoying battle but not without purpose. He wasn’t one to start brawls just for the sake of testing his strength. He’d been separated from Chishan for so long he couldn’t have known that his older brother was the same way. Of course, Chishan was the first born from Rashi, Diive coming from another woman before, and as such he was treated differently. The last time Apio had seen either of them was the ill-fated trip that resulted in Chishan’s abduction, attempted murder and eventually his amnesia. According to the Saiyan Inferno’s words, Rashi had left to return to Vegeta-sei. The Saiyan woman had never made it back, even after all these years. Still, there was no grudge felt by the Second-Class warrior. If anything, having a sibling around had invigorated a part of him that had felt rather…dull for some time. Even by the short time he spent listening to Chishan, it sounded like sticking close would bring Apio quite the amount of adventure. He was not wrong; he’d found more excitement and close calls in the three years he spent with Chishan than in the previous eighteen combined. Not once had he regretted his choice to join in his brother’s journey. And to a point, even now he didn’t… But something had changed. Ever since that run-in with the succubus Lilim, a small seed had been planted in Apio’s mind, in his very soul. Chishan had earned a lot in the time they’d spent together, notably fame and numerous accolades. None of it had troubled the younger Saiyan before until he was presented with the large picture – an image that saw him painted in the background, barely noticeable. Why had Chishan done so well for himself in that time? Had it just been him or had he relied on others to keep him going forward? Tiny details began to swim to the top of his mind as he analyzed each and every encounter they had faced down up until that point. It was one thing to be fated by the Empire into positions but the two of them had practically risen above that. Chishan was an Overlord, Apio was arguably the most powerful Second-Class soldier in the ranks. But it was the Lightning Lord – even that, a title he had earned fighting during the war – always seemed to hog the spotlight. And worst of all was how much he seemed to despise it. He pushed away from the fame and the people that tried to woo and idolize him, wanting nothing more than to be another face in the crowd. It was almost insulting; he’d captured all of this attention and now he was trying to reject it without focusing some of it on others – especially his brother who had been by his side the entire time. How many times had Apio saved Chishan? He wouldn’t even be alive today had it not been for the actions of the younger Saiyan. He wouldn’t have even managed to get to the war even. But no, Apio had saved him and given him the chance to rise above his station and capture galactic attention, using the younger Saiyan as a stepping stool. And that’s all he was; a shadow hidden beneath the large, towering shape of his older brother. Lilim had it right; his purpose on the Night Fury seemed to be only backing up the Saiyan Inferno. What other purpose did he really have? There were few things that kept Apio posted on the Fury, kept him from running away. Number one was certainly Monica. Part of it was his care for her while the other was…well, she’d hunt him down and stab his ass if he even tried to leave. The crew was another part; he’d grown attached to them over the years and didn’t really want to part from the rambunctious members. And admittedly, Agatha had taken up a spot on that list as well. She wasn’t some broad that seemed to just be all about Chishan; she was a worldly woman that was intelligent, brave as all hell and someone who had very quickly become a trusted friend of his. Chishan and Monica had their own reasons for liking Agatha so much but Apio didn’t share in the same attraction they had for her. No, he enjoyed her because she knew how to approach topics with warmth and caring that helped ease worries in people. She’d become a confidant even during the trying time of his jealousy, though he never sought to burden her with his feelings over that. And he knew she would never push on it; she was smarter than to just continuously bash against his walls. She would wait for him to come to her. And he had been nearing a place where he felt he could open up that particular subject… But then she had become engaged to Chishan. It wasn’t her fault, per se, that his attitude towards her shifted from comfortable to much colder. But now she was going to marry his older brother; becoming man and wife meant becoming complete partners with one another. It wasn’t that he felt she would tell Chishan everything Apio revealed to her, it was more…he felt she would lean towards the Saiyan Inferno’s side rather than a place of neutrality. The same corruption that had been planted in Apio’s mind before sought to darken that place of feeling he had for Agatha and it started with his brushing her off more times than not. Yet when she needed to talk about something important, he wasn’t going to turn it down. If it turned towards his sudden attitude change, he would simply find a way to explain it away. Either that or just leave. He wasn’t about to just ignore her request, as he knew better than to be outright rude. So he’d made his way over to the Bohemia, his hands thrust tight into his pockets as he approached the smaller ship. He only removed one hand after he’d traveled up the stairs to the door, his finger finding the pad so he could input the unlock code. After everything that had happened, he imagined she was locking all of her doors and windows quite tight. The door slid open with a hiss and he passed through the entryway, stepping up to stand on the same level as her. She was seated on her couch, surrounded by an insane amount of paperwork that seemed to arc around her like a single white archway. “Yo.” He said simply, thrusting his loose hand back into his pocket and walking over to the opposing side of the coffee table. He looked down at the papers once more and let out what could be considered a mix of a scoff and a laugh. “Quite the collection you’ve got here.” She glanced up at the door as Apio walked in, and her usual bright smile greeted him. “Hey, sweetie,” Agatha said, her enthusiasm to see him as genuine as it ever was. He walked over and commented on the sheer amount of paperwork in front of her, and she laughed a bit looking back down. “That’s what I get for starting a new business,” was the candid response. He would already know about the perfume line she was starting using the flowers she’d collected on Toffit; the line she was naming after her mother. Agatha finished reading the last paragraph of the document she’d been on and signed it. Then, she gathered up the paperwork and straightened it out before slipping it into a folder and setting it aside. Typically, Agatha was one to take some time for pleasantries. She always liked to chat a bit before simply hopping right into the nitty gritty of a meeting. Maybe it was the seriousness of what she wished to discuss, or maybe it was the fact that Apio had been treating her more coldly lately and she didn’t wish to impose herself on him more than he was comfortable with -- knowing Agatha, it was likely the latter. Either way, today was a bit different as Agatha got right down to business. “Thank you for making time for me. I’ll try not to keep you too long.” Yep, she was definitely trying to be sensitive to the fact that he didn’t seem to want to spend much time around her anymore. She didn’t leave enough time for any awkward silences to follow, however. The gypsy had been thinking about this talk for some time now. She’d practically been preparing a speech, which of course she couldn’t remember any of now that he was actually here. It wasn’t exactly a nerve wracking moment, but Agatha was always conscientious of the way that she worded things. She leaned forward for a moment, resting her elbows on her knees and clasping her hands between them. Her face was downcast and there was a sober expression on it. “I’ve been putting a lot of thought into everything that happened on Namek. About Maia, and the cult… and how they know about me and what I’m doing; what we’re all doing.” It had been a real shock to her when Arram had so easily rattled off his knowledge about Zaine’s death, how effortlessly he had gained access to her medical records. Agatha had been rattled and out of sorts for several days after that encounter, her son’s death still a raw subject. Hell, she wasn’t sure it ever wouldn’t be a raw subject. Her mind lingered on that for a soft moment before she pushed herself past it and forced herself to continue on. “Anyway, it… it made me realize a lot of things, the primary one being that I… I have no clue what the hell I’m doing.” It was stated almost like a joke, though she couldn’t be more serious. She glanced up at him for a moment with a half grin and what could only be described as a somewhat nervous chuckle. But her amber eyes didn’t stay on him long before they drifted back downward. “I’m not a soldier. I’m not… a fighter. I’ve never done anything like this before, or been involved in anything even remotely close to this. This cult has been around longer than I’ve even been alive, and I’ve been dedicating myself to trying to almost single handedly trying to take them down. I have you and the others supporting me, of course. The gods know I would never have made it anywhere at all without the three of you… but…” Her voice trailed off for a moment as she thought carefully on how to phrase what she wanted to say. There was a weariness about her that betrayed just how heavily this whole situation had been affecting her. Agatha was always one to put on a good face to be strong for the others around her, but right now she was weak. Arguably weaker than Apio would have ever seen her before. She took a small breath. “I’ve been approaching all of this like a fool. I thought, as long as I was dedicated to this cause, as long as I knew it was the right thing to do no matter how much danger it put me in, as long as I had faith in myself and in my friends… that was all that I would need. We would find a way, we would make it work. And I do still believe that, but I’ve realized that all I’ve been running on is faith… and it takes more than that. It takes a lot of things that, frankly… I don’t have.” And boy, wasn’t that just a terrifying eye opener. The knowledge that she wasn’t enough, that her campaign needed more than what she could offer it. It needed more than she’d been giving it, even with the help of Chishan, Apio, Monica, and Moira. When she spoke again, her voice was still quiet but it was trembling a little. “I’m starting a war against an intricately organized secret army of genocidal genius scientists that are wholly dedicated to completely eradicating a race of people who are arguably the strongest in the universe. And I’m… I’m just a human. A human woman, an entertainer, hardly old enough to be considered an adult by my own people, with no experience with war or fighting outside of just doing what I have to to save my own skin when I get in a pickle. And even then, if it weren’t for fantastic timing on the parts of people I’ve met along the way… that wouldn’t have been enough. I’d have been dead several times over.” The fears were all tumbling out of her mouth now. Chishan was more than aware of her insecurities, as she had voiced them to him before. But she had never really taken the time to just let it all out in full, and it was obvious a lot of this was coming off of her chest for the first time. Agatha was much stronger than the average human and she had grown by leaps and bounds during her time with Chishan and the others, but she knew now just how ill equipped she truly was to handle all of this. She’d gotten in over her head, and the weight of it was finally settling down upon her shoulders and threatening to crush her. “I can’t just hope for the best. I can’t just sit back and wait for good things to happen, for luck to fall on our side and give us the edge. There are too many lives at risk to approach it that way, and our enemy is too crafty and experienced to overcome. I’ve been trying to handle this the only way I know how, but the truth is that this is their game and they’ve set the rules and the standards… and I have no fucking idea how to play, let alone win.” She looked up at him again, gaze locking on his firmly. Her eyes were glistening a bit with moisture, though she wasn’t crying just yet. When she spoke again, her voice had strengthened a bit with resolve. “If I’m going to do this, I need to do it right. I need to meet them on their level, and then surpass them. I’d need a fucking army, and contacts, and an entire group of people focused on bringing me intel and weeding out their secrets. People who are trustworthy. I need my own organization that is just as well structured and secure as their own, something they’ve had decades to build and that I have no clue where to even begin to make. There’s no other way. There’s no possible avenue of us winning this war if we don’t have all of the same resources and support that they have, and more. Because I realize now that that’s what this truly is: war.” There was a short pause as Agatha looked at him before she continued. “I need my own coterie to combat theirs if we’re going to stop them, and I need you to help me form it… and then help me lead it.” Right, Agatha had invested herself into a new business. Selling nice smelling fragrance or ‘perfume’ as it was called on Earth. The very idea that someone would cover themselves in a strange odor that was not their own was strange to Apio, even a bit silly. Then again, Saiyans were used to just smelling like sweat and blood and whatever other grime they had accumulated over their time. Hell, on Vegeta-sei, showering was a privilege saved for those that needed to appear in the royal court. Normal soldiers such as himself would simply stay in their own stink. But who was he to question a business making other people smell nice? He waited for her to finish her reading, his eyes idly roaming over the papers until they found themselves going over the rest of the room. Normally Apio was here for some purpose, taking part in small talk for a couple of moments before getting to the point. He never really took the time to look around Bohemia, choosing rather to keep his attention focused. But as she was finishing up, he actually took that time to look around the rather homely setting she had crafted for herself. It was leagues beyond what he had grown used to; the Night Fury was a proud military vessel and, as such, it was outfitted with the cold, stern façade of the army. Yet having a more comfortable environment was also not beyond his realm; the Phoenixfall had been designed with several features to help relax the crew. The living quarters had felt more like an apartment than a barracks. Looking about, it brought back memories of the former crew he knew, the human members that had all been swallowed up in the void when the Phoenixfall had been brought down. Including Matilda… Something struck him inside, a sharp jab that caused him to retreat from the memories. It didn’t matter; they were all dead or gone. There was no use feeling sad over their passing. He quickly turned back to her as she hustled all of the paperwork back into the folder and began their meeting. She was careful to say she wouldn’t take up too much of his time, an advisement that created a sour taste in the back of his mouth. He swiftly swallowed it down and stomached it, choosing not to comment on that as she got herself set and began to speak. He’d gotten a lot of the download in terms of what happened from Monica, though she had rather forcefully tried to get him to go and talk to people himself. Nonetheless, he’d heard about what happened on Namek with the PTO agent known as Maia; how he had accessed information pertaining to Agatha without complication. Considering everything surrounding Zaine had been completely sealed in the hospital files, it had come as a shock to even him to find out that the bastard had learned about it easily. Yet it wasn’t that much of a surprise; the cult seemed to be capable of reaching into the darkest recesses of existence and pull out whatever they needed. Decades of practice and trial had certainly paid off for them, proving they were not some simple organization that would be toppled with a firm kick. And it seemed that was the subject of this meeting, as Agatha began to understand exactly what she – and they – had to go up against. Apio had seen very little of Agatha’s combat prowess but he was inclined to agree that she was not a soldier. She fought hard and seemed unwilling to give up but it was basic self-defense. She seemed to make up for that with wily antics and tricks that could bewilder her opponents; he could only assume that was how she managed to take down Maker after all. He continued to listen quietly as her mannerisms seemed to descend, the weight of her own words weighing down like anchors. She looked worn out, dulled by everything that had happened. He couldn’t blame her frankly but it was still a bit…odd to see her looking so frail. Her defensive walls were coming down unlike he’d ever seen before. A strange thing happened as she brought up faith. It wasn’t even wholly about faith in some kind of divinity, rather just the conviction she had in her goal and her allies. But it still created a small cold sensation inside of him that tried to tug his attention away from her. His brow furrowed for a quick moment as he tried to wrap his head around it, all the while trying to keep his attention on her. It only seemed to ease when she shifted the conversation slightly, her voice dropping as she stated the truly cold and terrifying facts. This wasn’t some minor crusade against an annoying group of people; it was an all-out campaign against some of the scariest, most organized people the universe had ever given birth to. They had experience, they had backup plans and they had brilliant scientific minds that had concocted schemes and experiments for years. What truly…what did they have? Two Saiyan warriors, a former human assassin, a young human celebrity, an android and the rag-tag crew of a military vessel. It was like the fly staring down the open, drooling jaws of a tarantula and hoping to beat it back. Any sense of hopelessness and fear was warranted and he could see it shaking her to her core. Agatha was scared and hell, Apio couldn’t blame her. He shifted his stance gently, his arms coming up to cross over his chest as she continued. She’d outlined the dangers and terrors that surrounded their situation; now it was time for what she had in mind. Because that’s what she had to be leading to, right? She wouldn’t just call him here to tell him about what worried her without some kind of plan or strategy. They were friends but he wasn’t someone she did that with. That wasn’t to bring down their relationship or how she treated him; it was a simple fact that Monica and Chishan were more easily approachable with such topics. He had been okay with it before and still was now. There had been a few times they had treaded into that place and that had been fine but they never lingered for long. He’d been close to wanting to get there right before the ring had come into the picture, if only to have someone to talk to. All of that had changed though after Chishan proposed. He cast away the idle thoughts to refocus on her words, her eyes reaching up to meet his as she broached the solution. To counter an organization…one needed an organization. She needed fighters, scientists, contacts, people that she could trust to stab into the cult’s anonymity and bring forth glaring information. She had to raise a mirroring consortium if she wanted to have a chance at bringing them down. Because a war could not be fought between a small group and an empire; there would simply be no hope. All of which he agreed with and he gave her a curt, silent nod to show he was right on pace with her. But that single moment of agreement was wiped away the minute she said she needed him to help with it. No, not just to help with it; to help lead it. His face twitched and wrinkled as he bounced those last few words around in his head. Was this some kind of charity? Was she trying to make him feel important because she felt bad for him? That poison tried to surge through his veins but he halted it instantly. He was willing to be upset with his brother over his antics but he knew Agatha. She was better than that and wouldn’t insult him in such a way. It was the first moment he questioned his anger since…hell, he didn’t even know. But it didn’t break through all of it. “I’ll help you form it, Agatha. I’ll help you find people wherever I can, though I can’t promise I know many people outside of Chish or Monica. And I’ll help you bring these shadowy assholes down. But I’m not a leader. I never have been. So I’ll support whatever you need but you’ll need someone else to help you lead it.” He said it carefully, doing his best not to sound spiteful over the offer. If anything, he just wanted to be honest with her. “You should ask Monica. I’m sure she’d be more than happy to help you lead.” He was quiet as she laid things out, which she expected him to be. Apio wasn’t what she would call a reserved individual, but he was certainly respectful and had always given her the time to speak fully before contributing or reacting to the things she had said. His expression was mostly passive throughout the entire thing, right up until the end when she told him what she wanted to do. Or rather, what she wanted him to do. His brow twitched slightly, and for the very briefest of moments there was a look in his face that she couldn’t quite put her finger on. Derision? Resentment? But it passed quickly, fast enough that she wasn’t really able to process it enough to understand it. Instead, it was replaced with something more calm and thoughtful -- though there was still quite a bit of tension. It wasn’t something she expected to feel when she brought this up to him. Apprehension, perhaps, or hell even enthusiasm; after all, Apio and Monica were wholly dedicated to the fight against the cult. But tension? It was strange. Why would this request garner that kind of reaction from him? In a less distracted state she might have been able to think on it for a moment and put everything together, but as it was she wasn’t really left with enough time to think before he finally spoke. Calmly, Apio told her that he would help her form it, and reaffirmed that he was beside her in doing whatever it took to bring the cult down… except that she would need to find someone else to help her lead it. The Saiyan suggested Monica, and Agatha listened quietly for a moment, her amber gaze resting on him easily as it always did when she held a conversation with someone. The gypsy honestly hadn’t been sure what to expect from Apio in regard to all this. Though they were certainly close, she still had not truly gotten the chance to get to know him as well as she had Chishan and Monica. In her mind, he was just as likely to turn her down as he was to accept the offer, so she hadn’t really gone into this meeting with any set expectation. It took a moment before she spoke again. She was formulating her response carefully, as she always did when she wanted to make sure her words were poignant and as effective at conveying her thoughts as they possibly could be. Finally, she gave him a small nod of acknowledgement to his suggestion. “I did consider Monica briefly,” Agatha admitted, though it sounded from her tone that it really was only briefly that the former assassin had been a potential candidate. “Her past work with the Red Ribbon will definitely be one of the most beneficial assets we may ever have in this. But at the end of the day, Apio… you are the best person to help me.” Her eyes stayed locked onto him, her gaze understanding and respectful to his first answer, but firm in her resolve. “I know you have never lead anything, but you have experience that I don’t, from your exposure being in one of the largest, most highly trained and well organized empires and armies in the galaxy. The most I have ever lead is an audience.” Agatha gave him a small chuckle and shrug, and though the laugh was genuine it did nothing to take away the truth from her words. She was just as blind and lost as him when it came to leadership, potentially moreso, and yet here she was -- a civilian -- having to struggle to form her own army for what might arguably be the largest and most important war fought in their lifetimes. “You know what it takes to be a soldier because you are one… and you know what it takes to be a leader because you have followed and observed several of them, for better or worse. I know you have seen enough to learn from the successes and mistakes they have made, and can apply them to yourself. And to be perfectly honest, you have qualifications that Monica doesn’t have -- important ones.” It was becoming increasingly obvious the more she spoke just how much thought and consideration she had truly put into this. The offer for him to be her second in command was not one that she had put together on a whim, nor was it one that she was ready to let him turn down so quickly or easily. She had answers prepared, not because she had expected him to resist but because she had truly thought long and hard about this and knew Apio was the right choice. The redhead continued. “You have experience with more than just an organized army. You have experience working in teams, and that is critical to helping to lead one. Monica was a member of Red Ribbon, yes… but she always operated as more of a lone wolf, and you know better than anyone how difficult it is most of the time for her to work with and get along with people. You know how hard it is for people to learn to respect and get along with her because of how brazen and forward she can be. Those are qualities that you and I and everyone else on the Night Fury have learned to love about her, but most people don’t take the time to get to know her like we did.” Monica was a bitch, pure and simple. She was the type of woman you either loved or hated, and most people leaned toward the latter end of the spectrum at the end of the day. It wasn’t a bad thing, it just was who Monica was. The former assassin was highly likely to butt heads with anyone working beneath her, which would not create for a trusted environment. And it wasn’t just because she would be a hardass, but also because she was more used to working on her own and didn’t understand as wholly as Apio did what it took to work with a team. “Aside from that, there are things that make her a poor choice for this: She needs to put more of her focus on her situation with the Red Ribbon.” It was no secret to them now that Monica’s former associates were hunting her down and keeping tabs on not just her, but the rest of them as well. Red Ribbon was no joke, and it was vital that Monica pour her attention to making sure they all kept one step ahead of the organization. She couldn’t do that and help Agatha run an army of her own. “I need someone that can dedicate themselves to this fully. Someone I trust completely who can devote the majority of their time to making this successful and effective as it possibly can be. Monica can’t give me that. Hell, Chishan can’t even give me that.” It was a simple fact. Monica was still being almost literally haunted by her past, and Chishan was constantly being tugged at from all sides. There was no doubt in Agatha’s mind that her fiance and best friend would do everything they could to help, but they simply could not give this project the attention it actually needed. “I know the two of them will continue to help us, and to be honest if I can convince you that you are the best person for this… I know that you will make Monica your right hand, as well you should, because she will be able to help both of us with things we have no exposure to. But she can’t be the one to help lead this. And in all honesty… it’s more than that.” Agatha looked down for a moment at her lap, her expression thoughtful in its conviction. “This cult was founded by Saiyans, and consists predominantly of people with mixed Saiyan heritage, whose highest aim is to bring down and destroy not just the Saiyan empire but the entire Saiyan culture. Yes, they have plans to help the PTO wage biological warfare on the galaxy… but that is a secondary objective to their true passion: Emasculating the Empire and bringing it to absolute ruin.” Her eyes drifted back up and held Apio’s once more. “No one has the right to stand up and fight this group more than you, because you are a Saiyan. This war they are fighting isn’t against Monica, and it’s not against me. It’s against you. It’s against your brother. It’s against the rest of your siblings and your family, against your people. Your home. This is not just a matter of you being the most qualified person to help me with this, even though you are -- it’s also a matter of this being something you deserve. Your family, your friends, your culture… it all deserves to be defended and protected, and I know without any second guesses that no one will be more passionate, or dedicated, or understanding, or driven to this cause as you will. If you really feel like you don’t want to take this, you know I won’t force it on you or hold it against you… but I need you in this, Apio. Not Monica, not Chishan.” “You.” Despite everything, it was not easy to turn down the offer. It was tempting; it was downright juicy. The chance to help establish a force that could counter an evil organization, a leadership role where he could make decisions and help sway missions. It was something he had been lacking in for so long, something he didn’t even know he wanted until it was rudely pulled from the darkest corners of his brain and shoved into his face. The damn succubus bitch had laid out the rug of all his ugly truths in front of him with no shame and it had stung so hard to swallow them down. Of course he idolized his brother; the man was a goddamn hero. And what was he? He blinked, his eyes widening a bit in surprise. Why was he talking in circles? Why did the same thing seem to keep spinning around in his head like a waterwheel, destined to continually rotate with the flow of a stream? If the first time he questioned his anger had only been moments ago, this was the first time he had questioned the strain of jealousy and annoyance that had permeated his mind like a putrid perfume. Unable to control himself, his head shook from side to side and buried the moment of realization away. It seemed to work in favor as well, for Agatha spoke but a moment later. She voiced that she, too, had considered Monica for the role she was offering him but it was more out of pooling choices together rather than a serious consideration – or so her tone seemed to tell. The gypsy once again assured him that the only person she considered best suited was him. Well, she was at least sure of her choice, even if it was one he couldn’t accept. And he opened his mouth to say as much when she continued, choosing rather to approach the subject with explanation rather than insistence. If it had been the latter, he would more than likely march out without a second’s consideration. But came at him based on his experience; on how he had been in a position to best understand what an army needs in both its soldiers and in its leaders. She was an entertainer – all she ever had to do was hold the attention of her fans. He’d been in the thick of war and these were facts he both understood and could see in front of him. Rather than mouth his continued defiance, his mouth sewed itself shut and remained like that until she was done talking to him. And boy, she was ready with all the examples she needed to prove her point. Putting Monica into a new light was rather easy for Apio because simply, he knew who she was. She was a bitch; a hard-assed, outspoken, letting the punches fly kind of woman that never backed down from a fight or an argument. It was something he had always admired about her – if only because he would always knock heads with her as well – and appreciated even more now. But truthfully, Agatha was right; Monica was not the easiest person to get along with. And her personality was either hit or miss. But then again, he was with her so what did that say about him? He must have been a little bit crazy too. Oddly enough, he was okay with that. And it was even stranger how…good it felt to be needed by someone like this. Trusted to form something that his brother couldn’t properly do justice. Chishan was a lot of things but he was not capable of being everywhere at once. And he couldn’t commit to everything one hundred percent – even with godly ki, he was still mortal. It wasn’t so much that he wanted to be better than Chishan at something as it was – well, he didn’t rightly know. A small, dull pain throbbed in the back of his head as something tried to speak up, quickly silenced once more by the more powerful thoughts in his mind. It didn’t distract him enough though that he stopped listening as she got down to another fair point. The cult they were going up against was against the Saiyan Empire. Not just against but with the full intention of destroying it in the face of galaxy’s public before it was burned into ashes. People – his people – were being threatened and he deserved the chance to stand up against them. Hell, he knew that. He felt that stronger than any other emotion that had ever invaded or perverted his mind. The cult had been something he felt as strongly against as Chishan or Agatha or Monica had. Not just for his own race, his own empire but for the entirety of the galaxy. Lives were at stake and Agatha spelled it out for him plain and simple; she needed him. He could remember back during the Galactic War, stuck on Arlia with Marlo’s squad. The Saiyan warriors were gone now, their lives lost in the crimson dust of the battlefields but he had never once forgotten them. They had come into his life when he was almost as low as this, feeling as worthless and useless as he could ever be. Chishan was gaining glory and fame for his actions on Valhalla and Arlia prior while he, a Second-Class, was stuck with wiping out the remaining PTO riff-raff. There had been no jealousy then, only a want to help his kin, but it still had been a spot he hadn’t been in before. And Marlo had chosen him, having admired his older brother’s actions and wanting to give the younger the chance to prove he was just as great. That Apio could stand alongside Chishan. And hadn’t he done that? And hadn’t his brother always, always, recognized that? “I barely have any family on Vegeta-sei anymore.” He said softly all of a sudden, his voice finding life again. His eyes were plastered to the ground as he started speaking once more. “My father – Chishan and I’s father – left a long time ago. Our mother…who the hell knows? All of our brothers and sisters are stationed somewhere else or are soaring through the stars or I don’t even know. My family has been Chishan for the longest time until I joined up with this ship and met everyone else. All these other Saiyans that, like my brother, were so unlike the rest of our race. Corrupted, one might say, by the great Lightning Lord’s presence. He’s…infectious, you know? But in a good way.” His hand came up to rub the back of his head. “Leadership comes naturally to him without him even trying. He can just pick up a spot and go without hesitation. It’s what is so great about him – and so goddamn infuriating. I’ve had to watch him from behind for so long, fall in step with his orders that I never stopped to think about what I wanted.” It was hard to admit the truth behind his feelings and even harder to climb out of the cesspit that he had been thrown into. But Agatha had jiggled a door handle and he was finally ready to open it. “I’ve been led by so many and never got a chance to lead. I never considered I could be much of a leader.” His head rose a bit, so he could meet her gaze. “I can’t promise I’ll be good at it. But you’re right; these bastards want to hurt people and I can’t simply stand back and mope over my own misery while that happens. I want to help stop them and if that means you need me in that position, then I’ll take it. For better or for worse.” It was interesting to see Apio’s eyes widen, as though he had experienced some kind of eureka with whatever thoughts were floating around in his mind. For a moment, it was like Agatha wasn’t even there. The Saiyan shook his head as though ridding himself of pesky thoughts before listening to her once more. He moved only once as if to speak, only to stop as she explained her reasons for feeling why she did. When he finally did speak again, he opened up with words she wasn’t expecting to hear. He started talking about his family. There was a softness to his voice that Agatha had never heard before, and it gave her pause. Her brows knit together slightly as she listened to him, putting her worries of the matter at hand to not just hear what he had to say but understand it. To hear him in the way she normally listened when she was trying to get past the words and see into the heart of the matter. He was opening up to her about something, and it was the first time in a long time he had done so… she’d be damned if she wasn’t going to give him her full attention. Though she was watching him, Apio’s eyes were plastered to the ground as he spoke. He reiterated things she already knew, though they were things she had only ever really discussed with Chishan: Their father had left, who knew what had become of their mother, and their siblings were all off doing their own things. Chishan and Apio had arguably only ever had each other, outside of one or two of their uncles. He described Chishan as infectious in a good way, and it brought a soft smile to her face. Yes, she was fully aware of that particular trait of her fiance’s, just as Apio was aware of how much of a hard ass bitch his own girlfriend was. But he went on to talk about leadership and Chishan -- about how easily it seemed to come from his older brother. It didn’t take long for the gypsy to put it together: jealousy. That’s what Apio had been hiding all this time. That’s why he had exploded on Chishan on Namek after the Lightning Lord had tapped into the power of a god and single handedly saved the planet, and that was why he had ignored him ever since. It also explained why he became colder to Agatha after the engagement, because marriage often changed how people interacted. The matter was right before her: he was tired of living in his brother’s shadow. She had persuaded him. By the time he finished talking, he agreed with her request. He even rose his face to hers once more, meeting her gaze with a bit more confidence. Sure, it might be a rough road to get to the place where either of them were any good at leading… but that didn’t matter. What mattered is that they were going to try, and they were going to give it everything they had. “Thank you, Apio. I know it’s a daunting task, believe me… but I have every faith that you and I will see this through to the end and that we’ll figure it out. You have everything it takes to be a great leader, and it will be a learning process for us both. But I know that when Chishan and Monica hear about this, they will agree that this is the best idea, and they will be by our sides the whole way to help make sure we succeed.” A subtle hint that she had not spoken to Chishan about this prior to discussing it with Apio, though Agatha certainly hadn’t intended it that way. There was no slyness to her voice, no coyness in her eyes that would betray she was trying to let him know that this wasn’t something she had reached a decision upon with Chishan’s help. Instead, it was more a slip of fact: this was a discussion to be had with Apio, and a decision to be made by him. Not Chishan. It was something she had chosen to speak with Apio about first, rather than his brother. Either way, a door had been opened, and like a street they worked two ways. “Apio… I do wish you would talk to one of us about whatever has been bothering you.” Her voice was soft, amber eyes a bit sad as she looked at him. It was the first time Agatha had ever voiced her knowledge that something was wrong, rather than just acknowledging it through the occasional knowing look. “I’m worried about you. We all are. It’s difficult for us to see you struggle without knowing what we can do to support and encourage you. I can and have made my assumptions based on what I’ve seen, but you know how I hate assuming things. I just...” Her voice trailed off for a moment and her shoulders slumped a little. Her gaze dropped to her lap once more. “The last thing I want to do is make you feel like I’m pressuring you to talk about something you’re not ready to discuss yet. It’s obvious to me that you’ve been upset with Chishan about something, which is fine… but he can’t try to right something when he doesn’t know what’s wrong. And neither can I…” She looked up at him again, and it was clear from her last words that she was referring to how Apio had distanced himself from her after the engagement announcement. “You are a brother to me, Apio. You have been for a long time, even before Chishan proposed to me. Even before everything that happened with my mother and Zaine…” Her voice caught in her throat upon speaking her lost son’s name, and she once more had to duck her head as she fought to keep the tears at bay. The miscarriage had been hard for everyone, as had the deaths of Sorcha and Chis. Truthfully, Agatha didn’t talk about it much because it was still a raw subject for her. But it was something the four of them had gotten one another through. They had supported each other, much like they always had -- much like Agatha wanted to do for Apio with whatever was burdening his soul. It hurt that he was pushing her away and forcing her to reach her own conclusions as to why. She sniffed a little and did her best to keep herself composed. “I miss seeing you smile, and I miss spending time with you. If I’ve done something wrong, I hope you’ll tell me sooner rather than later. I need you for more than just your help fighting the cult… I need you as my friend, too. As my soon to be brother-in-law. I just… I guess I just want to remind you that I love you and care about you, and that I’m always going to be here. It doesn’t matter what the issue is, or who the issue is with. I just want you to know that you’re important to me, and so is your peace and your happiness.” Looking back up, Agatha gave him a small if sad smile, one that would assure him she was done speaking on the matter and didn’t intend on trying to badger him about it. If he was ready to talk, she was there. And if not, then she would still be there when he was. In the meantime, she had done her part that she hadn’t been able to do, yet: communicating that she was worried, that she missed his friendship, and that she would always be available to him if he needed her. Agatha WC: 8637 Chishan WC: 4205 Total WC: 12,842 |
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| Agatha Jo | Oct 9 2016, 10:46 PM Post #2 |
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The White Mage
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Jealousy was a truly ugly thing. But what made it worse was the fact that it was born from some outside presence, some force he couldn’t control. Sure, Apio had his own rumblings over being ordered around by his brother or watching as Chishan got the fame and he got set in as the ‘team member’. But it had never overwhelmed him before because frankly, the younger Saiyan didn’t want the attention – just as much as his brother didn’t. And somewhere deep inside, he knew that; he knew that Chishan and he felt the same way when it came to glory. It’s probably what held off the envy for so long. But all it took was Lilim to break through his willpower for him to fall victim to the blinding flood of emotions. Suddenly everything clicked in a way it never had before – ways it never should. Chishan was some egomaniac who was more focused on raising his own fame than helping others reach the same pinnacle. Hell, he couldn’t even settle for some unknown woman; he’d had a child with the High Scholar of the Saiyan Empire and was now engaged to a literal celebrity from Earth. Everything about his world was grand and Apio had felt the bile of jealousy purge itself down into his stomach. He very nearly forgot of all of the things he had. It was a terribly good thing Monica was not one to be taken for granted and had no qualms about smacking Apio whenever he got unruly. But he could never really admit everything out loud, choosing rather to sit in silent anger and disgust than to actually discuss it. Kais knew Chishan would have listened; Monica would have smacked him harder but would have listened. And now here was Agatha, offering to be an ear for him as well. She met his gaze and thanked him for finally backing away from his stubbornness and agreeing to help her out. It was oddly uplifting for the younger Saiyan to agree to it, like he was being given a chance he never had before. That wasn’t rightfully true but in that moment; it was what he needed to feel better. It was further inspiring to know that Agatha had made this choice – put all her thought into who was the best candidate – without impressions from outside forces. The way she said that Monica and Chishan would approve once they knew about it, he realized she had chosen to speak to him first and foremost about it. It made him aware of just how much she actually did care for him, despite how little they actually talked. That wasn’t quite true either; they used to talk a lot more before everything happened with Lilim. He nodded gently as she finished speaking on the agreement and a part of him called him away, afraid that the door being opened would allow her to step through. And of course she did; because she cared and wanted to make sure he was doing well. That’s how Agatha was. So before he could even think about making up some excuse to leave, she was moving right onto the conversation he, himself, had partially started. His eyes fell once more as she got right into it, expressing how worried she and the rest of them were over his mannerisms in recent days. He’d shut himself off from the world and the topic of why was fairly obvious; Chishan. She tried to advise him in the best direction; a problem can’t be fixed if the one causing it doesn’t know about it. It will just brood and stew and boil in vileness until it eventually comes out in some violent way. The gypsy continued to speak on the subject, turning it towards his coldness that he’d suddenly shown towards her recently. She regarded him as a brother, even before they had been connected through an engagement. Even before everything had happened on Earth with Sorcha and Zain, Chis and Maker. They’d been bonded together through all of that, even with the growing jealousy beginning to take form inside of Apio. He’d managed to fight it for a long time, been strong enough to resist it… Another sharp pain resonated through his mind, losing its subtleness to stab at him angrily. Whatever it was, it didn’t want him focusing on what he had been, it wanted him to keep his sight on the feelings he was swallowed up in. It didn’t take a genius to understand that it was the corruption that had been instilled upon him by Lilim and it roared at him, telling him to blow her off and leave. Even as she was getting emotional, talking about missing how he used to be, worried that she had done something to cause his distemper. That she loved him and cared for him. That he was important to her. His hands balled into fists at his sides as he continued to stare at the ground, a veritable civil war raging inside of his body and mind. The overwhelming disease that had stained him fought with such strength and deception that it was hard to weed out what he was really feeling and what was he being forced to feel. That was it, wasn’t it? His emotions were being multiplied to a near-blinding level by whatever Lilim had done. She had seen a small weakness and made it large, wanting to create a distance between Apio and Chishan and perhaps the others too. “I…” He started, softly his voice attempting to find some resonance in its pain and anguish. But she was better than him, stronger than him, her power greater over him… “It’s Lilim.” He finally said, the name coming out like a bile-infused blob. Because fuck her being stronger than him; he was Chishan’s brother, of the same blood and of the same family line. They’d gone through more adventures with each other and put their lives on the line for one another enough times that he’d very nearly forgotten about. His hands were practically shaking at his sides. “She did something to me. Messed with my head. Made me angry, envious, wanting to be like Chishan, wanting what he has. None of you ever did anything. Not a single one of you did anything wrong. It was me; it was all me.” “I was just too weak to resist her.” Truthfully, Agatha expected Apio to do little more than give her a nod and take his leave. The few times that Monica or Chishan had tried talking to him in the past he had reacted poorly at best, and it was obvious that the subject was one that would earn almost immediate resentment -- which was part of the reason Agatha had never said anything to him until now. He already had his girlfriend and brother trying to get the information out of him. He didn’t need one more person getting on his nerves and bugging him about it, so she didn’t. But there was an opening here, and as much as Agatha wanted Apio to be assured that she would never, ever pester him about the matter, she did want him to know how she felt. If she didn’t take a moment to at least attempt to communicate, who knew how much longer all of this would go on. The gypsy wasn’t one for living with that kind of regret, not anymore. So she tried. She had to. And surprisingly, he caved. Oh it was a struggle, Agatha could see it on his face. The rigidity with which he carried himself, with his hands balled into fists at his sides and his inability once again to look her in the eyes. He was struggling with whether or not to talk, and Agatha knew better than to interrupt. Instead, she watched quietly and let him reach a decision on his own. Lilim. The moment the demoness’s name came off of Apio’s lips, like bile that had rised from the darkest pit of his stomach, the gypsy’s jaw slowly tightened together. She stayed silent as he explained that the succubus had done something to him, messed with his head and implanted a strong seed of jealousy within his heart that he hadn’t been strong enough to resist. It had been eating at him ever since. Agatha knew that Lilim had confronted Apio a while back, but that was all the information the younger Saiyan had ever given on the encounter. He had never talked about it, even to Monica. And though it was clear the demoness had bothered him, he never once let on how deeply. Time went on and Apio seemed rather fine after a while. He hadn’t really started letting the resentment that had been festering show until everything on Namek. For probably the first time that Apio had ever seen, an expression appeared on Agatha’s face: rage. It was muted and calm, but no less passionate -- like the eye of a hurricane. Her own hands tightened into fists as she cast away from Apio for a moment, jaw still set tight. “Atât de prost, bun pentru nimic curvă! she growled angrily under her breath. Though Apio likely hadn’t picked up enough Romanian to understand what she’d said, her tone was more than readable as she cursed the demon bitch. Oh how Agatha wished Lilim had the balls to confront her. It was going on for over a year now that the succubus had been terrorizing nearly everyone in Chishan’s life in an attempt to pull it apart by the seams. Apio, Monica, Cress and her daughters… It seemed that everyone was a target. Except for Agatha herself. The gypsy had long ago been expecting an encounter with Lilim. After all, who was more important in Chishan’s life than his lover? And yet, it had never come. Lilim had never once appeared to Agatha, and she honestly wasn’t sure how she felt about that. Some relief, some worry, some disappointment; but time and time again others had been hurt or killed or manipulated by Lilim just to make Chishan’s life difficult but never once had the succubus come anywhere near Agatha. At this point it was almost a bit offensive. And Agatha was just so tired of sitting back and watching everyone she cared about get used, without ever finding herself in a place to do anything about it. She breathed in slow and deep through her nostrils, calming herself and letting the anger go. It wasn’t worth letting it get under her skin, and right now what was most important was the fact that Apio was sharing what was on his heart. Casting all vengeful thoughts of Lilim aside for the moment, she turned her amber gaze back up to Apio. The gypsy stood to her feet and walked around the coffee table toward him and, in her typical Agatha fashion, wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him into a tight hug. She said nothing for a while, only held him. Apio had never been much for hugs, though he had gotten used to them from Agatha -- but the gypsy knew the kind of power that touch had, and how much stronger it was at times than words. It was why she was such a physical person to begin with. She knew he would feel a bit awkward for the first couple seconds, but given how long he had been keeping this to himself, how long he had been struggling on his own… well, she only hoped he would accept the healing energy that came with being physically uplifted by someone who cared and understood. “Lilim is a coward,” Agatha told him quietly, if firmly. “She cheats and she skulks and she manipulates because she doesn’t have the courage to face Chishan and their history directly. She operates this way because she is weak of heart and mind.” Pulling back a bit, the gypsy placed her hands on either side of Apio’s face and looked him directly in the eyes. ”You are not weak, Apio. Even if you were, it wouldn’t matter because you have something that makes you stronger than her: us. You have your family, and it’s our job to carry you when you can’t carry yourself, just like it’s your job to carry us when we can’t walk on our own.” She let that knowledge sit for a moment so he could digest it fully before continuing on. ”Lilim doesn’t have that, and she knows it. She knows it’s what puts her at the disadvantage, and that’s why she is trying so hard to tear everyone that Chishan trusts and loves away from him. But it doesn’t matter who she used to be, you know that she wants nothing more than to tear him down. She can study you all she wants, but she doesn’t know you, and she certainly doesn’t care about you. Lilim is poison, Apio… but she cannot control you. The only person who gets to control you is you... and maybe Monica.” The last comment was added on as a small joke to lighten the mood. It was accompanied by her trademark smirk and wink combination. She chuckled lightly before sobering up a little bit again. ”Don’t give her that kind of power, hun. You are stronger than her, and you deserve more than the jealousy and self-doubt that she has infected you with.” Agatha hugged him again briefly and then stepped back, though her hands remained on his shoulders for a moment longer. ”Chishan and I are going into the Time Chamber tomorrow. I can’t make you do anything you don’t want to… but you need to take advantage of the time that we’re gone to talk with Monica and tell her everything that happened between you and Lilim. And then, when Chishan and I come out… you need to talk to him, too. That’s the only way you’re ever going to shake what Lilim did and move forward with the life you want to live.” It was amazing how well self-pity looked on Apio in that moment. He’d been so caught up in all his other emotions that it honestly was kind of a relief to just…feel all the agony that had come from being messed up by a succubus. It was very ‘woe is me’ and he knew that most other people would simply just ignore it or roll their eyes. But not Agatha; she was hearing the pain behind his words, behind his tone and connecting with it. Sure, Monica would probably have done the same thing but it was different. There was a hesitance to bring up this topic with the former assassin because Lilim was and is her former sister, Matilda. It was a revelation that had come later, after the demon had come and tried to seduce Apio to her way of thinking. After that, talking to Monica seemed…well, it would push an envelope he felt didn’t need to be tested. And Chishan. Well, the Saiyan Inferno had become the reason his emotions began to boil over. But more than that, Matilda had been Chishan’s lover. A woman that he cared for and was planning on running away with. Even if the younger Saiyan could push through his jealousy and anger, it would be nearly on par with opening a wound with tweezers. Agatha was there but in his blindness, he only figured she would take the Lightning Lord’s side. Truthfully Lilim had done more damage than perhaps she even knew; she had almost effectively separated him from all the people he cared about and left him alone. But he was pushing past that now, pulling himself out of the grime and rot that had been a heavy part of his mind and soul for so long. He’d taken important first steps to break through the corruption, though he didn’t even truly understand that. It had been a long road and truthfully, he still had a long path to truly get himself out of the hole. But his first moments of questioning everything that had been a heavy part of his mind for months now had broken through the veil and now he was pressing forward, if only slowly. He hadn’t come here with the plan to open up about it. But there he was, finally opening his mouth and letting it spill out. And unsurprisingly, Agatha was not pleased to hear about it. She cursed in Romanian – or so he assumed, he didn’t have quite an ear for the language – with such anger and disgust that it even surprised him. She knew, along with the others, that Lilim had visited him and shortly after had visited Monica. In fact, the only people that had seemingly avoided a face to face meeting with the succubus were Agatha and the object of her plans – Chishan. Thinking about it now, with a clearer mind, he was able to understand that her seduction of him had clearly been a part of driving a wedge between them. His eyes stayed cast downwards, almost ashamed to look up at her over his revelations. She heard him shift to standing up and waited until she was directly in front of him, her arms enveloping him and pulling him into a hug. It was something he had grown to expect from the gypsy; her desire to help people often resulting in some kind of physical show of comfort and understanding. Hugs were something she was practically famous for aboard the Night Fury and the Saiyans that made up the crew – including himself – had had to adapt rather quickly. He still wasn’t what one might consider comfortable with the action but he at least understood why she did it. And in a way, it did help; he knew it was coming from a place of care and that meant a lot to him – especially in that moment. He’d stiffened naturally at first but slowly released himself into the hug, standing there quietly and accepting. Everything Agatha said following that, he knew to be true. Lilim acted in the dark because she didn’t know how to fight straight. An odd realization, considering how well trained Matilda had been back in the day. But nonetheless, her actions were sneaky and disgusting and with every intention of tearing at the weaknesses of her prey. She’d acted upon something he didn’t even know he had and made it his entire world. If it hadn’t been so personal, he’d almost be impressed with the strategy. But Agatha was right; he’d been drowning for so long because he had been avoiding the people that make him strong. He’d been dishonest and lied by omission, thus hurting himself and the people he did care about. He nodded softly along with the gypsy’s words, even managing to snort a small laugh as she joked about Monica’s control over his life. “You’re right.” He said softly, meeting her gaze with a small amount of hesitance. “I know she’s gonna kick my shit in for holding out for so long but she needs to know. And…Chishan as well.” He wasn’t sure how he was going to broach that conversation yet but he’d have to worry about that during the down time he did have. Agatha and Chishan would be in the Chamber for a full twenty four hours so he’d have plenty of time to plan that out. His gaze lingered with hers for a moment longer before his mouth managed to pull back into a small smile. “Thank you, Agatha. I’ve been a real hardhead lately and I…appreciate you listening to me. I didn’t even know I needed it.” The topic of Lilim and the struggle that Apio had been facing was not one that either of them had intended on discussing during the meeting, but Agatha was glad it had happened. The younger Saiyan was a bit stiff at first when she moved to hug him, as he typically was… but soon he had accepted it and made no effort to pull away or cut it off prematurely. He listened to her words and nodded in agreement, even laughing a bit with her at the comment toward Monica. It may have only been a small snort, but it brought such a smile to the gypsy’s face to know it had amused him. Apio agreed that he needed to talk to Monica, no matter how hard she beat his face in for having held the information for so long. He took a moment to look her in the eyes over the matter, but he did successfully make the effort to do so -- an assurance that he would, in fact, talk to the former assassin. He also assured her he would talk with Chishan, too. She was glad to hear it, and it withdrew a weight from her shoulders over the matter that she hadn’t quite realized was there. Agatha thanked him, both for his agreement to help her fight the organization and for his willingness to finally open up about the matter, and soon he was on his way. She had no plans on keeping him any longer, especially when he now had to start working up the courage to speak to Monica. And Agatha wouldn’t have to say anything for Apio to know that it was something the gypsy would follow up on to make sure it happened. Accountability was a bitch sometimes. The gypsy walked him to the door and waved him goodbye before shutting it softly. The locking mechanism automatically clicked into place, leaving Agatha secured and alone inside Bohemia. She stood perfectly still for a moment, hand still rested on the the place where she’d pushed the door shut, looking forward without really seeing anything. Silence hung in the air thick with tension as she breathed slowly through her nostrils. And then, like a switch, Agatha ripped herself from her spot and stormed across the room. Her amber gaze was alit with a righteous and fiery passion as she lifted open the lid to a trunk in a corner and began to deftly pull out a number of curious items. Gathering them all up in her arms, she moved back over toward her coffee table and dumped the items carefully out onto its surface. She cleared the table of everything that wasn’t her crystal ball so there was plenty of space before reaching for a heavy looking roll of parchment. Agatha unfurled it across the table, setting a small stone on each corner to keep it from rolling back up. The parchment was marked with a large pentagram, along with several other pagan markings. Upon the very center of the pentagram she placed a stemmed bowl made of pewter and iron that was more an oversized chalice than anything else. At each point of the pentagram she placed a small black candle. A small bit of water was poured into the chalice from a canteen. Following that, she palmed two small cloth pouches, loosening the drawstrings on each in order to procure their contents. From one she pulled sprigs of lavender, scattering the small stems around the chalice within the circle of the pentagram. From the other she withdrew sage, sprinkling it upon the surface of the water. Following that, she picked up a ceremonial knife, small and engraved with numerous runes, and used it to slice a cut across her palm over the bowl. Her blood dripped into the water, mixing with it and the sage, and she didn’t pull away until enough had been spilt. It required no thought at all for her to heal her hand and stop the bleeding as she put the final preparations on the summoning spell. A match was selected from a box and struck across the coarse surface to ignite it. One by one she lit the candles, starting with the top one and moving in a circle counter-clockwise. Keeping the match lit, Agatha reached for the final ingredient: a picture she had acquired a while back of Matilda. Chishan and Monica both knew she had it, and knew the purpose for which Agatha wanted it -- just on the off chance that she ever needed to do anything of an arcane nature, an image of her chosen focus was just as strong as something like a lock of hair or a cut of clothing. It was something both of them knew that she would never use without a good reason, and they trusted her to have it. She held the picture over the chalice, just above the flame of the match, barely high enough that it could not catch fire. And that was all she needed to do… she knew the words. All that was left was lighting the picture, dropping it in the mixture of blood, water, and sage, and speaking the incantation that would do more than simply summon Lilim to her… it would drag her from wherever she was and deposit the slithering bitch right in front of Agatha. But, she held her position. She paused before following through with the final steps, staring daggers at the image of the woman that had finally pushed one too many of Agatha’s buttons… and slowly, her expression softened. The image before her was not of a succubus, nor of any sort of demon. It was a woman, a human woman. Monica’s sister. Chishan’s one time lover. Before she died, before she was corrupted by grief and consumed by hatred and jealousy and fear. Though she might call herself Lilim, there was no doubt that Matilda still was there. And honestly, wasn’t this what she wanted? To drive them up a wall, to get in their heads and pull them apart? The demoness hadn’t even made an attempt to manipulate Agatha yet, and the gypsy realized at this rate… Lilim wouldn’t even need to try. Agatha was doing it herself in her anger toward the woman. No… no, not like this. Agatha and Lilim would meet soon -- sooner than the demoness expected… but not like this. Not out of emotion and rage. The gypsy blew softly on the match to put it out, the tendril of smoke lingering for only a second before it disappeared, and sat back on her heels with the picture still in hand. She was smiling now as she looked at the image, thoughts running through her mind that only she knew. A small, light chuckle bubbled from her lips before she set the picture down and blew out the candles. Back went the twigs of lavender into its pouch, and piece by piece she cleaned everything up and put them back where they belonged. She had a lot of planning to do. Agatha WC: 2463/11,100 Chishan WC: 2024/6229 Total WC: 17,329 |
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10:12 AM Jul 11