Topic: The Path of Betrayal

Kaius · Date: 2012-03-16 16:44 EST

The Path of Betrayal

Act 1

A red triangular gateway spun into existence, it's edges scoring the wooden floor as it rotated into being, and a man much different from his original foray into the Inn emerged; dressed in green and black leathers, a Myriad set into hematite on each wrist, and his Key Myriad, Pathfinder, on his brow, ebbing with soft ruby light.

His skin crawled as his eyes slowly opened and scanned the commons, cautious.

Unable to stomach the mother dragon's almost cordial tone with the man from Batten's Box, he stepped out onto the porch with a markedly deep inhalation, only to have it expelled all at once upon sight of the Gauntlet wearing ....well, he hadn't quite determined what exactly she was yet. He took a moment to weigh finding her creepy over his pleasure at her desire to see Kain done away with.....and took a brave step to the edge of the porch, not looking at anyone in particular, but following Renna's gaze. How this" person, this" thing, could be so calmly and innocently taking in the mundane sights from the porch of the Inn caused a momentary schism of confusion within himself as he watched what she watched, examining the plumage of the bird in question before softly stating, "Cardinal."

Renna resembled a gauntlet wearing...Street thug? She wore a black hoody with baggy white-bloodstained jeans, and basketball shoes - all of which were obviously not hers. She was more of a cloaks, corsets and tight mini-skirts sort of girl. Unfortunately, she couldn't quite remember that, and unfortunately for the man she had consumed, his clothes looked awfully comfortable. Dull rust colored eyes followed a bird circling over head. And a dumb, sort of longing smile was present there upon her lips. Of course, her eyes remained bleak. What her face longed to express, her mind could not formulate into total truth....She had yet noticed someone standing close to her.

"Perfection." She replied, almost immediately. As if the word had registered in her mind, and that it meant something so important that her subconscious needed to retort, right back at him. Even as she replied, she forgot he was there....Her lips pursed together as she began to hum that strange little lullaby that had no distinct tune or end. It could have went on, and on....But it ended quickly, one of those rust colored eyes - the left one. It had changed color. A duality existed in her gaze, as where one dull, rust emotionless eye stared on, the other, burning magma - glowing bright, and hot, distorting the very air about the iris as if indeed the color alone sizzled the atmosphere....Independently locked onto the man she did not know. And she stared. In two directions.

Kaius · Date: 2012-03-16 18:08 EST

Kaius's response snapped out just as quick as had hers, his eyes narrowing and taking notice of her noticing him, and pretending not to notice. And if that wasn't enough to twist his mind in and of itself, it was a good thing he couldn't see her other eye shifting independently. "Impossible."

Her other eye dulled away, as he replied. As her mind sought to look elsewhere - the bird....Oh how soothing it was. It brought a smile to her lips. But again, the now completed set of rust colored eyes, refused to smile along with her. "....No." The soft whisper, like a child's uttered, "Possible....Everything." With that, her head lowered down to the railings her hands clenched at, and she found her interest there now. The iron bars. The restraints they represented. Suddenly, her gauntleted claw slammed down, and smashed into the iron, bending it under her unnatural strength. She felt no anger. But the need to hit the railing....was enough to stop her from taking her fleshed hand towards the man next to her.

Kaius first response to the outburst was to take a deep breath as the iron gave way beneath her strike, drawing his hands back from the twisted railing.

Three words now.

Were they making progress, or was he walking into the lion's maw? He was either too stubborn or ignorant to tell.

"At what cost." Reciprocity was king, and words the currency it seemed.

Renna's head turned to the man now for first time. And it was the first time, she would look at him. And stare into his eyes. There was turmoil behind there, conflict, death and victory. Many fought for the control, but only a few would come to the forefront, given the right stimuli....In this case: "Consume....Take. Absorb. Perfection. Goddess. I....must perfect, this imperfection." Her dull whisper was hardly an inspiring speech....her eyes closed, and she fell into an odd silence that he in turn met with a long, silent moment, regarding her in quiet speculation.

Kaius · Date: 2012-03-16 18:10 EST

He still wasn't sure what she was entirely, or what his ultimate goal had been in ....what could only be called, this confrontation; but now it continued in both curiosity, and perhaps a somewhat academic tone, given his study of the metaphysical. "....and who defines this 'perfection', then?" It was a quiet question, and quickly followed. "Mustn't one ensure that the perception of they who define perfection, are first perfect themselves?" It was a genuine question, and he was falling more into possibly fatal comfort with each word. "How else to ensure the path is true?"

There were no words to offer....He spoke to a woman who, before, could had answered coherently. She could have dipped low into her belief, into what she felt was 'true' perfection, and how to obtain it. That was then....And now, unfortunately, Renna could not even add two and two without a result of some random image, that would take her blind, and innocent interest....The dull eyes looked to the railing she damaged, and then she turned her body towards him. Her face was dead set on looking at his chest. Then, she lifted her fleshed hand out towards him. "....Show you, perfection....Peace. Nothingness. Imperfect beings. Must, be consumed....Together, we are strong. Perfect. Become one. One Entity. Perfection, no weakness, no emotion. No conflict. Perfection." Her smile turned mad, as her dull rusted eyes glowed bright red. "....I am Renna, The Betrayer, and all shall bow to the ultimate Perfection."

It took a blink for her eyes to dull again. It was amazing how many times she could change during the span of a very short conversation. It wasn't his words that lowered her hand, it was the thing which rode the bracelet on his arm, with its glowing red light, as he extended that arm in front of himself as if it could offer protection.

And the sensation. Humility.

Her maddened grin fell stoic, and she slowly slumped her shoulders, turning to look back over the street that the porch of the Red Dragon Inn looked upon....Her eyes searched aimlessly for something to think about, or to remember....Again, she had forgotten who the man was, or he was taking to her. Renna's dull rusted eyes simply stared, and nothing more.

Kaius took a hesitant step away from her, slowly, gauging her and keeping his arm before him somewhat defensively. He wasn't sure how it worked, but it had. Maybe it was time to look more closely into Humility.

"Renna ..." He wouldn't add the other appellation. He wasn't sure that it necessarily did her any good to hear it, as she was at times a seeming blank template, "....I'm Kaius....Arkennan....or Pathfinder, if you wish.." He spoke softly, and carefully, the Pathfinder Myriad spinning a triangular gate behind him as he slowly backed towards it. "We will talk again, Renna, yes?" And then, he was backing out of the cage with the lion in it.

Unfortunately for Kaius, the memories he was once speaking to had long since gone. There was nothing there to speak to, now; just the scrambled mind of a woman that struggled to keep her own identity. But she did look at him, if somewhat confusingly. As he retreated, Renna looked to the damaged railing. Wondering how that happened.

And as she did so, he bowed slightly, his eyes cautiously not leaving her until he was into the gateway. And gone.

Kaius · Date: 2012-03-18 10:57 EST

All was darkness, even the Myriae. Though that might have been by choice given the temptation of drawing too deeply on Pathfinders powers. A little intoxicated, he'd been staggering towards Moonlight & Magic, the witches shop when ironically he'd lost his way, thoughtful and drunk, not drunk enough to be weaving, but only just that sober.

One might get lost easily in such a vast city.

And it was easy for Renna to be considered one of the...crazier aspects of its civilians.

What had originally transpired as a group of boys teasing and poking fun at a homeless woman, had turned into a back alley bloodbath. They hit, kicked and laughed at her for too long, as she was huddled amongst the trashcans, rocking back and fore, holding her head; pretending the voices in her head -all with her own true voice, telling her various memories she ought to remember. But, was not the end of her focus. She tried so hard to resist, but ended up slicing one of the three's throat wide open, while tearing out the heart of the second. And while she chased the last man, who screamed and whimpered in all kinds of horror, he only stumbled deeper into the Dark Alley from which she hid....She dragged along behind her, with her mechanical claw and her fleshed hand, two bodies that twitched and writhed; leaving two trails of blood from the main street, into dark home. And the third man - he hadn't stood a chance. An unseen force picked up him, and threw him between the two walls until his limbs shook loose from their sockets. Until his brains leaked out and splattered all up the walls....And all the while, she was crying, but smiling insanely; proudly, almost...

He leaned against a building for a moment, palms flat against the cool brick....which was for some reason warm and sticky. Glancing down and holding his palms into the feeble light, noticing ....something tacky, and red covering them as his head jerked upwards, eyes narrowing into the darkness.....activate the Myriae..." Pathfinder was....calling....No. Not yet. In the silence he listened, and heard weeping" Whimpering" ...The injured party' Caution....was forgotten and he ventured a hesitant accosting of the mystery...."Hello..." Are you alright?" He took a step, then two, down into the darkened alley, not staggering, but not hardly walking straight either.

Kaius · Date: 2012-03-18 10:59 EST

It would not end there....Oh no. As the bodies were left to lay amongst a broken pile of gore....Renna had yet not ended her fill....Her mind was whirling with urges, and, although no reaction was made from her, she stripped right down until she was naked, and then lowered herself down onto all fours....Her shoulder length black hair, slipped over her stoic face....And the monster, took over. She had started to gore open the belly of one of the two she did not completely smash apart, and push her face into the ripe, warm guts that she gulfed down like a hungry wolf. The feeling of intestine, of liver and kidneys, as they press against her cheeks, as she devours - she ran her bladed mechanical gauntlet's fingers down across her own cheek, cutting into her own flesh, simply to draw blood, to experience a pain she could not express. Then she turned her head to the question. Rust-dulled eyes, vacantly gazing back down the alley, towards the main street. She smelt him before. Barely, does she remember the man's face....But she never forgets prey. No matter how much her mind was screwed. "...Master?" She questioned.

The familiar voice and the flickers of light from the street reflected off those blades, were just enough to send a cold chill down his spine. Why tonight' Drunken and alone; of all times to find "her. Though the thought of her was not quite as appalling as perhaps some would have found it....she was....quite fascinating to him, in her own way. It was hard not to find her beautiful, even if perhaps in the sense that a thunderstorm is beautiful.

What came next was either from the drink, stupidity, or least likely savant like intelligence. His flickering emerald eyes met hers through the darkness, and for a moment he said nothing in response, but tried to appear very much as one would when confronting a wild animal - by trying to appear dominant....since she'd already....questioned it. "Yes, Renna..." His voice was soft, yet very firm. "....what are you doing, Renna?"

Her eyes widened....Her mind had latched onto the changing situation. Someone had replied - she suddenly turned form the corpses, her face caked in deep red blood, her tongue flickering out to catch up the smear around her lips. Her dull eyes, remained, however. Her head turned to observe the area. And she had already forgotten the bruise under her left eye, from one of the man's boots contacting with her face.

Kaius · Date: 2012-03-19 06:48 EST

"Master....Not call me by name....Often." She looked suddenly proud as she stood up, and ...kind of terrified. Nervous....She kept her head bowed, an arm crossing over her breasts, her legs inclined so that other areas could be hidden. "I killed them, Master. Are you proud of your Pet Monster" They made me do it."

"....Renna....is your name. Not 'pet monster'..." His face flushed with shame as he noticed her nudity, and kept his eyes focused on her face as he drew off his black sable cloak, extending it to her in his left hand. "Take this and ....cover yourself, you are ....my pet Renna, not an animal." His eyes were ever watchful for which hand would take the cloak; and any sudden movement from the Gauntleted hand. "I know. They made you. But they are....less than you. They do....not aid in ...attaining ...perfection. You will listen to ...your master, Renna." His breath was a little more shallow than normal, but he fought to control it along with the beating of his heart as his eyes remained focused on her rusty orbs. Renna flushed red at the name. Well. Her normal name. Normally her Master would not call her by that. Pet Monster was always the norm....There was a rare situation, where she heard her true name being spoken. Unfortunately for Kaius, her mind has latched onto the idea, of him, being her Master. For the moment, she took the cloak, and placed it about her shoulders, drawing it closed over her naked frame. "...Perfection?" She questioned. "Does....Does Master Bloodstone want perfection?" She looked to the ground, "....I have failed you." She dropped onto her knees, and bowed her head close to the ground, while she kept the cloak covered over her naked frame, "....I'll take whatever punishment. Just don't make me...Just....Please! Spare me!" She looked up at Kaius, eyes teary, "Please, Master, not again....Not again..."

Perfection. For a moment he'd thought he'd said too much, and then she ....fell apart, as it were. He fought an internal war between cautious and compassion, as he forced his face to steel, unchanging against the violent assault on his emotions. "Renna, that's enough." His voice barely withheld a quaver. "I am your Master, yes" Answer, me." He gave her no time just, then, pressing on, "You will listen to me, Renna, and obey?" Spoken in a way and tone that tried to hold the authority of knowing the answers to those questions would be held in the positive. "Renna did not...fail. Renna did not understand the trial, because Master hid the true purpose from her. Renna did very well..."

The dull eyes looked up helplessly, as she nodded along with her words. Her hands lifted to clench at his legs; both hands, even the gauntlet. She was gentle though, so luckily his clothes were spared from being torn to shreds. His words seemed to inspire a smile; a childish thing, as if his words had made his own flesh and blood so proud to be his daughter. And, technically, to her right now - he was nothing but her Master. Her Guardian...."Thank you, Master Bloodstone....I, I killed like you taught me....I killed them quick....I ate them. It does taste good....You..." Her eyes narrowed at him, "....Want me to eat them' Like the others..."

"Not these ones, Renna....they are....unworthy." He changed his tack, thinking back on her words, trying not to shiver in her touch, and in fact.....finding some bizarre comfort in her at least temporary docile nature, not matter how horrific the current situation. "....Master Bloodstone's teachings have....are nearing their conclusion. You will call me as a new name, from now on. Understood, Renna?" ....Taking a handkerchief from his left coat pocket, he leaned down, slowly - cautiously ? and gently dabbed the gore from her face, keeping focus with her eyes whenever she would allow by looking upward. "....it was good to kill them quick, Renna. You are ....very, very good." He knew....he only had one choice, to take her someplace....Pathfinder. And the Myriad on his brow began to softly glow, pulsing, a soft crimson light making the scene all the more grisly for its lurid light upon the blackening blood and gore.

Kaius · Date: 2012-03-19 06:49 EST

Too far, perhaps he'd gone....too far. He took a deep, steadying breath, followed by a rather shallow exhalation. Pathfinder was bleeding crimson light into the night sky....and from his right wrist, so was the Myriad he thought of as Humility. Though he paid them little attention, as little could be afforded given what confronted him. And he blinked in sudden confusion at the change. "....I am Master ..." He sought for a name, a Lord; Kaius wouldn't serve, it didn't have the power behind it, nor did he particularly feel like giving his last name, Arkennen, which had the same problem....but, smirking, He thought of one name which might, as the image of his brother danced before his eyes. His reason for being exiled to this place....not able to admit to himself that the exile was more ....him stealing several Myriae and managing to get here, but not open a way back...."....I am Master.....Knightfall. And Master Knightfall has never harmed you, but he is Master. And..." exhaling cautiously...."....He has cake. Would you like to have some cake, Renna?" His mind almost rebelled in a fit of insane laughter.

"Yes....Cake....Knightfall..." She suddenly adjusted her posture into a relaxed state. She turned her body just so, inclined a little away from him, and placed her fleshed hand upon her hip, and then lifted her left mechanical gauntlet upwards, as if extending it to him in an invitation, kiss the back of her hand. Rust-coloured eyes, burned into red. "...Imperfection. Your mind seeks to take advantage. Desperate. Your breath' Not rhythmed. Erratic. Untimed. Liar. Fear...Fear....Fear! Imperfect emotion." Her extended claw, opened up, her palm facing him. A deep upcycling whine animated from said palm. "Consume the impure." Unfortunately, the domination of her mind, had latched onto basic instinct. And Kaius, was in the wrong place at the wrong mental break down-time. The low-whine was released from her palm in a powerful shockwave that could had knocked a truck over, let alone someone weighing 1/100th of the weight.

"In..." Pathfinder reacted as the Gauntleted hand upcycled, managing to weave most of a gateway open in front of the blast, shunting it away ....unfortunately, the gateway was opening straight to the Coven Bristle Crios, but not yet being fully formed spread the brunt of the blast around the commons, shearing tree limbs, shattering statues and toppling minarets; this was all in addition to throwing him up against the far wall and causing a spurt of blood from his mouth, to cover his lips. "No..." and his eyes narrowed, meeting hers, becoming suddenly more resolute as Pathfinders energies washed through him, and both the other Myriae alighted as well, though since their full functions were lost to him, their aid was limited at best, except perhaps in synergy. Finishing that first sentence, "...fear! You must be impure....you must be imperfect....because you were mistaken." The gateway had vanished in the brunt of that first blast, yet Pathfinder still shone, lighting them in a bloody glow.

Her mechanical claw lowered just slightly...."....You" all shall make me perfect. Your cells. Your mind..." Her tone dead, her wide, blood colored eyes, only brightening further. "Your - AHHHHHHHHHH!" She clenched both hand and gauntlet to her head, as she fell onto her knees. Her body thrashed left, then right, and then she toppled onto her back. She writhed there on the ground, screaming. "Master help - no! Must make - I'll kill you? all-ways must you torture me-your love....I love you! Brian " Edward - what have you done to me?! What have you done to-AHHHHHHHH!" She raked her gauntlet down her face, drawing blood, but her gauntlet' It was consuming her arm in a dark, solid armour, and it continued to cover her, veining out across her chest, down her stomach, across her hips, it consumed her as it formed a plated suit complete with a single one pieced cloak underneath, and as her head was consumed in dark, writhing tentacles, did a helm form. And her voice change. A mixture of man, woman, Machine, God, and Demon...

Kaius · Date: 2012-03-19 06:52 EST

And it was no longer the Renna he knew. The thing that stood now was hunched, tall, and unlike anything anyone had ever seen....It drew the helm to Kaius. "Imperfection." It lifted the gauntleted left hand, once more, "I am impure....Add to the imperfection. Must....Become. Perfect."

"I'm so sorry Renna..." A whisper as agonizing fear and horror swept over him at the metamorphosis and Pathfinder reacted instinctively. And two separate gateways opened under each of them, Kaius's to the Mage House, Renna's....somewhere else within the city, though he didn't take time to focus on the location, as long as it wasn't here.

The portal under the Manticore, had its bulky, slouched mass falling. And soon it disappeared, along with Kaius.

Fortunately, for his choice....The Manticore was dropped elsewhere.

Far.

But too close to others.

End of Act 1

Kaius · Date: 2012-03-28 13:59 EST

Act 2

He was moving from the witches shop early that morning, not that he would be staying there as an overnight guest again, he didn't think. He was....changed. Dark circles crept under his eyes from countless hours pouring over tomes in regard to the Myriae, and he'd all but abandoned the most fundamental social contact, searching for information....and the one small respite was that he found some. He knew the names and understood at least somewhat the functions of all the Myriae he carried himself now, not to mention at least two others....one of them in particular striking his attention....the Myriad called Memoria, or, 'Memory', though he didn't have much to go on for details, nor was it particularly important to him....at least not directly. But the thought of something focused on memory did have his mind on someone else...

*****

It was early morning. There's people out on the streets; setting up their stalls ready for a good days of sale. Their wares were always plenty - food, clothes - odds and ends; all kinds of things really. But what was most strangest of the scene out of all the booths being set up, was that one particular person, wearing a frilled yellow sun dress and one cowgirl hat and white high heels, with a curiously wicked looking claw, was standing right next to a tiny table filled with plant-pots. And in the plant pots, was a single rather large Rosa Gigantea. Which looked like a giant white rose....And she was tending to one of them, rust filled eyes half lidded as she inspected a crack in the plant pot. "It should be fine....Maybe..." She whispered.

*****

As Kaius walked, he displayed Pathfinder openly, as well as another Myriad on his left wrist; the third tucked neatly into a belt pouch when his eyes fell upon...her. And he paused, his eyes narrowing in slight disbelief before he slowly approached....eyes falling upon the white rose and hesitating to actually look at her for a moment.

Kaius · Date: 2012-03-28 14:01 EST

She stood up, rust-filled eyes glaring. She'll have to deal with it later. She stood up and rounded behind the table, crouching down low so she could place her fleshed hand into a large black, nylon made bag, withdrawing a tiny cardboard hand drawn sign that read: 'Flowers - 5 Gold Pieces per pot.' She looked at it, and the tiny drawn flowers dotted about the price, smiling. That should do it. She turned, and leant the sign back against the plant pot that was at the front of the table. Her mind was set. So there was not much else to take notice of, even as Kaius approached.

He sighed, watching her at work for a moment, peaceful. And wasn't sure if he should say anything at all for a moment, or just walk away. But he'd walked away from too many....everything in his life. And you generally regret, he thought to himself, the things you don't do, not the things you do. Clearing his throat softly, "....you seem to be much better..." Pathfinder pulsed, as did Titan and Meekstone, though there was no telling which of the other two he wore.

A voice! She lifted her gaze to Kaius. Tilted her head, and smiled. "Thank you Master-Sir..." She cleared her throat. "I mean, thank you, Sir..." She stood up straight, smiled what seemed to be a quite brilliant smile, and quickly hid her gauntlet behind her back. It scared people, she remembered. And she did not want to take it off. Being without a left hand was after all quite annoying. Rust filled eyes did not recognize him....But her mind was already trying to put a name to the face. "Better" I....I've always felt fine..." She tried not to look confused. She smiled down at the flowers. "Can I help you?"

And that, dear viewer, is where we might say that 'shit got weird".

"....well...it's good that you're not calling people Master, anymore..." His eyes flickered to her gauntlet even as she hid it, but there was no fear in him now, and never would be for that particular item again - no matter how it was brandished against him, there were certain things that in his seclusion that had changed. "...selling flowers now, Renna?" His voice remained soft, and there was a quality to it that ....he didn't want to think about at the moment himself. He focused on his curiosity for what had happened to her. Was this....was this the girl within the Renna he had known, that had cried out' Or....was it just another shell of some sort..."

He talked like he knew her.

She blinked, and then looked at him more closely. Of course her eye sight was blurred. She'd always had a problem with looking from a distance. But she did well so far to distinguish distant objects....But today she needed to be sure. She dipped down into her nylon bag that was on the floor, and drew out a set of glasses. She slipped them on and blinked, then looked to Kaius with the same scrutinizing glance. Then he said the wrong name. Rust-filled eyes flecked in deep, glowing red in that instance....Her body tensed up, and took a step back. "I-I don't know what you mean.." She dropped back down erratically into her bag, and drew out a Mars bar; Stars End, sweet store - the poor clerk there was terrified when she came in the first time demanding chocolate. Now she's got a bag full of Mars bars. She quickly devours one, as a comfort; to soothe her mind that now locked onto that name; but wavered it to the chocolate she was consuming. Once she swallowed the bar, she stood up, sighed, and then narrowed rust colored orbs onto him. "I-I don't know who that is. My name is Rosa." She smiled friendly-like, indicating the flowers in their pots before her. "Like the flower. Rosa Gigantea."

"Ren..." He started to object, but his eyes clouded over with confusion....it was true that he'd never seen her....like -this-. The dress, heels, glasses....but the gauntlet was impossible to mistake. He continued, "...my..." shaking his head against the words that would come out, "apologies....I ....you reminded me of someone I met, once. I was....worried about her is all." A smile, brief but sad touched his face as he glanced to the white rose. He'd always had an affinity for roses, all from House Knightfall did, as it was their emblem, and his black leathers were marked by a ruby red rose over the breast. "How much?" As he gave a gentle nod to the white rose and digging a hand into his pouch, withdrawing coin and accidentally the Myriad on the bloodstone bracelet.

Kaius · Date: 2012-03-28 14:04 EST

It was an unseen detection of the Myriae. Renna's eyes locked onto it but her mind was working to answer Kaius. She smiled gently, "It's okay. People don't like me. I'm trying to correct that - I think....They don't like the other me. But I'm going to show I'm me, and me will always be I..." She paused, looked to the sky, and blinked. "If that makes sense." She pushed the glasses back up her nose.

"Five Gold. Which one are you taking?" She looked to the display. They were all the same flower. But she could distinguish between them all, all the subtle differences. She pointed to one, "This one has a strong stem, so it can withstand living out side." Pointed to another, "This one is suited in doors, behind a window with plenty of light. It's stem is a little weak, and petals too. It'll be ripped apart if it's left to the nature of the wind and rain." She nodded. "Maybe you buy a flower for your friend" She'll be so happy I'm sure." Smile! This was just out of this world weird. She was forcing herself to try and be friendly. Talk friendly....Hell, even her mannerisms and stance looked relaxed and fake. She was hiding the struggle to keep up the image....Good thing she had chocolate.

Kaius smiled with sincerity at the suggestion of giving out one of the blooms to a friend, as he'd done once before, or similar but ...."....I....don't have anyone to give it to, so I'd just be keeping it for myself, I'm afraid..." his jaw clenched, without his meaning to, "....not everyone doesn't like you, Re....Rosa..." Somewhere, in the back of his mind, another world perhaps away, he'd said something similar to her. "....I'll take....the" broken one. It needs someone to take care of it."

Rubbing at his left wrist somewhat where the Myriae rests, before unhooking the bracelet and placing it on his right wrist instead. Or did he switch it with the one that was already in his hand from his pouch' They were hard to tell apart, as hard as the roses....except for Kaius, who knew them like Renna knew the White blooms on the table.

She smiled gently, and picked up the plant pot that was appropriate of his order. The weaker one. "It's weak, but give it time and care and it can become strong." She licked her tongue about her lips, feeling some chocolate residue there. She offered the plant pot towards Kaius, as she blinked. "....I hope people don't dislike me." She whispered, before breaking out of her spell and back into the disguise. "Five gold coins per flower, if that's okay?"

He nodded slightly, extending his hand with the coins even as he took the rose with the other, his voice soft even as ....convoluted ideas rolled through his mind. "...people don't dislike you. They just don't understand you." He took a deep, slightly shuddering breath. "....I....I'm not good with flowers myself. Will you be here....often" If...I need to get one to replace it?"

Kaius · Date: 2012-03-28 14:07 EST

She looked at the flower in his hand, almost sadly. It was a shame to let it go....But Calix was starting to get annoyed that his house was over-run but hundreds of the things. Then she looked at him with quite the glare. "Replaced" No..." She frowned then, "Just water it towards the sun's setting so that the water isn't evaporated from the plant, and replace the soil every two-to-three weeks. Make sure it gets plenty of sunlight, but never water it when a full beam is placed on it. And it keep from cats." She shook her head. "Don't kill the plant. It's a reminder of my country. My realm. It's from my home....It lasts forever if looked after." She nodded, "If you don't tend it with love, and caution, then the white flower will wilt, and eventually die. You killed it. It's not good." She shook her head. "If Sir wants, Sir could come back with plant if Sir have problems."

"I fear I must ....I'm not much of a gardener, and I've never seen white roses before....which may sound odd but....they only grow in shades of red and black where I'm....well, from....my home. Perhaps replaced was the wrong word, maybe I'll just....want more of them." As he considered" cake. "You know how it is once you find something you really like....it's hard to get enough, sometimes." The bracelet with the Titan Myriad briefly brushed her fingers as it dangled from his wrist as he dropped the gold coins into her hand, overpaying intentionally. "....I'm sure I'll want another, but ....I'll come back again once you have some new growth, maybe? I like....variety in ....stasis." A peculiar turn of phrase, perhaps...."...do you..." He cut off short, ?" -will- you remember me...?" There was something else spoken softly, under his breath at the end....'"this time"'

Her fingers brushed against something. And as the gold coins were dropped into her palm, her fingers snapped shut around the Titan Myriad. And she would not let go. Despite this, she smiled and looked to Kaius from behind her glasses with a gentle, innocent appearance. "Yes. It's true....I know what you mean. I love chocolate....But I love also-" her voice dropped into a dark drone, "flesh." She snapped from her daze, and shook her head, "-I love flowers. I mean." She looked then from him, to her hand. She blinked, and then looked confused. "....Remember you? Sir, I think I will. I'll try." She kept her grip on the Myriad. And no matter how much she wanted to release it, her arm would not comply.

A shiver shot down his spine....she was still in there! ....Poor trusting fool Kaius. Not even self aware enough to note that his excitement was excitement at the presence of ....

Not that he would even -think- monster. She was misunderstood. There was still something of Renna....as she must have been long before he'd met her, inside, trapped with....that thing she became.

Perhaps stupidly, he wasn't concerned about the Myriad....yet. But his eyes glanced down at her hand resting there....and his hand lightly touched her wrist as his gaze slid between the bracelet and her rust colored eyes...."....you like it?" An eyebrow rose slightly, she'd shown....what was perhaps an unhealthy interest before.

Kaius · Date: 2012-03-28 14:10 EST

Rust colored eyes fell desperate. She looked from Kaius, as he touched her. Her eyes looked back to her hand, and she looked to the flowers about her.

"...N-no. I don't know what you mean." She lifted her gauntleted claw from behind her back - she was hiding that hand all along, and she knew what she had to do. The man touching her - the thing her hand would not release. No.

She would not let it win....

Consume iiiiit'

Her eyes clenched tight, and she shook her head, her gauntlet curling about her wrist. "Th-Thank you for your purchase. I....I don't know what you mean..."

"....just let it go..." He spoke softly, and he didn't add it out loud, but to Renna, not Rosa. "....I'll bring you another, one more suited to you....I promise." Taking a deep breath, the Myriad Meekstone still in his other fingers....but he drew it back to its pouch instead of presenting it, he wouldn't try to manipulate with that, not this time. Let her win it on her own....or let him lose it, and maybe much more.

Renna smiled awkwardly.

Her eyes clenched tight, as she dragged her gauntlet's finger-blades across the flesh of her wrist, severing the tendons in her arm, and allowing herself to loosen her grip so that she could hide the wounded arm behind her back. Sweat rolled down her brow, and her smile, full of pain, only softened. She opened one rust colored eye, and one blood red, and stared at Kaius. "Th-Thank you....Come back again....H-h-hope the flower....It brings you pleasure....Be careful with it..." Her gauntlet too went behind her back, clenching the four-slashes on her wrist, blood simply drooling from her fingertips, pooling behind her, out of sight. "Thank you, Sir."

His eyes closed against the anguish churning his stomach....he knew she would be alright, he'd seen....so much more survived, and so didn't ....try to shame her or embarrass her by drawing attention to the wound...."....it will, I assure you."

His eyes remained closed as Pathfinder coupled with Titan opened....the Dark Path.

"...take care of yourself, Re..." haltingly, "....just take care of yourself." His eyes met hers for a moment, flashing greens to rust and blood red, unhesitatingly. "I'll see you again." ....and a stray thought at her cuts....?"you must have pricked your arm on some thorns....best....best bind it before you ruin your dress."

The gateway to the Dark Path loomed behind him, spiraling open and scoring the ground....and on the other side.....the Abbey.

It wasn't so much of a wound when it repaired itself subconsciously....Or rather....The other part of her, did. Dual colored eyes smiled with along with her lips. She nodded, her glasses slipping down her nose, her lips curling, her elbow-length hair shifting about her face as she did so. "It's fine." She offered the 'wounded' arm towards Kaius, showing that where she had cut, in its place, was a band of dark plated armor. And in that moment, the armor retracted back into her skin, leaving....Well. There was no wound. No blood. There was nothing. But the blood pooled on the ground behind her was a different matter. "My dress is fine, Sir, thank you!" She pulled both arms to behind her back again, nodding. "Thank you for your purchase. Hope the flower is well." Trying her best here!

End of Act 2

Kaius · Date: 2012-04-04 09:27 EST

Act 3

Renna buried her face into the cold plated palms of her gauntlets.

"....I was, such a fool..." You trust too much....

"You were right..." You should not resist perfection...

She slowly nodded, and wept into the palms. "Tried so hard....So hard." Just relax....Just think about us. We need no one else....

From between finger-bladed claws, red eyes shot up to glare between the gaps, towards the intruder on the rooftop. "....Leave me alone."

Wings or not, and by whatever name, the gauntlets....wait. Gauntlets" Last time he checked, had seen her, there was only one. He wasn't intimidated anymore, and replied softly. "I won't interfere. But I won't leave." The Myriad shone softly, and non threatening. "....are you ok?" His eyes narrowed, both curiosity and concern. Would he risk getting flayed" Maybe.

"Do I look okay"!" She screamed angrily, still glaring from between the finger-blades. Clearly, she was upset. Over what? Who knows. But it had her in tears, and close to snapping. Her mind - scrambled as it was, had a clear memory to lock onto - but now, that memory - that fabrication she made up; no, convinced herself was becoming true was nothing more than a lie....And something else made sure she knew that....

I smell him from before....He is the one who started this confusion....It's his fault....Let me, deal with this, Rosa....You've dealt with enough pain, today.... She shook her head, "No, you're just going to hurt people - you're going to make people hate me - you're going to..."

Like he hurt you....

She stood up suddenly, her gauntlets still covering her face, her smile breaking into a wicked grin, showing off teeth.

"....He did! You're right!"

And those that hurt you....She lowered her claws, and smiled sweetly to Kaius. She offered a gauntlet out for him to take. "....Help."

He remembered the first time she'd appeared....too sweet to be true; the memory was mixed up with the thought of bladed fingers slicing through Kain's chest...

The fingers curled into a fist. Go on Rosa....Allow me to introduce him to Unity. Just like we almost completed with that woman known as Isuelt.

She lowered her arm, and turned, "No....No I am not going to listen to you." You tried to fight me before in the Glen and now you want to fight once more? You're too weak to resist. I know you want to kill them all. It's in your blood. It's in your nature....

She blinked, and shook her head, glancing back at Kaius. "....Keep away from me." She muttered. With that, she bent her knees, just as those wings once more returned to break out of her back, and then she took off landing from rooftop to rooftop, trying to run away from her problems. Not that she could run away from herself....But she would try.

He stopped in his cautious advance. "Alright. But..." He sighed. And opened a gate.

Kaius · Date: 2012-04-04 16:21 EST

A gate opened on her roof even as she left, leaving him trailing behind, becoming frustrated and calling her name, though he'd heard from Andu she was Rosa, now, it just wasn't how he knew her. "Renna!! Stop running! Just..." He opened another gate as he watched her...

*****

She landed onto another rooftop, tiles crumbling below her heels. She saw his gates, and his pursuit did not help her resist the Manticore's dark influence.

He chases you! He calls to us....He calls the name of the imitation that we have become - accept it, just as Calix said....We are Renna. Accept, the inevitability that you cannot control Renna's CARNAL INSTINCT! ME! I OWN YOU! OBEY MEEEEEE! As she moved to hop onto another rooftop, her body swaying as she struggled to keep her mind focused on resisting. Calix had ruined the innocent part of her that developed with their time together. He tried to make it sound sweet and innocent. Tried. She turned, instead looking back to Kaius's approach, "Don't come near me! Get away!" Tears streamed down her cheeks. One red eye, one rust-colored, stared at him in a duality of mindless helplessness, and explosive anger.

*****

He felt desperate, and he did the only thing he could think to do. He stopped opening gateways behind her. Kaius opened one in front of her, took a deep breath, and stepped through. "....listen, whoever you are....just....stop. Talk to me." And he was through the gate in time to catch her words, but too late to heed them. "Talk. Just talk. No lies.....both of....I don't pretend to understand, but....if there are two of ....you, in there.....both of you, stop. Talk." He had opened the gate close....within reach of her. If there was going to be first blood, he was in the Manticores jaws, if ever he had been. And he'd been close a number of times now.

Now he was in front of her. Her back was to the roof's edge, and she retreated until her heels touched the lip of the edge. Her fingers flexed at her sides, the blades creating all kinds of metal-on-metal noises that would make anyone cringe. She panted hard, as she struggled to keep her mind locked onto the here and now, and not the pain of her heart ? a heart that was ripped out by Calix's words. The rusted eye look frightened, and desperate, but the other eye looked ready to tear out Kaius's throat and feast on the flow of his blood.

"....You can't reason with it! You can't talk to it-"

No, Rosa....Let the Imperfect speak.

"....It, wants to hear what you have to say."

Kaius · Date: 2012-04-04 16:24 EST

As the philosopher Mick Jagger once said, You Can't Always Get What You Want.

Kaius stepped back from her, and spoke in soft tones. "Move so you don't fall, first." He sighed softly, "Does....'it'....remember me" I....I know you probably don't. But I've seen you....before." His speech came in fits and starts - it had never ended ....well, when he'd seen her. "Do you....does 'It'....remember me hurting you....it..." Confusing himself, "....ever" I know you're....one of you is in pain. I'm....I don't want to hurt you. I never have. You....I know people have been lying to you. I," He thought of the minotaur, and other sources he'd heard her tales from, "heard..." His eyes kept focused on hers, and were heavy with....remorse. "I heard....too much." His mouth snapped shut.

Yeeeeeeesss....Power pulses from his body - he would make a fine addition to our being....

Rosa looked to the edge of the rooftop she stood practically ontop of, and then back towards Kaius. She did not move, she would not move. She was too terrified to move. She slowly nodded, tears still streaming down her face, her bottom lip quivering, "It remembers you....But....Sir, I don't know....Or remember you....Hurt me....I don't know who you are!" Trust meeee, Rosaaaaa! Hee has hurt you BEFORE!

She looked all the more terrified, with the Manticore's urges. She lifted trembling claws to pull back against her chest, trying to calm the rush of heartbeats springing against her chest. "....Lying to me" What, do you mean?"

Kaius spoke bluntly, perhaps too much, and his eyebrows raised. "Rosa?" That was lie enough, but he gestured very cautiously, a small gateway opening to the Mage House, his hand reaching in to withdraw a potted plant, a White Rose, unique in it's variety. One of the blooms has been clipped, but another has since taken blossom. "...I've met you before. Believe me" And ask her how then, that I hurt you. I don't believe it. It's lying to you, too."

He speaks your naaaaame....Our naaame. The name of our complete form. Renna.

She shuddered at the name, and shook her head, "I might have....I might have met you before but I don't remember....It's hard to remember....Only....Really hard - I don't know what you want from me - what you..." She paused, at the flower being displayed. Then she remembered. "Sir....I....You bought one of my flowers..." She looked to the rooftop tiles, then back to him, "What do you want from me..."

Kaius · Date: 2012-04-04 16:27 EST

He sighed deeply, and his eyes met hers. "Just to be....your friend." He shrugged, it was that simple. "....you're kind of famous....or infamous. Depending on how you look at it, I guess. But....the first time I saw you," He paused, thinking - but he'd be honest. No more lies. "....I was scared to death. Ask her. She knows, she told me she could sense it. But you weren't at all....what I expected. At all. You were....I don't know what happened to you. I wish I did. But you needed....someone should have helped you. I saw it. I should have helped you. And....then....I saw the effect being...." Looking down at the flower still in his hands, holding the pot protectively. "....you seemed happy. I just wanted to let you be happy, if that's ....if that was really the truth of it."

She was at a loss as to what to say. Then, suddenly, she broke into tears yet again. "I have feelings for....I want to forget....These feelings for him - he made me feel this, he touched me, and kissed me - he looked after me - he gave me a name - he helped me remember so much better! I don't want to remember. I want to forget again. I want to forget....I want....The Manticore, it....it's my only friend..." She looked to the flower pot, then looked to Kaius. "....I felt warm inside and he ripped it from me - you will do the same! They all do the same! I don't want friends! I want to be left alone! The flowers won't hurt me....If I am not hurt, then Manticore is not angry, and if Manticore is not angry then....People don't die." She whispered, then, "....And I want, people to die, too....For making me sad..."

Wearing your heart on your sleeve a family trait' You betcha.

He sighed. "I'm your friend if you want me to be or not," his eyes lifted from the flower to her face again, "....just like you can't help....the way you feel that's hurting you. I am your friend..." a slight smile touched the side of his mouth, "....I made a special....armor....or....something...I'm not sure what is is....but....just to talk to you, so ....you couldn't hurt me ....if.....she came."

He suddenly realized the depth of the Minotaur's words last night, and ....remembered the phrase 'cowboy Casanova'. Calix had used it himself...."...he....offered you something he couldn't deliver." He'd say no more than that about him, he wasn't a bad guy....usually. Or at least hadn't seemed to be, but...."...he was wrong to....let you feel what he did without you being....whole. It....cheated you. I don't know what more to say but....I just want to be your friend. Nothing more than that. You're not in any kind of condition to..." His words trailed off. "It wouldn't be fair to you, coming from someone who....saw you 'escape'....and it wouldn't be fair to anyone else that actually cared about you. I'll never throw being your friend, in your face." Adding one more thing, perhaps a little darkly, before falling silent...."....and some people deserve to die." And his eyes sought her 'new' gauntlet.

Kaius · Date: 2012-04-04 16:29 EST

His words cut deep. How did he know about that' What did he know about anything"! She clenched her eyelids tight, and shook her head. "W-why do you know....How do you know....What, happened....He used me, is that what you are saying" He lied to me" They all lied to me?" Rosa's eyes opened and she looked to the sky, "You saw me escape" From what"! From....The glass box" The glass box " the metal man' The..." Rust filled eyes just go wide. "I have no friends. I never had....They all died. I killed them....I remember....I..." She remembered Calix's kisses. Why the hell did he do that' Because he could.

She didn't resist, did she" She found it comforting. It comforted her.

It sooothed the beaaaast, but no longer for the truth"

IS IN FRONT OF YOU! KILL HIM! HE WILL ONLY BETRAAAAY YOU, ROSAAAA! Her neck twitched, as dark armor grew out from her skin, tiny black plates growing to cover the totality of her neck. She shook her head, "Please....Run..." She begged Kaius, "Do not run, come to me, come closer - join us and become consuuuumed!" Rosa screamed, "Make the memories go away!" She turned, and jumped off of the roof. A moment later, there was a sickening thud below on the cobbled street.

Kaius · Date: 2012-04-04 16:30 EST

His face remained passive, but still....filled with remorse. He should have said something earlier. Risked Manticore's wrath. He was stupid, and afraid. But....those lessons would never be forgotten. He started to speak quickly at seeing the change, "You haven't killed all your friends, not all of them. There's one left. One that's never hurt you. One you've never hurt.......NO!!!!!" His shriek cut the air as a gateway opened below, and he couldn't stay away, no matter what she begged. He had to follow his friend, and he did. "No no no....Renna....I won't run, not away from you..." Pleading as he leapt into the gate above, and appeared again below...

***

Blood pooled under the unmoving body that was face down on the ground. Her arms were broken, and her legs were facing all the wrong directions. But still, a noise came from her lips. The armor ceased, and it disappeared. Rust filled eyes, wide, and in pain, just stared out at the side towards Kaius. She was a broken doll there on the ground....But she refused to die. The body, that is....Just like when she was first found, there was certain deadness to her eyes. Like there was life, but no one home. Even as she lay there, her body, had already started to repair itself....But, her mind....

Again, it was gone. There was nothing looking at Kaius. Just a broken puppet.

He'd seen her body broken before, and it pained him, but not near as much as the emptiness of her eyes as he sank down onto his knees beside her, slipping arms gently underneath, trying to wait until....things were not as broken before he set to moving them, though he did set some bones right as they mended themselves...."Renna...?" Whispered softly, the pit of his stomach knew....or feared, the lack of answer....the deadly gauntlets forgotten as he cradled her to his chest, head down against hers, and simply....wept, tears sliding warmly from his cheeks to her hair. "....I'm sorry Renna..."

Her body repaired as he held her. And she was as limp as the recently dead. But, then, her eyes, wide and unblinking, look to Kaius with an unfamiliarity. Blood stained her yellow sun dress, and her high heels had fallen off during the impact of her body against the ground. The re-broken mind of one so fragile, focused beyond the chaos of pain, onto the man's face who held her. Her bloodied lips parted, as her terrified expression returned. Uncertainty there, "....M....Master...?"

Kaius · Date: 2012-04-04 16:32 EST

A fresh surge of heartbreak at her question, though he let her fall far enough from him that she was still cradled, but he could see her face. "No....no master. Except yourself. I'm....your friend. I've always been your friend, for as long as I've known you....not that it's been long." His eyes betrayed every soul searing sadness that lurks behind them at the situation, "....your name is Renna....and I tried to save you. I'm still....trying."

She looked at Kaius with a concerned expression, "....Not Master....Renna..." She clenched her eyelids shut, "Who....What..." She vacantly looked to the side, staring off into space. "....Friend, then....What....Friend?"

Her mind wandered, "Why does....Everything hurt' Why does....My name is, Renna" Rosa....No....I think it's Rosa..." She was unsure. She looked to Kaius, confused.

His hand slid to her face, gently touching, "Renna....your name is Renna. But anyone can change their name, if they don't like the one they have." He turned her to face him, tears fading, the last of them landing lightly on her cheeks, running small streams through the blood there now, "My name is Kaius....Kaius. Please....repeat that. Please remember me this time....you....had an accident. You fell off the roof. And....I don't have all the answers you might want, but I'll help you get them, I swear it." Thumb gently stroking over a cheek, using salty tears to clean the blood from her face, unable to help a smile despite his sadness. "....please remember." Leaning down, forehead lightly touching hers, wetness of his cheeks against hers, covering his face in her blood, breath warm against hers.

Even as they sat together in the street, her still cradled in his arms, perhaps no longer broken physically, or at least on the mend....he wouldn't let her go, even as a triangular gateway began to form and he lifted her in his arms, ducking his head to softly brush his lips across her cheek; he wouldn't go for her lips, she was ....he just wouldn't, not with her like this. And he stepped through to the Mage House, closing the gate behind him. End of Act 3