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metamorphosis2012-04-01 04:34 pm
flair) wrote in metamorphosis2012-04-01 04:34 pm
Entry tags:
332;
Title: follow the nightingale
Characters: Chien, Mathias, Luca Milda
Rating: G
67/365. AU where Luca joins Arca when it first starts out.
"No man chooses evil because it is evil; he only mistakes it for happiness, the good he seeks."
Mathias's voice is strong and carries through the room, reverberating against the limestone bricks. Arca followers kneel before her, hands clasped together and hoods drawn back from their faces. Her face, of course, is hidden by a mask, and they have no doubt there is a kind, if firm, smile beneath it, just as reflected in her words.
(There's a scowl, an ugly snarl, in truth; she grits her teeth and spreads her hands, a master of her own voice and letting none of her true feelings spill between the words.)
"This is why we should not -- no, cannot hate those who refuse to follow us. They are misguided and think only of themselves. That is the evil destroying this world - greed. They think if they go out for themselves, they will be happy, but what of the rest of the world?"
She pauses, listening to the murmurs of agreement, and relaxes her stance.
"They will come to us in time. As the world crumbles around them, they will seek shelter, and we will give it to them. So please, my followers, continue in your search and in preaching the message of Arca. Use violence only in self-defense. Unnecessary action will make it harder for the ones who had once been closest to the Manifest to accept our help."
She bids them farewell as they rise and leave the room; only four of the hundreds remained, kneeling behind her, and she turns to them. Her frustration shows only in her grip as she takes the staff from Chien, pressing her nails against the cold metal and sighing. He frowns, a crease of worry and confusion between his eyes, and she taps his shoulder; she'd discuss with him the finer points in more simple detail, a speech he could follow without problem. His dogs-- no, brothers as well.
"Luca," she addresses the fourth, turning to him and holding back a sigh as he jerks up. He stands, just as Chien and his brothers had done when silently addressed by Mathias, and licks his lips. Nervous.
"Yes, my lady?" He asks, voice soft and shaking. Mathias closes her eyes and slides an arm around his shoulders, glancing at Chien and his two brothers; they know they're not needed any longer and take their leave, with Cer giving one final look over his shoulder before exiting behind Chien. Mathias watches to makes sure they don't return, then looks back to Luca.
"Have you remembered anything else about the Manifest?" She asks in reply, and nearly groans in frustration when he shakes his head. "Are you sure?"
Something in her voice must've set him off to her irritation because he nods quickly, fingers curling into his robe and breath quivering slightly. Mathias hesitates before lifting her mask just enough to press a kiss to the top of his head; he relaxes slowly, growing red, and nods again.
"I really am trying, Lady Mathias. Except..." He frowns, staring straight ahead intently. "I don't know. Whenever it feels like I'm close to remembering where it is, it just... slips away... I've been having more dreams about Inanna, too," she feels bile rise in her throat at the name and he hurries along, a little upset at it as well, "but none of them reveal the location of it. Just the lengths Asura was willing to go for her."
Mathias sighs again and nods, squeezing his shoulder. He looks up at her, still frowning a little, and she gives him a small push.
"That's all right, Luca. As long as you are sincerely trying your best, then you have nothing to worry about. Perhaps the next time we speak you will have something new to tell me... Until then, I want you to go on a mission. There have been reports of a strong Fallen in a place named Sania Village. I want you to seek her out and see if she is one of the ones we're looking for. If she resists, use any means necessary to take her."
"Even... hurting her..?"
Luca's voice shakes at it, and Mathias realizes it'd be the first time he'd have to (intentionally) hurt someone; she smooths his hair down, trying to soften her voice.
"I am sure a man of your charm could convince her to join us without harming her, Luca. You are, after all, Asura. He was an incredibly charismatic man."
"Um... Thank you, Lady Mathias. I'll try my best."
She nods and gives him a little push, waving slightly as he looks back and makes his way out of the room. As soon as she's alone, she walks to a stone chair on an upraised dais and sinks into it, removing her mask and running her fingers through her hair. She hesitates, then pushes both sides behind her ears and looks up at the mirrored ceiling, something meant to replicate the sun's brilliance as it peeked in for the morning but instead reflected the object of her hatred back at her.
That woman was the reason she had to succeed - no matter what.
Characters: Chien, Mathias, Luca Milda
Rating: G
67/365. AU where Luca joins Arca when it first starts out.
"No man chooses evil because it is evil; he only mistakes it for happiness, the good he seeks."
Mathias's voice is strong and carries through the room, reverberating against the limestone bricks. Arca followers kneel before her, hands clasped together and hoods drawn back from their faces. Her face, of course, is hidden by a mask, and they have no doubt there is a kind, if firm, smile beneath it, just as reflected in her words.
(There's a scowl, an ugly snarl, in truth; she grits her teeth and spreads her hands, a master of her own voice and letting none of her true feelings spill between the words.)
"This is why we should not -- no, cannot hate those who refuse to follow us. They are misguided and think only of themselves. That is the evil destroying this world - greed. They think if they go out for themselves, they will be happy, but what of the rest of the world?"
She pauses, listening to the murmurs of agreement, and relaxes her stance.
"They will come to us in time. As the world crumbles around them, they will seek shelter, and we will give it to them. So please, my followers, continue in your search and in preaching the message of Arca. Use violence only in self-defense. Unnecessary action will make it harder for the ones who had once been closest to the Manifest to accept our help."
She bids them farewell as they rise and leave the room; only four of the hundreds remained, kneeling behind her, and she turns to them. Her frustration shows only in her grip as she takes the staff from Chien, pressing her nails against the cold metal and sighing. He frowns, a crease of worry and confusion between his eyes, and she taps his shoulder; she'd discuss with him the finer points in more simple detail, a speech he could follow without problem. His dogs-- no, brothers as well.
"Luca," she addresses the fourth, turning to him and holding back a sigh as he jerks up. He stands, just as Chien and his brothers had done when silently addressed by Mathias, and licks his lips. Nervous.
"Yes, my lady?" He asks, voice soft and shaking. Mathias closes her eyes and slides an arm around his shoulders, glancing at Chien and his two brothers; they know they're not needed any longer and take their leave, with Cer giving one final look over his shoulder before exiting behind Chien. Mathias watches to makes sure they don't return, then looks back to Luca.
"Have you remembered anything else about the Manifest?" She asks in reply, and nearly groans in frustration when he shakes his head. "Are you sure?"
Something in her voice must've set him off to her irritation because he nods quickly, fingers curling into his robe and breath quivering slightly. Mathias hesitates before lifting her mask just enough to press a kiss to the top of his head; he relaxes slowly, growing red, and nods again.
"I really am trying, Lady Mathias. Except..." He frowns, staring straight ahead intently. "I don't know. Whenever it feels like I'm close to remembering where it is, it just... slips away... I've been having more dreams about Inanna, too," she feels bile rise in her throat at the name and he hurries along, a little upset at it as well, "but none of them reveal the location of it. Just the lengths Asura was willing to go for her."
Mathias sighs again and nods, squeezing his shoulder. He looks up at her, still frowning a little, and she gives him a small push.
"That's all right, Luca. As long as you are sincerely trying your best, then you have nothing to worry about. Perhaps the next time we speak you will have something new to tell me... Until then, I want you to go on a mission. There have been reports of a strong Fallen in a place named Sania Village. I want you to seek her out and see if she is one of the ones we're looking for. If she resists, use any means necessary to take her."
"Even... hurting her..?"
Luca's voice shakes at it, and Mathias realizes it'd be the first time he'd have to (intentionally) hurt someone; she smooths his hair down, trying to soften her voice.
"I am sure a man of your charm could convince her to join us without harming her, Luca. You are, after all, Asura. He was an incredibly charismatic man."
"Um... Thank you, Lady Mathias. I'll try my best."
She nods and gives him a little push, waving slightly as he looks back and makes his way out of the room. As soon as she's alone, she walks to a stone chair on an upraised dais and sinks into it, removing her mask and running her fingers through her hair. She hesitates, then pushes both sides behind her ears and looks up at the mirrored ceiling, something meant to replicate the sun's brilliance as it peeked in for the morning but instead reflected the object of her hatred back at her.
That woman was the reason she had to succeed - no matter what.