@RumikoOhara Awesome and thanks for the interest!
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Vashonn
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The Hybrid-Humans
Superpowers, don't we all want them? Except, unlike the comic book heroes, you didn't alter reality.
No, reality altered you,
mutant...
No, reality altered you,
mutant...
Project SENSE
The government operated company, Maximation, specialized in superhuman mutations. Three years ago in 2025, Maximation launched Project SENSE, where five volunteers, that were either enlisted or officers in the military, were injected with a serum that enhanced any of the five human senses- seeing, touching, hearing, feeling, and tasting. These men and women were not only apart of a new special operation unit for the United States government, but they practically became the Avengers, but in real life.
The Ectosaviors, people came to call these enhanced super mutants. Treated like celebrities, they gained money, fame, and glory, all while being defenders of justices, whether that be preventing global terrorist attacks, or tracking down infamous gang leaders or drug lords.
But enough them, what about you? Well, you, were destined for very much the same thing, but destiny seemed to have its... mishaps, wrinkles, glitches, errors... the opposite of what you expected. Instead of calculating the method to strength the human being, this time, Maximation could only devise how to kill it faster...
The Ectosaviors, people came to call these enhanced super mutants. Treated like celebrities, they gained money, fame, and glory, all while being defenders of justices, whether that be preventing global terrorist attacks, or tracking down infamous gang leaders or drug lords.
But enough them, what about you? Well, you, were destined for very much the same thing, but destiny seemed to have its... mishaps, wrinkles, glitches, errors... the opposite of what you expected. Instead of calculating the method to strength the human being, this time, Maximation could only devise how to kill it faster...
Project HYBRID
It is year 2028, this is where you come in. Unlike, Project SENSE, the one you are apart of, Project HYBRID, did not quite focus on the five human senses, but instead ushered full attention in mutating humans with animal-based abilities. Each volunteer selected any reasonable animal or animal family they wished to be mutated after, thus gaining this animal's physiology. For an example, if it were the canine physiology, then this person would have powers such as fur generation, enhanced bite, enhanced tracking, night vision, and so on.
Where Project SENSE gave birthed to the Ectosaviors, Project HYBRID created the Hybrid-Humans.
Based on animal testing, the injection was though to be safe. However, now with these eight human subjects, the serum develops rapid carcinogenic qualities and begins quick killing the human test subjects. Faced with their own rapidly approaching deaths, how do these new super-beings use their powers?
Where Project SENSE gave birthed to the Ectosaviors, Project HYBRID created the Hybrid-Humans.
Based on animal testing, the injection was though to be safe. However, now with these eight human subjects, the serum develops rapid carcinogenic qualities and begins quick killing the human test subjects. Faced with their own rapidly approaching deaths, how do these new super-beings use their powers?
Hope that little introduction piqued your interest to what will be a high-stakes, action-packed thriller of a roleplay. I can say, that right from the get-go of this future roleplay, it's going to be intense. I don't want to spend five pages of the IC building up to this one fight scene, which I'm not saying that type of pacing is wrong, but this time your going to be placed right in the center of chaos from post one. That is what I am really steering for. Right now the plot is very vague, but with enough interest and the OOC going up, the situation will be much more defined.
If you have an idea of where this could go, definitely let me know about, or if you have any questions, feel free to ask.
Also, the limitations on how many powers you can have, right now I thinking four, but if you wish to go more than that send me a PM and tell me a little bit more about your character, and as long as you keep him or her from being overpowered, I'm down with it. Remember, this is Project HYBRID, the powers have to be animal-based or bug-based, but nothing based on mythical creatures.
If you have an idea of where this could go, definitely let me know about, or if you have any questions, feel free to ask.
Also, the limitations on how many powers you can have, right now I thinking four, but if you wish to go more than that send me a PM and tell me a little bit more about your character, and as long as you keep him or her from being overpowered, I'm down with it. Remember, this is Project HYBRID, the powers have to be animal-based or bug-based, but nothing based on mythical creatures.
@deegee Ah! There are so many character ideas to spawn from this, definitely interested!
@Xandrya@Kingfisher Will you two be busy this week by any chance? I was thinking that in the meantime, I still wish to give attention to the Overseers. Yes they are imprisoned inside of a cell, but we could do a flashback of their journey from their ship to the Churchill?
Either that, or we could do perhaps a flashback of when they first received news about the Aggressive Decay, and about how they reacted when the Collective contacted them that they will be deactivating the telepad, cutting all connection off to Collective Space.
Either that, or we could do perhaps a flashback of when they first received news about the Aggressive Decay, and about how they reacted when the Collective contacted them that they will be deactivating the telepad, cutting all connection off to Collective Space.
@Vashonn Yeah, I know right. Hey, except a PM on the collab either tonight or tomorrow. I may or may not take longer than tomorrow to get it to you. I just really want to capture the scene of this wedding, since it such a central part of the RP currently. And I also want to make this ceremony very unique to the colony rather than a stereotypical wedding we would expect in the 2017-modern-day world.
Another update guys, we have three more added NPCs by @Apollosarcher.
Another update guys, we have three more added NPCs by @Apollosarcher.
Four posts in one day, talk about progress!
Alright, ladies and gentlemen, the time has come. I'll get started on writing the wedding scene tonight, if I can. It may likely become another collab between me and Vashonn since Isabel, being the bride and all, will be very much apart of this ceremony, of course.
Alright, ladies and gentlemen, the time has come. I'll get started on writing the wedding scene tonight, if I can. It may likely become another collab between me and Vashonn since Isabel, being the bride and all, will be very much apart of this ceremony, of course.
Carmen Comfort & Dr. Thea Jackson
& Agoston Gregory Szabó
& Agoston Gregory Szabó
Carmen leaned into the crib with the little Atlas snug in her arms. He was fast asleep, so peaceful it felt to Carmen to be blanketed with the toddler's heat. Gently she laid him down into the crib before gracing one of her laced fingers against his cheek. She named the child after her favorite brother. Of course, Carmen probably should not have a favorite sibling, but she would only be in denial if she said otherwise. There those that you simply bond with more, almost as if it was just a thing of nature.
After kissing Atlas on the forehead, Carmen turned to gaze at her child once more before making her exit out of his bedroom. Now, she most focus her minds on the duties of being the Victorian... Whatever that meant.
The masterminds and muses both had their own house built not too far from their main faction building. For the masterminds, their main faction building was the library, thus near it was the Victorian's quarters. There in her quarters, Carmen sat at her desk in her personal office. She had a glass of champagne cupped in one hand, waiting for both the Master Physician and her Second-in-Command, the two whom she had summoned. It may have seemed like an emergency for her to call for their presence at her personal office, unless they were instead suspecting that Carmen wished to play information broker instead. But no, it was none of those things.
"Oh, yay, you two came!" Carmen squealed happily upon the arrival of Thea and Agoston. "Champagne anyone? Thea, you? What about you, Mr. Wizard?" Carmen held up the bottle she set down on the desk with two extra glasses put there also. "I know you might think it's a little two early, it being late morning and all, but hey... It's quite the day to celebrate, isn't it? It's not like I voted against this marriage, but they followed through with it anyways. Oh wait, I did." And with that, Carmen took a sip.
Thea examined the room the same way she examined those in her care. With an eye of skepticism, looking for hints of what really was going on for the good of the injured. Whether they wanted it or not. She waved the glass away before sliding her clean hands back into her spotless apron that she used for her make shift surgical robes. "I have to return to the hospital as soon as we've....finished here," her voice was cold and irritated. But it was just the way she was, only her own son ever saw her 'softer side' even then most would find that 'chilly'. "I have Megan closing up stitches of a muse right now, he'll probably be dead before I return,"
Despite the tension between the factions, Thea still serviced and charged them all. "You should have had more support when you cast your vote. I am sure the seconds of all other factions where there. You must have seemed weak and inexperienced enough to discount,"
"I supposed, I shall get right to the point, why have you asked us to come. Not for drinks I am sure,"
"Aw, come on, Thea, you just need to-- I don't know-- chill, relax a little bit." Carmen seemed a bit fidgety when it came to finding a comfortable position in her seat. "Well... fine..." Carmen put down her glass, brushing back a few blonde strains away from her face. "This marriage-- really it's an alliance, masqueraded as a marriage-- I honestly didn't have much say against it, couldn't seem too passionate either, not when they pitched it as something so positive as draining out the bad blood between rogue and warrior. Also, couldn't be too passionate, since it would seem personal... But what can I do about it now, hmph?" Something. Carmen was known, not for raw intelligence, but for strategy , deception, being utterly cunning and even cutthroat, if she has to be... or honest sometimes, if she has to be. "You know me. You know why I would want to go to their wedding. It's the breeding grounds for some juicy gossip! I also just need to know how it goes... up close. To see Theo and Isabel up close, see if it even looks promising. Check the chemistry between the two... Of course, I wouldn't wish to go alone." Carmen stood abruptly from her seat, leaning in towards the two "Listen... You might not know what I'm up to.. but I'm up to something... and I'm curious... about something. So... come with me?"
"Seems futile to show up uninvited for a wedding with out knowing the extent of your plan. I probably won't like it," Said Thea shortly. "On the other side, does your plan have anything to do with the Overseer's who have made themselves welcome among the happy couple?"
Carmen gave a long disappointing sigh before saying a word, "Do I have a plan... Yes... I always have a plan... for everything. All well thought out too..." Carmen muttered this quietly, uttering with a much more serious tone. "But... I am not King of the vanguards, nor am I his wife. So I have no say over them... Not yet that is." Carmen was right, the vanguards were charge of all things concerning Churchill's safety and it's military. But for things that mattered to the colony's health, engineering, or wealth of knowledge, the masterminds were responsible for that. "The time to be involved with the Overseers will have to come later... but it will come." Carmen sat back down in her seat, this time sitting upright, straightening her posture. "If you don't wish to come, Thea, fine. Just how about you have a little bit more faith in me? Remember no one saw it coming that the First Historian's dumb blonde apprentice would defeat the former Victorian at a game of chess. Things just don't seem the way they are, and it's better that way. Fool an opponent with their impulsive assumptions."
"If you are planning something rather dastardly, I should like to remind you that this will not go with impunity." Agoston added before playfully swerving his cool champagne glass he had just served himself. The bearded old man then took it upon himself to whirl the glass just over his nose to breathe in the odor as he would with any chemical. It had an aromatic smell of grapes through his olfactory just before gulping on the cold and smooth beverage. It was a cool and refreshing small moment that he savored; the acidulous explosiveness of ripe grape and the essence of the bubbles that felt like crystalline pearls. He was a man who enjoyed life's subtleness, a trait that often regretted never truly appreciating in his youth.
"That's a fine champagne." There were truly no other words to describe it simply because there needn't have been. "Though I suppose if you should be up to something..." He amiably smiled through his large bushy beard looking up towards Carmen with his light blue eyes, there was a reason why everyone called him the Wizard. It was his charming appearance that often eased a conversation, his quiet yet firm monotone voice soon reminded everyone of an old grandfather who had been wise past his years. Though he was a man who could easily be swayed if something devious were to be proposed, especially if it sounded fun. "We should out-strategist them regardless of anything, we are renowned for that prowess after all. Those idiot jocks wouldn't stand a change." The old man chuckled almost deviously, grinning even harder than before. "Oh, what the hell: count me in."
"Oh yay!" With a light clap of the hands, Carmen smiled with glee. "You see, this is why I like you, Mr. Wizard." Carmen gave a point at Agoston as she held her glass. "Always up for a little fun, although.... I'm not planning to spice up any trouble, not on their wedding day, of course! But... I would love to, I don't know, observe." Carmen a gave a little giggle after that sentence, drawing the champagne up to her lips. Though, before she could even take a sip, Carmen pulled back the glass, "Thea, I understand you're a busy woman. Lives do need saving, and I have a few of the other Masters joining me. Just... don't work yourself to death, okay?"
After kissing Atlas on the forehead, Carmen turned to gaze at her child once more before making her exit out of his bedroom. Now, she most focus her minds on the duties of being the Victorian... Whatever that meant.
The masterminds and muses both had their own house built not too far from their main faction building. For the masterminds, their main faction building was the library, thus near it was the Victorian's quarters. There in her quarters, Carmen sat at her desk in her personal office. She had a glass of champagne cupped in one hand, waiting for both the Master Physician and her Second-in-Command, the two whom she had summoned. It may have seemed like an emergency for her to call for their presence at her personal office, unless they were instead suspecting that Carmen wished to play information broker instead. But no, it was none of those things.
"Oh, yay, you two came!" Carmen squealed happily upon the arrival of Thea and Agoston. "Champagne anyone? Thea, you? What about you, Mr. Wizard?" Carmen held up the bottle she set down on the desk with two extra glasses put there also. "I know you might think it's a little two early, it being late morning and all, but hey... It's quite the day to celebrate, isn't it? It's not like I voted against this marriage, but they followed through with it anyways. Oh wait, I did." And with that, Carmen took a sip.
Thea examined the room the same way she examined those in her care. With an eye of skepticism, looking for hints of what really was going on for the good of the injured. Whether they wanted it or not. She waved the glass away before sliding her clean hands back into her spotless apron that she used for her make shift surgical robes. "I have to return to the hospital as soon as we've....finished here," her voice was cold and irritated. But it was just the way she was, only her own son ever saw her 'softer side' even then most would find that 'chilly'. "I have Megan closing up stitches of a muse right now, he'll probably be dead before I return,"
Despite the tension between the factions, Thea still serviced and charged them all. "You should have had more support when you cast your vote. I am sure the seconds of all other factions where there. You must have seemed weak and inexperienced enough to discount,"
"I supposed, I shall get right to the point, why have you asked us to come. Not for drinks I am sure,"
"Aw, come on, Thea, you just need to-- I don't know-- chill, relax a little bit." Carmen seemed a bit fidgety when it came to finding a comfortable position in her seat. "Well... fine..." Carmen put down her glass, brushing back a few blonde strains away from her face. "This marriage-- really it's an alliance, masqueraded as a marriage-- I honestly didn't have much say against it, couldn't seem too passionate either, not when they pitched it as something so positive as draining out the bad blood between rogue and warrior. Also, couldn't be too passionate, since it would seem personal... But what can I do about it now, hmph?" Something. Carmen was known, not for raw intelligence, but for strategy , deception, being utterly cunning and even cutthroat, if she has to be... or honest sometimes, if she has to be. "You know me. You know why I would want to go to their wedding. It's the breeding grounds for some juicy gossip! I also just need to know how it goes... up close. To see Theo and Isabel up close, see if it even looks promising. Check the chemistry between the two... Of course, I wouldn't wish to go alone." Carmen stood abruptly from her seat, leaning in towards the two "Listen... You might not know what I'm up to.. but I'm up to something... and I'm curious... about something. So... come with me?"
"Seems futile to show up uninvited for a wedding with out knowing the extent of your plan. I probably won't like it," Said Thea shortly. "On the other side, does your plan have anything to do with the Overseer's who have made themselves welcome among the happy couple?"
Carmen gave a long disappointing sigh before saying a word, "Do I have a plan... Yes... I always have a plan... for everything. All well thought out too..." Carmen muttered this quietly, uttering with a much more serious tone. "But... I am not King of the vanguards, nor am I his wife. So I have no say over them... Not yet that is." Carmen was right, the vanguards were charge of all things concerning Churchill's safety and it's military. But for things that mattered to the colony's health, engineering, or wealth of knowledge, the masterminds were responsible for that. "The time to be involved with the Overseers will have to come later... but it will come." Carmen sat back down in her seat, this time sitting upright, straightening her posture. "If you don't wish to come, Thea, fine. Just how about you have a little bit more faith in me? Remember no one saw it coming that the First Historian's dumb blonde apprentice would defeat the former Victorian at a game of chess. Things just don't seem the way they are, and it's better that way. Fool an opponent with their impulsive assumptions."
"If you are planning something rather dastardly, I should like to remind you that this will not go with impunity." Agoston added before playfully swerving his cool champagne glass he had just served himself. The bearded old man then took it upon himself to whirl the glass just over his nose to breathe in the odor as he would with any chemical. It had an aromatic smell of grapes through his olfactory just before gulping on the cold and smooth beverage. It was a cool and refreshing small moment that he savored; the acidulous explosiveness of ripe grape and the essence of the bubbles that felt like crystalline pearls. He was a man who enjoyed life's subtleness, a trait that often regretted never truly appreciating in his youth.
"That's a fine champagne." There were truly no other words to describe it simply because there needn't have been. "Though I suppose if you should be up to something..." He amiably smiled through his large bushy beard looking up towards Carmen with his light blue eyes, there was a reason why everyone called him the Wizard. It was his charming appearance that often eased a conversation, his quiet yet firm monotone voice soon reminded everyone of an old grandfather who had been wise past his years. Though he was a man who could easily be swayed if something devious were to be proposed, especially if it sounded fun. "We should out-strategist them regardless of anything, we are renowned for that prowess after all. Those idiot jocks wouldn't stand a change." The old man chuckled almost deviously, grinning even harder than before. "Oh, what the hell: count me in."
"Oh yay!" With a light clap of the hands, Carmen smiled with glee. "You see, this is why I like you, Mr. Wizard." Carmen gave a point at Agoston as she held her glass. "Always up for a little fun, although.... I'm not planning to spice up any trouble, not on their wedding day, of course! But... I would love to, I don't know, observe." Carmen a gave a little giggle after that sentence, drawing the champagne up to her lips. Though, before she could even take a sip, Carmen pulled back the glass, "Thea, I understand you're a busy woman. Lives do need saving, and I have a few of the other Masters joining me. Just... don't work yourself to death, okay?"
The Interrogation
The vanguard prison contain three large holding cells, one currently housed the prisoners. The one on the far right held a smuggler and a drunk, the two were silent as if in awe of the fact that Overseers were in the room. The middle cell lay empty door open, the bed had once hosted a marshall asleep on the bench at the back, he had left before the Overseers arrived. The left most cell held the three Overseers together, as Reno moved towards a desk across from said cell. He had placed a desk here to allow him space to speak with prisoners, two plush chairs in near perfect condition sat either side of desk. However as Alfie spoke Reno rolled his eyes, letting Cassie get in her answer before laying down the law with the insolent boy.
Reno looked Alfie in the eyes. "You don't talk to her, you talk to me brown nose. Oh and just so we're clear, I can turn you over to Cassie the second I find your company no longer be pleasant. Secondly, you will refer to me as Sheriff." Taking a seat at the desk across from the cells, kicking his boots up onto the desk his spurs jangled. "And Alfie... Let me be clear, if you continue to insult the fine people of Vanguard then I will have Marshall Dodge give you his pistol and we will settle this my way... And from what I hear you ain't got stomach for killing. So you will sit down, shut up and let the people who matter talk."
Reno's eyes locked onto the with Captain Thrax next, as he reached into his desk retrieving a box of cuban cigars and a bottle of well aged rum. "Now I took these off the smuggler a few cells over so they are mine to share." He sat both of his desk before pulling out the keys to the cell, kicking the chair to the other side out a little further. He turned back towards the cell spurs clanking as he walked to the door opening it slowly.
"Captain, step out and join me for a drink perhaps a cigar? There is no reason I can not be civil while we talk terms. After all, you are my guest in my fine prison." He waved his right hand for the captain to step out, speaking as if it was nice place to be. His left hand however tapped in rhythm against his pearl grip six shooter, they knew what Reno could do. Reno could make a man dead faster than you could blink, it would take little effort for him to draw and blow all three away if they tried to make a move. "The rest of you stay nice and quiet for now, you'll all get to say your piece. If y'all are real good I'll break out the cards and we can play a hand of poker later." He smiled, charmingly at the two he was both terrifying and a perfect gentleman all at once to them.
Alfie remained with the Corporal at the first of their cell, leaning against the wall before sitting down. Mind as well get as comfortable as possible since there was no telling how long it would be. With Lily beside him, the Lieutenant squeezed all space between them two so that even the quietest of his whispers could be understood. Although, Cassie may have the chance to hear what he murmured since she was positioned right by their cell door, watching them. "Remember... they're not faction leaders...," Alfie whispered the obvious, but if one were to give it thought, there was more to his statement than its surface meaning. Because Cassie and Reno were not faction leaders, Alfie knew that they have no real power to make any life or die decisions, not unless their superior allowed them. "They can only think about killing us... But nothing else..." And Alfie highly doubted that Theo Callahan would allow the death of the Overseers just yet, because there was no revenge in that. "Puppets... Theo sent his puppets..."
Thrax followed Sheriff Wylde out of the cell, and into the corridor beyond. The more time they'd spent imprisoned, the more irritable the Captain Overseer had become, but even in his testy state, Thrax knew that there was little to be gained in throwing his weight around, at least under the current circumstances. There would be a time for exacting revenge, but first he had to deal with ensuring his own safety, and the safety of those under his command.
"I appreciate the cordiality, Sheriff," Thrax said slowly, rolling his broad shoulders "what is it you want to know?"
Despite her best efforts, Lily couldn't help but feel extremely annoyed as Lieutenant Vanderbilt wouldn't stop running his mouth. Nothing good would come out of it, except him getting some satisfaction from getting Cassie all riled up. But given the situation they were in, the lieutenant should learn to not bite the hand that feeds.
"With all due respect, sir, I think we should just let them question us so they can leave us alone and be on their way."
Cassie shot Alfie a dirty look. The only reason the bastard didn't have a bloody nose was due to the fact that Reno was just mere inches away, otherwise she would have made him regret his words. For whatever reason, she didn't want to have Reno witness her lose control so easily.
"Is your ass jealous of the amount of shit that just came out of your mouth? No wonder you're so fucking bitter..."
Not giving him an opportunity to reply, Cassie turned her back to the prisoners as she focused on the conversation that Reno and Thrax were having.
Reno shut the jail door once more locking it before he poured them both a glass of rum as he took a sat in the chair opening the box of cigars on the table. Setting out a matches for them as well. "Feel free to help yourself Captain." He took off his hat looking Thrax in the eyes.
"Now, I am not a criminal and nor have I ever done anything other than keep the peace in the town. As I was asked to by your predecessor, I am also the only one here who wants see things stay peaceful." The drunkard sheriff knocked back his drink pouring another as he spoke. "Theo and the little lady want to make you pay, I can only imagine what the Mastermind's would want to do to you all." He looked at Thrax chuckling. "I'm a gambler and I don't like your odds, so work with me and I promise you all live. Give you my word as a lawman, now... What can you tell about your ship?" He added as his eyes drifted around the room, sizing them all getting read on others as it were.
Thrax moved his hand over the cigars, but instead settled on taking a match, to light one of his cigarettes with. Cigars were best enjoyed over time, and Thrax had never had the luxury of time.
The Overseer Captain slipped a straight between his lips, striking it to life with the flick of a match, before taking a long drag.
"Whilst I appreciate you not lynching me, Sheriff, I feel inclined to remind you, and all others, that I speak as the voice of the Collective on this colony. Whatever slights the Spartan has imagined I've accrued against him over time, these upstarts don't have the authority to take raise a single hand against me, or my subordinates. I do not feel at liberty, sir, to reveal a damn thing about what our intentions are, but I do feel inclined to point out that keeping agents of the Collective imprisoned is a VERY bad idea."
"And I feel inclined to point out the Vanguard nor the Muse's are managed by stable and rational people. Captain I would prefer not to turn you or the others over to them as I would feel guilty about it all. That being said, I cannot let you go or maintain you in protective custody without something in return." The young man picked up one of the cigars and striking a match to light it. "So the reality of this is simple, you work with me or get worked over by the others. No bullshitting, no bluffing." He spoke plainly sighing as he looked among the three.
"Captain I would applaud your actions if I didn't know what the people you think cannot harm you are like. You forget sir, everyone in this colony but me committed a crime bad enough to be sent here. That many here would glad to just to spite you." Reno looked around the room drawing his pistol spinning it on his finger. "We're the last of humanity that means if we fuck this up, we doom a species to extinction." He added with a serious tone looking each person in the room in the eyes. "We get one chance to make sure we don't end humanity... So we gonna continue to act like we did before, or are we gonna start trying to play nice?"
Thrax sighed loudly, blowing a plume of grayish white smoke out through his nostrils. "Its incredibly hard for me to do my job, when the people that I'm supposed to be in-charge of are throwing me in a fucking cell. But if you want to help a bunch of convicts completely undermine the chain of command, that's on your head, Sheriff."
Thrax paused for a moment, taking another drag from his cigarette.
"You’ve heard about this decay, yes? Well...things outside of the colony have gotten a hell of a lot worse.”
Alfie admired Thrax for being hopeful to believe that there is still such thing as the Collective, but until they are rescued, if that is even likely at this point, there is no Collective. There is no way back home. There is only survival. All they can do is outlast.
Alfie rose to his feet before resting his curled fist around the cell bars, his apparent intrigue in the conversation obviously showing. "My Captain is right, but what happens... once you have our ship? What happens to us?" His voice first came quite, but polite. Alfie was definitely over his annoyances. He figured, in order to increase their chances of survival, Alfie needed to find a way out of this cell. Even if that meant cooperating with the vanguards, for now. "I may be... willing... to cooperate...." Alfie shot eyes towards Thrax, concerned with his Captain's opinion on making such a statement. "Of course, with my Captain's permission."
Of course he would cooperate now, after it finally sunk in that they were in quite a bit of trouble. Cassie couldn't help but shake her head as she rolled her eyes, her back still leaning on the cell bars opposite the two prisoners. Although it was simply human nature to do anything to survive, changing one's mind so quickly could suggest ulterior motives.
"You know what will happen...the same thing that's been happening to all of us all this time. We're left to fend for ourselves." Cassie then turned around to look at Alfie in the eyes. "But if you just happen to be lucky, death will come for you much quicker than expected."
"Do you mean me specifically? Because if so, I can only wish for things to be that simple..." Alfie was not sure if what Cassie said was meant to be a threat, or if was a future he should hope for. Though after just seconds of silence, pondering her words, he came to the conclusion to not to wrestle with the worry. His main focus was not himself. Alfie may appear cold and distant, but to those who knew him, he placed Thrax and Lily on a pedestal. He saw them as good people, that even in terms of revenge, did not deserve an execution. After what he did to Isabel, Alfie counted himself number one on Churchill's death list, there was no changing that. He now only saw himself as a tool to maintain the security for those he cared about, and what he cared about. "Sheriff... I must confess that you are... right... about humanity's potential extinction... Well, there will always be the tribesmen outside of Churchill... but I rather see the prosperity of this colony rather than to the Outsiders, a people who practice an initiation process of eating alive and raw those taken under their captivity." With his fingers still wrapped around the bars, Alfie pressed his forehead against the metal, but with eyes tightly shut. "I cannot speak for my Captain, nor for Corporal O'Hare, but I will clearly state that I am willing to cooperate. Being an Overseer is my upmost pride... yet I am at heart a colonist... I... live and breath... not only for the survival of my fellow Overseers, but what's the point if humanity cannot be preserved in the first place?"
Reno chuckled. "Captain you think I like taking orders? You think I enjoy being told when to work and having someone question what I do? But thing is I'm a survivor, I survived the wastes, I survived this town, and I could sure as hell survive if this comes to war." He answered in tone that let them know Reno Wylde was loyal to the law as long as it meant it was the best way to keep the peace.
If peace broke, Reno wasn't going to shoot vanguards or Overseer's he would leave, after all he was the only one who had survived out there without going cannibal. "Captain they don't want a chain of command anymore. The people here want fair and equal trade, they want a clean slate and fair shake... And they got numbers, and you need the gene pool wide as it can be if we want a hope in hell to make out of this."
Reno got up opening the cell again as he took the cigar out of his mouth. "If Alfie here co-operates and things go smooth, I'm gonna negotiate for peaceful return of you all... Failing that, well Dodge is a heavy sleeper." He added giving them a wink as he drew his pistols spinning them as turned to leave.
"Cassie watch Alfie, we're gonna see the big man and don't worry Alfie as long as you keep it civil I'll keep him from laying a hand on you." Reno answered, he wasn't a fan of playing the middle man, but right now he was the only impartial person among them all. So he was going to have to play peacemaker... And out here that usually meant talking from behind the barrel of a drawn gun.
After only minutes of keeping watch, Cassie received word of a special visitor requesting her presence. As for Reno searching for his superior. The Spartan king was, well, Theo was currently... preoccupied with the wedding preparations...
Reno looked Alfie in the eyes. "You don't talk to her, you talk to me brown nose. Oh and just so we're clear, I can turn you over to Cassie the second I find your company no longer be pleasant. Secondly, you will refer to me as Sheriff." Taking a seat at the desk across from the cells, kicking his boots up onto the desk his spurs jangled. "And Alfie... Let me be clear, if you continue to insult the fine people of Vanguard then I will have Marshall Dodge give you his pistol and we will settle this my way... And from what I hear you ain't got stomach for killing. So you will sit down, shut up and let the people who matter talk."
Reno's eyes locked onto the with Captain Thrax next, as he reached into his desk retrieving a box of cuban cigars and a bottle of well aged rum. "Now I took these off the smuggler a few cells over so they are mine to share." He sat both of his desk before pulling out the keys to the cell, kicking the chair to the other side out a little further. He turned back towards the cell spurs clanking as he walked to the door opening it slowly.
"Captain, step out and join me for a drink perhaps a cigar? There is no reason I can not be civil while we talk terms. After all, you are my guest in my fine prison." He waved his right hand for the captain to step out, speaking as if it was nice place to be. His left hand however tapped in rhythm against his pearl grip six shooter, they knew what Reno could do. Reno could make a man dead faster than you could blink, it would take little effort for him to draw and blow all three away if they tried to make a move. "The rest of you stay nice and quiet for now, you'll all get to say your piece. If y'all are real good I'll break out the cards and we can play a hand of poker later." He smiled, charmingly at the two he was both terrifying and a perfect gentleman all at once to them.
Alfie remained with the Corporal at the first of their cell, leaning against the wall before sitting down. Mind as well get as comfortable as possible since there was no telling how long it would be. With Lily beside him, the Lieutenant squeezed all space between them two so that even the quietest of his whispers could be understood. Although, Cassie may have the chance to hear what he murmured since she was positioned right by their cell door, watching them. "Remember... they're not faction leaders...," Alfie whispered the obvious, but if one were to give it thought, there was more to his statement than its surface meaning. Because Cassie and Reno were not faction leaders, Alfie knew that they have no real power to make any life or die decisions, not unless their superior allowed them. "They can only think about killing us... But nothing else..." And Alfie highly doubted that Theo Callahan would allow the death of the Overseers just yet, because there was no revenge in that. "Puppets... Theo sent his puppets..."
Thrax followed Sheriff Wylde out of the cell, and into the corridor beyond. The more time they'd spent imprisoned, the more irritable the Captain Overseer had become, but even in his testy state, Thrax knew that there was little to be gained in throwing his weight around, at least under the current circumstances. There would be a time for exacting revenge, but first he had to deal with ensuring his own safety, and the safety of those under his command.
"I appreciate the cordiality, Sheriff," Thrax said slowly, rolling his broad shoulders "what is it you want to know?"
Despite her best efforts, Lily couldn't help but feel extremely annoyed as Lieutenant Vanderbilt wouldn't stop running his mouth. Nothing good would come out of it, except him getting some satisfaction from getting Cassie all riled up. But given the situation they were in, the lieutenant should learn to not bite the hand that feeds.
"With all due respect, sir, I think we should just let them question us so they can leave us alone and be on their way."
Cassie shot Alfie a dirty look. The only reason the bastard didn't have a bloody nose was due to the fact that Reno was just mere inches away, otherwise she would have made him regret his words. For whatever reason, she didn't want to have Reno witness her lose control so easily.
"Is your ass jealous of the amount of shit that just came out of your mouth? No wonder you're so fucking bitter..."
Not giving him an opportunity to reply, Cassie turned her back to the prisoners as she focused on the conversation that Reno and Thrax were having.
Reno shut the jail door once more locking it before he poured them both a glass of rum as he took a sat in the chair opening the box of cigars on the table. Setting out a matches for them as well. "Feel free to help yourself Captain." He took off his hat looking Thrax in the eyes.
"Now, I am not a criminal and nor have I ever done anything other than keep the peace in the town. As I was asked to by your predecessor, I am also the only one here who wants see things stay peaceful." The drunkard sheriff knocked back his drink pouring another as he spoke. "Theo and the little lady want to make you pay, I can only imagine what the Mastermind's would want to do to you all." He looked at Thrax chuckling. "I'm a gambler and I don't like your odds, so work with me and I promise you all live. Give you my word as a lawman, now... What can you tell about your ship?" He added as his eyes drifted around the room, sizing them all getting read on others as it were.
Thrax moved his hand over the cigars, but instead settled on taking a match, to light one of his cigarettes with. Cigars were best enjoyed over time, and Thrax had never had the luxury of time.
The Overseer Captain slipped a straight between his lips, striking it to life with the flick of a match, before taking a long drag.
"Whilst I appreciate you not lynching me, Sheriff, I feel inclined to remind you, and all others, that I speak as the voice of the Collective on this colony. Whatever slights the Spartan has imagined I've accrued against him over time, these upstarts don't have the authority to take raise a single hand against me, or my subordinates. I do not feel at liberty, sir, to reveal a damn thing about what our intentions are, but I do feel inclined to point out that keeping agents of the Collective imprisoned is a VERY bad idea."
"And I feel inclined to point out the Vanguard nor the Muse's are managed by stable and rational people. Captain I would prefer not to turn you or the others over to them as I would feel guilty about it all. That being said, I cannot let you go or maintain you in protective custody without something in return." The young man picked up one of the cigars and striking a match to light it. "So the reality of this is simple, you work with me or get worked over by the others. No bullshitting, no bluffing." He spoke plainly sighing as he looked among the three.
"Captain I would applaud your actions if I didn't know what the people you think cannot harm you are like. You forget sir, everyone in this colony but me committed a crime bad enough to be sent here. That many here would glad to just to spite you." Reno looked around the room drawing his pistol spinning it on his finger. "We're the last of humanity that means if we fuck this up, we doom a species to extinction." He added with a serious tone looking each person in the room in the eyes. "We get one chance to make sure we don't end humanity... So we gonna continue to act like we did before, or are we gonna start trying to play nice?"
Thrax sighed loudly, blowing a plume of grayish white smoke out through his nostrils. "Its incredibly hard for me to do my job, when the people that I'm supposed to be in-charge of are throwing me in a fucking cell. But if you want to help a bunch of convicts completely undermine the chain of command, that's on your head, Sheriff."
Thrax paused for a moment, taking another drag from his cigarette.
"You’ve heard about this decay, yes? Well...things outside of the colony have gotten a hell of a lot worse.”
Alfie admired Thrax for being hopeful to believe that there is still such thing as the Collective, but until they are rescued, if that is even likely at this point, there is no Collective. There is no way back home. There is only survival. All they can do is outlast.
Alfie rose to his feet before resting his curled fist around the cell bars, his apparent intrigue in the conversation obviously showing. "My Captain is right, but what happens... once you have our ship? What happens to us?" His voice first came quite, but polite. Alfie was definitely over his annoyances. He figured, in order to increase their chances of survival, Alfie needed to find a way out of this cell. Even if that meant cooperating with the vanguards, for now. "I may be... willing... to cooperate...." Alfie shot eyes towards Thrax, concerned with his Captain's opinion on making such a statement. "Of course, with my Captain's permission."
Of course he would cooperate now, after it finally sunk in that they were in quite a bit of trouble. Cassie couldn't help but shake her head as she rolled her eyes, her back still leaning on the cell bars opposite the two prisoners. Although it was simply human nature to do anything to survive, changing one's mind so quickly could suggest ulterior motives.
"You know what will happen...the same thing that's been happening to all of us all this time. We're left to fend for ourselves." Cassie then turned around to look at Alfie in the eyes. "But if you just happen to be lucky, death will come for you much quicker than expected."
"Do you mean me specifically? Because if so, I can only wish for things to be that simple..." Alfie was not sure if what Cassie said was meant to be a threat, or if was a future he should hope for. Though after just seconds of silence, pondering her words, he came to the conclusion to not to wrestle with the worry. His main focus was not himself. Alfie may appear cold and distant, but to those who knew him, he placed Thrax and Lily on a pedestal. He saw them as good people, that even in terms of revenge, did not deserve an execution. After what he did to Isabel, Alfie counted himself number one on Churchill's death list, there was no changing that. He now only saw himself as a tool to maintain the security for those he cared about, and what he cared about. "Sheriff... I must confess that you are... right... about humanity's potential extinction... Well, there will always be the tribesmen outside of Churchill... but I rather see the prosperity of this colony rather than to the Outsiders, a people who practice an initiation process of eating alive and raw those taken under their captivity." With his fingers still wrapped around the bars, Alfie pressed his forehead against the metal, but with eyes tightly shut. "I cannot speak for my Captain, nor for Corporal O'Hare, but I will clearly state that I am willing to cooperate. Being an Overseer is my upmost pride... yet I am at heart a colonist... I... live and breath... not only for the survival of my fellow Overseers, but what's the point if humanity cannot be preserved in the first place?"
Reno chuckled. "Captain you think I like taking orders? You think I enjoy being told when to work and having someone question what I do? But thing is I'm a survivor, I survived the wastes, I survived this town, and I could sure as hell survive if this comes to war." He answered in tone that let them know Reno Wylde was loyal to the law as long as it meant it was the best way to keep the peace.
If peace broke, Reno wasn't going to shoot vanguards or Overseer's he would leave, after all he was the only one who had survived out there without going cannibal. "Captain they don't want a chain of command anymore. The people here want fair and equal trade, they want a clean slate and fair shake... And they got numbers, and you need the gene pool wide as it can be if we want a hope in hell to make out of this."
Reno got up opening the cell again as he took the cigar out of his mouth. "If Alfie here co-operates and things go smooth, I'm gonna negotiate for peaceful return of you all... Failing that, well Dodge is a heavy sleeper." He added giving them a wink as he drew his pistols spinning them as turned to leave.
"Cassie watch Alfie, we're gonna see the big man and don't worry Alfie as long as you keep it civil I'll keep him from laying a hand on you." Reno answered, he wasn't a fan of playing the middle man, but right now he was the only impartial person among them all. So he was going to have to play peacemaker... And out here that usually meant talking from behind the barrel of a drawn gun.
After only minutes of keeping watch, Cassie received word of a special visitor requesting her presence. As for Reno searching for his superior. The Spartan king was, well, Theo was currently... preoccupied with the wedding preparations...
Theo Callahan & Isabel MacGilios
Collab between @beyond visions and @Vashonn
The Lamp Kept Us Warm, But Now We Walk (feat. Olivia Dixon) - Trevor Ransom
The Lamp Kept Us Warm, But Now We Walk (feat. Olivia Dixon) - Trevor Ransom
On the opposite side of the wide street from which the Theater sat, there stood a smaller, though still quite large building, known to the prisoners of Churchill as the Gallery. The Gallery stood apart from its surrounding structures in that it was significantly larger than the rest, two stories in height, and twice as long, the entirety of its exterior constructed of white stone, which perhaps wasn't marble, although it may be, as a good deal of the materials came salvaged from the structures within the great city of London. At the center of the face of the building stood a gargantuan, dark-wooden double door, nine feet in height, and six feet wide. All along the front of the building were long, vertical windows which allowed light to pass through into the main lobby, as well as the hall which was directly above the lobby, both rooms connected by spiraling staircases placed at both the left and right ends of the front of the building. These two rooms were where the sunlight ceased, as walls were placed at the ends of these rooms to keep the light from entering the main part of the Gallery, where all of the artwork was held - with the exception of the Stone Room, which sat at the rear of the building on the first level, which was allowed to receive sunlight through a large glass pane to illuminate the various sculptures which were placed there.
The main lobby reached from the far end of one side of the building to the other, three meters deep with a desk set between two smaller, intricately designed doors at the center. The floor was a mosaic of tiles put together by various architects from the Muse faction - as was most of the rest of the building - and the general temperature in the room was rather cool, as the stone surrounding the lobby kept most of the heat from entering.
As Theo and Isabel stepped into the lobby, they were met by various other prisoners from all over Churchill who had gathered to socialize or see the artwork, most of which were Muses, though the occasional Vanguard and Mastermind were also present. Though most of the other residents of Churchill seemed to take no notice of the couple, there was quickly a hushed whisper which fell over some of the grouped parties as they exchanged glances and gawked at the two leaders who, with interlocked arms, strode past the masses toward the left door into the lower Gallery.
While the two walked their way towards the main gallery, Theo cast a stare upon the mosaic tiles. From the start, this new setting seemed far different from what Theo rested his eyes on. Theo has avoided the Gallery up to this point, mainly because he doubted his own simpleton mind when it came to art involving theater, poetry, or literature. He failed to see symbolism or understand metaphors if not obvious. Though with the visual arts, he found the change of scenery pleasing to his eyes. He even found it... refreshing.
In his effort to play apart in chivalry, Theo curled his bandaged fist around the handle of the door leading into the main gallery. With his biceps contracting, Theo held the door open for Isabel before he too followed her inside. Once within the main gallery, the room seemed awfully dark at first. "It's darker in here..." And then more quietly Theo whisper, almost as if he were reminding himself of his own fear. "Scared--" but then, because he was in company with his wife, Theo quickly used a different word. "Hate the dark." But with time for his eyes to adjust to this new sense of dim lighting, Theo sighed in relief, "Ah, that's better... Not too dark now... g-good... good."
The dim candlelight which illuminated the whole of the main gallery was quickly absorbed by the dark brown of the walls, pedestals, and various displays which held each piece of art, leaving the entirety of the room just bright enough to trace one's footstep and not bump into any other objects. This dull light was perhaps planned, as it accentuated the features of each piece of work, drawing focus to every detail as they popped off the canvas.
Isabel, having spent many hours in the gallery in what little free time she gave herself, quickly stepped away from Theo, hunting for new pieces of art which she knew were to be added, though she had not witnessed as of yet. Turning her head back slightly, she stopped a few meters from Theodore, then remembered that the Spartan had probably never even seen what was inside of the Gallery. Slowly, she turned back around, stepping toward her partner, reaching for his hand which she had to grab with both hands to grasp firmly. Tugging in a playful, albeit impatient manner, Isabel led them toward one painting in particular - a towering canvas which extended from the floor to the ceiling, a red and black painting of a man sitting, his head lowered into one hand. Though it appeared simple, Isabel stood in awe for a brief moment, then began to speak.
"This is the last painting of Justen Dutler, the first Renaissance. He stepped down from his position as he discovered his apprentice, Riley Scott, had surpassed him in his art, and thus, the competition that occurs between any Muse who would challenge the Renaissance was born. In his depression, Dutler created one last work, which would become the first piece to be inaugurated in the Gallery, by Scott, shortly after Dutler's death," Turning to face Theo, Isabel smiled half-heartedly, continuing. "This is the very piece which inspired me to begin my own work. I try and mimick its simplicity, and try and draw from raw emotion, like Dutler did. I still don't think I could ever come to Dutler's level of work, though my rank would say otherwise," frowning, the Renaissance turned back toward the painting, standing in silence as she began studying each detail of the canvas, just as she had done countless times before.
As his eyes rested on the piece in front of them, a slight smile softly curved upwards from Theo's lips. "Um... I don't usually react like this to anything..." He was not sure how to match his feelings to words, but with his affection he may be able to express those emotions. As she had just held his hand, Theo laid his palm over hers. "But this is... this is peaceful..." He chuckled to himself joyfully. "With your story.. I can come to appreciate this painting even more. As we look at it now I can't help but face the brutal reality that to reach the top as a vanguard, a Spartan's heart has to stop beating... But not with you guys... Death does not have to equal promotion." His head angled downwards in sorrowful remembrance of the Spartan before him. Theo's mind flooded with flashbacks of a strong man crumbling due to an enemy, a cancer, he could not cut down. His death equaled Theo's promotion. "Our alliance-- our marriage... With you at my side, perhaps I can make decisions that give me the type of peace I'm feeling right now... Peace without death, without destruction... Hell, peace and relief without breaking something..."
Isabel shifted her gaze away from the painting, staring up into Theo's blue eyes as he looked down in sorrow. For a moment, she stood there, watching and thinking, before turning her head to look toward the painting again, though her eyes fell to the ground. Not knowing what to do, Isabel shifted her hand to wrap around his, as well as it could. "I... I do wonder... What truly are your plans for our marriage?" Closing her eyes, Isabel slowly let the air fill her lungs, trying as she could to calm her beating heart, which she felt pulsing even in her ears.
Theo took to careful notice that Isabel used the word, marriage, not alliance. This let him understand that she was referring to their bond as a relationship between two people, not two factions. Simply Theo blurted what had been on his mind for a while, "Isabel, I am a ride-or-die son of a bitch." Theo held up both of her palms, the tips of his fingers curling around hers. Her hands were inches away from his face. "Know that once you give me your heart, not just your faction, I'll give you mine. If you don't want anything of me other than what I can offer politically... Then please... Tell me now. I know it is too earlier to confess any unconditional love... but at least let me know you are open-minded."
Struck dumbfounded, the Renaissance stared up to the Spartan with wide eyes, the blunt impact of the proclamation leaving her speechless. Quickly, however, Isabel felt her face warm as her cheeks flushed, praying that her mask and the dark of the room would keep Theo from noticing. "I... I don't know what to say..." Isabel gazed up into Theo's eyes, unsure of what to make of their intensity. Her thoughts began to whirl about, churning together the words Theodore had uttered.
"Theodore..." Isabel's head dropped, the range of emotions bouncing back and forth in her mind. "I want so dearly to be with someone that I know I can love... And, I wish of them to have the strength to love who I am..." Shifting her feet, she continued. "This alliance was made for the future of Churchill in mind, I know this. And, now with the Overseers in desperate need of our aide, we... You and I... Have more sway over the fate of the colony than ever before. Though..." Again, Isabel shifted her feet, before finally lifting her eyes to meet Theo's. "I want, first, to grow to know and love the one that I will be spending the rest of my days with. I don't want to think of the colony, or of the Overseers... Or... What Vanderbilt did..." Grimacing, Isabel lowered her eyes, trying to keep back the few tears that were pooling up as she spoke.
Theo touched the bullet strung around his neck, it was his dog-tag. "I... I heard what happened when I came home... to Churchill-- at the time I was on the field with my combatants." His once calm expressed distorted into a grimace while now gripping tightly that bullet. "I couldn't believe it at first-- why would he pull that kind of crazy shit?" With his teeth clamped against each other, frustration was echoed through his inflection. It didn't make sense to Theo how Alfie went from being rather merciful and kind, to scourging a woman over the shortage of thirty-so crops. "No... I'm thinking to much about it-- the thought... it's... it's pissing me off. And I'm sure you don't want to dwell on it." What perhaps infuriated Theo the most, was as he finally released the grasp of his dog-tag, and instead laid his firm palm against Isabel's shoulder, gazing into her tearful eyes, her trauma seemed so familiar to him as Theo has seen it so often in his own men and women, those mainly who have been in captivity and subjected to utter torment. "However... one last thing about that, I know in the war room, I wanted Thrax as my prisoner because he caused me to execute traitors I thought I could trust when they were my soldiers. But I know now, because I have seen it in the eyes of my brothers and sisters, that torture is far worse than death. Whatever hell you have in store for Alfie... I'll just be upset you don't let me watch."
Isabel shifted her gaze away, turning her body to face the rest of the Gallery, stepping away from her companion as she fell deep into her thoughts. For a moment, she stood there, folding her hands together as a sort of solemn prayer, before she finally let out in a hushed tone:
"Let us not talk of such things."
Glancing back again to have her eyes meet Theo's, the Renaissance's demeanor appeared to change dramatically, the somber mood that had fallen over her seemingly lifted as she smiled to him. "I was wondering, in any case, if there were any pieces within the Gallery that you may want to discern? I understand, you may not have many in mind, as you are often busy with your Vanguard, but..." Taking a step back toward the Spartan, Isabel grasped again at Theodore's hands, her light blue eyes shining with anticipation. "Perhaps... There is someone's work that you'd like to see?"
"What I would like to see..." Theo let go of Isabel's hands, rotating behind her while also sliding both of his palms up her arm and onto her the edge of shoulders. "what sealed your fate as Lady Renaissance... What brought you here to me, of course. That is what I want to see." As he spoke, Theo leaned in closer to the back of Isabel's head, hunching his posture in order to rest his head against both her neck and lower jaw. Theo knew of Isabel's painting, all faction leaders know why each rose to their title. It is better that way, to understand what the others did to gain power. "But..." Theo chuckled, Isabel feeling his vocal cords vibrate off her shoulder, as he laid his neck there. "I am a guest in your gallery, what is it that you want to show me?"
Theo promised Isabel that he would be on his best behavior once inside the gallery, thus he made the gallant effort to just so. It seemed ever since the meeting in the war room that Theo had been far less forcefully, and instead asking rather than assuming. Perhaps without such the slap of reality in the war room, Theo would have likely cradled Isabel in his arms and marched over to her painting. Theo has often realized that even though he may have good intentions, he can rub off as the aggressive type due to overambitious passion. It is best to be reminded, even when that means harshly, when being overbearing, overprotective, or just plain bumptious.
Blushing, Isabel stepped away from Theo's grasp, turning around to face him and opened her mouth to speak, though she seemed to stop herself before any words could flow forth. Finally, fixing a wry smile to her lips before she began to walk away, glancing back for Theo to follow.
"Oh, and deeper do I descend into your lair... Ha, ha, exciting!" Perhaps why Theo seemed so enthusiastic about the moment was because he felt that she might be actually enjoying his company. Even if her reactions were quite reserved, at least he was getting somewhere.
As the two of them walked through the Gallery, Isabel would occasionally slow to glance at any art that had drawn her eye before, or the few new pieces which had recently been installed, as some works would be replaced every so often with the consent of the artist, though a great deal of the expositions on the first level were left untouched from the moment they were set, save for the few occasions when cleaning had to be done to the surrounding area, or the art itself. The further the pair walked, the more recent the artwork became, leaving a slight scarcity upon the walls where there would be room for future inaugurations into the Gallery.
It hadn't taken too long a time before the two leaders reached the rear of the building, just a slight distance short of the wooden doors which acted as portals into the Stone Room. Here, the air felt cooler, dry; the smoke of the candles which burned pooling into a wispy fog, filling the nose with the light scents of lavender. Set between the two doors along the back wall, directly in the center, hung the portrait Isabel had crafted for her competition just over a year prior.
Theo tilted his head and folded his arms while viewing Isabel's profound piece, "Intacta Caelo". As he stared at the crimson painted skies, he could not help but ask a curious question. "Isabel... I can't keep my eyes off of it... When did you paint this?" Why Theo precisely asked this, was because he wondered what exactly inspired her. Was it the Overseer oppression in general, or perhaps a specific painful experience compelled her? Theo wanted to know what drove her heart.
"It isn't often that I come to view my own work," It seemed almost as if Isabel had not even taken notice to Theo's question, her eyes locked upon the sweeping crimson skyline which seemed to plummet into the blackened soil. "Often times, I would finish my painting, it would be published, and then I would never let my eyes fall upon it again, lest I spot all of the faults in the canvas, all of the little mistakes that only I can see," her jaw tightened, Isabel raised her chin to take a deep breath, finally turning to respond.
"Though many have attributed this to be some sort of cry for freedom, I can't say that that was my intention, as I find the topic to be incredibly mundane. Not to mitigate the meaning of that, 'freedom', for which all of these colonists seek, but rather, I wanted it to stand for hope... Maybe, rebirth, in some sense. Notice the little girl, beside her parents," raising an arm, Isabel let her fingertips grace across the canvas, though she drew her hand back quickly as it approached the smaller figure. "I guess people always want to associate it with the Overseers for the color scheme, but then, look at the rest of my work. And even so, it wasn't long after... Vanderbilt... I drew this, knowing that if I could give the colonists some sense of hope, then maybe we could begin to grow, and shape our own destiny. It's funny, I hadn't truly expected to become..." her voice trailed off, leaving the shadow of a smile upon her lips, the weight of seeing her own work hung as the symbol of her position suddenly bearing down on her.
"I like that... you called us colonists, not convicts..." Theo unfolded his arms while stepping forward towards her. "The crime that got me here, arms-dealing, I thought I was doing the right thing. Allowing others to defend themselves by possessing arms." Theo scoffed at himself, "Hell, I'm so damn American! But that was how life was back in States, on Old Earth. We had that right then, and yeah, I was seven when my dad told me about my good American rights, but I guess that all means nothing now." Theo paused, soaking in the silence he now caused. "Isabel... I'm sorry I made you cry earlier... I know it's random, but I haven't stopped thinking about it. You've probably noticed, I've been on better behavior since then. I don't want you to be scared of me. I would never hurt you, of course not physically, but not even emotionally. I'm not using you for political gain. No matter what anyone says, I'm genuinely trying to make something of us."
"I must admit," Isabel began, her hand raising up to touch at the crimson brooch pinned to the collar of her dress, "this alliance of ours, when it was brought to my attention, I had no intention of accepting it. Yet, as I thought, I saw only a chance to better the colony as a whole, and I threw my own feelings aside. I hadn't fully grasped what I had agreed to, until this morning..." Turning, Isabel stared deep into Theodore's eyes, her own gaze clouded with contempt. "You are, Spartan Callahan, the most abrasive, vulgar, childish man I have ever had the hindrance to consort myself with." As she spoke, the Renaissance's tone actually lightened, as if she was making a joke at Theodore's expense.
"And yet..." her lips curled into a coy smile. "You've revealed that there is a gentleness to this giant. And for this, I suppose, I can make peace with the prospect of being wed to you, so long as you keep your head." Isabel snickered to herself, turning as if to leave. Stopping, she looked back, glancing down at the Spartan's bare chest, then back into his eyes. "Oh, and I do hope for you to at least wear a shirt to our wedding. A few of the older Muses wouldn't find it, ehm... 'Proper'," then, smiling, she began to walk toward the door out into the lobby.
The main lobby reached from the far end of one side of the building to the other, three meters deep with a desk set between two smaller, intricately designed doors at the center. The floor was a mosaic of tiles put together by various architects from the Muse faction - as was most of the rest of the building - and the general temperature in the room was rather cool, as the stone surrounding the lobby kept most of the heat from entering.
As Theo and Isabel stepped into the lobby, they were met by various other prisoners from all over Churchill who had gathered to socialize or see the artwork, most of which were Muses, though the occasional Vanguard and Mastermind were also present. Though most of the other residents of Churchill seemed to take no notice of the couple, there was quickly a hushed whisper which fell over some of the grouped parties as they exchanged glances and gawked at the two leaders who, with interlocked arms, strode past the masses toward the left door into the lower Gallery.
While the two walked their way towards the main gallery, Theo cast a stare upon the mosaic tiles. From the start, this new setting seemed far different from what Theo rested his eyes on. Theo has avoided the Gallery up to this point, mainly because he doubted his own simpleton mind when it came to art involving theater, poetry, or literature. He failed to see symbolism or understand metaphors if not obvious. Though with the visual arts, he found the change of scenery pleasing to his eyes. He even found it... refreshing.
In his effort to play apart in chivalry, Theo curled his bandaged fist around the handle of the door leading into the main gallery. With his biceps contracting, Theo held the door open for Isabel before he too followed her inside. Once within the main gallery, the room seemed awfully dark at first. "It's darker in here..." And then more quietly Theo whisper, almost as if he were reminding himself of his own fear. "Scared--" but then, because he was in company with his wife, Theo quickly used a different word. "Hate the dark." But with time for his eyes to adjust to this new sense of dim lighting, Theo sighed in relief, "Ah, that's better... Not too dark now... g-good... good."
The dim candlelight which illuminated the whole of the main gallery was quickly absorbed by the dark brown of the walls, pedestals, and various displays which held each piece of art, leaving the entirety of the room just bright enough to trace one's footstep and not bump into any other objects. This dull light was perhaps planned, as it accentuated the features of each piece of work, drawing focus to every detail as they popped off the canvas.
Isabel, having spent many hours in the gallery in what little free time she gave herself, quickly stepped away from Theo, hunting for new pieces of art which she knew were to be added, though she had not witnessed as of yet. Turning her head back slightly, she stopped a few meters from Theodore, then remembered that the Spartan had probably never even seen what was inside of the Gallery. Slowly, she turned back around, stepping toward her partner, reaching for his hand which she had to grab with both hands to grasp firmly. Tugging in a playful, albeit impatient manner, Isabel led them toward one painting in particular - a towering canvas which extended from the floor to the ceiling, a red and black painting of a man sitting, his head lowered into one hand. Though it appeared simple, Isabel stood in awe for a brief moment, then began to speak.
"This is the last painting of Justen Dutler, the first Renaissance. He stepped down from his position as he discovered his apprentice, Riley Scott, had surpassed him in his art, and thus, the competition that occurs between any Muse who would challenge the Renaissance was born. In his depression, Dutler created one last work, which would become the first piece to be inaugurated in the Gallery, by Scott, shortly after Dutler's death," Turning to face Theo, Isabel smiled half-heartedly, continuing. "This is the very piece which inspired me to begin my own work. I try and mimick its simplicity, and try and draw from raw emotion, like Dutler did. I still don't think I could ever come to Dutler's level of work, though my rank would say otherwise," frowning, the Renaissance turned back toward the painting, standing in silence as she began studying each detail of the canvas, just as she had done countless times before.
As his eyes rested on the piece in front of them, a slight smile softly curved upwards from Theo's lips. "Um... I don't usually react like this to anything..." He was not sure how to match his feelings to words, but with his affection he may be able to express those emotions. As she had just held his hand, Theo laid his palm over hers. "But this is... this is peaceful..." He chuckled to himself joyfully. "With your story.. I can come to appreciate this painting even more. As we look at it now I can't help but face the brutal reality that to reach the top as a vanguard, a Spartan's heart has to stop beating... But not with you guys... Death does not have to equal promotion." His head angled downwards in sorrowful remembrance of the Spartan before him. Theo's mind flooded with flashbacks of a strong man crumbling due to an enemy, a cancer, he could not cut down. His death equaled Theo's promotion. "Our alliance-- our marriage... With you at my side, perhaps I can make decisions that give me the type of peace I'm feeling right now... Peace without death, without destruction... Hell, peace and relief without breaking something..."
Isabel shifted her gaze away from the painting, staring up into Theo's blue eyes as he looked down in sorrow. For a moment, she stood there, watching and thinking, before turning her head to look toward the painting again, though her eyes fell to the ground. Not knowing what to do, Isabel shifted her hand to wrap around his, as well as it could. "I... I do wonder... What truly are your plans for our marriage?" Closing her eyes, Isabel slowly let the air fill her lungs, trying as she could to calm her beating heart, which she felt pulsing even in her ears.
Theo took to careful notice that Isabel used the word, marriage, not alliance. This let him understand that she was referring to their bond as a relationship between two people, not two factions. Simply Theo blurted what had been on his mind for a while, "Isabel, I am a ride-or-die son of a bitch." Theo held up both of her palms, the tips of his fingers curling around hers. Her hands were inches away from his face. "Know that once you give me your heart, not just your faction, I'll give you mine. If you don't want anything of me other than what I can offer politically... Then please... Tell me now. I know it is too earlier to confess any unconditional love... but at least let me know you are open-minded."
Struck dumbfounded, the Renaissance stared up to the Spartan with wide eyes, the blunt impact of the proclamation leaving her speechless. Quickly, however, Isabel felt her face warm as her cheeks flushed, praying that her mask and the dark of the room would keep Theo from noticing. "I... I don't know what to say..." Isabel gazed up into Theo's eyes, unsure of what to make of their intensity. Her thoughts began to whirl about, churning together the words Theodore had uttered.
"Theodore..." Isabel's head dropped, the range of emotions bouncing back and forth in her mind. "I want so dearly to be with someone that I know I can love... And, I wish of them to have the strength to love who I am..." Shifting her feet, she continued. "This alliance was made for the future of Churchill in mind, I know this. And, now with the Overseers in desperate need of our aide, we... You and I... Have more sway over the fate of the colony than ever before. Though..." Again, Isabel shifted her feet, before finally lifting her eyes to meet Theo's. "I want, first, to grow to know and love the one that I will be spending the rest of my days with. I don't want to think of the colony, or of the Overseers... Or... What Vanderbilt did..." Grimacing, Isabel lowered her eyes, trying to keep back the few tears that were pooling up as she spoke.
Theo touched the bullet strung around his neck, it was his dog-tag. "I... I heard what happened when I came home... to Churchill-- at the time I was on the field with my combatants." His once calm expressed distorted into a grimace while now gripping tightly that bullet. "I couldn't believe it at first-- why would he pull that kind of crazy shit?" With his teeth clamped against each other, frustration was echoed through his inflection. It didn't make sense to Theo how Alfie went from being rather merciful and kind, to scourging a woman over the shortage of thirty-so crops. "No... I'm thinking to much about it-- the thought... it's... it's pissing me off. And I'm sure you don't want to dwell on it." What perhaps infuriated Theo the most, was as he finally released the grasp of his dog-tag, and instead laid his firm palm against Isabel's shoulder, gazing into her tearful eyes, her trauma seemed so familiar to him as Theo has seen it so often in his own men and women, those mainly who have been in captivity and subjected to utter torment. "However... one last thing about that, I know in the war room, I wanted Thrax as my prisoner because he caused me to execute traitors I thought I could trust when they were my soldiers. But I know now, because I have seen it in the eyes of my brothers and sisters, that torture is far worse than death. Whatever hell you have in store for Alfie... I'll just be upset you don't let me watch."
Isabel shifted her gaze away, turning her body to face the rest of the Gallery, stepping away from her companion as she fell deep into her thoughts. For a moment, she stood there, folding her hands together as a sort of solemn prayer, before she finally let out in a hushed tone:
"Let us not talk of such things."
Glancing back again to have her eyes meet Theo's, the Renaissance's demeanor appeared to change dramatically, the somber mood that had fallen over her seemingly lifted as she smiled to him. "I was wondering, in any case, if there were any pieces within the Gallery that you may want to discern? I understand, you may not have many in mind, as you are often busy with your Vanguard, but..." Taking a step back toward the Spartan, Isabel grasped again at Theodore's hands, her light blue eyes shining with anticipation. "Perhaps... There is someone's work that you'd like to see?"
"What I would like to see..." Theo let go of Isabel's hands, rotating behind her while also sliding both of his palms up her arm and onto her the edge of shoulders. "what sealed your fate as Lady Renaissance... What brought you here to me, of course. That is what I want to see." As he spoke, Theo leaned in closer to the back of Isabel's head, hunching his posture in order to rest his head against both her neck and lower jaw. Theo knew of Isabel's painting, all faction leaders know why each rose to their title. It is better that way, to understand what the others did to gain power. "But..." Theo chuckled, Isabel feeling his vocal cords vibrate off her shoulder, as he laid his neck there. "I am a guest in your gallery, what is it that you want to show me?"
Theo promised Isabel that he would be on his best behavior once inside the gallery, thus he made the gallant effort to just so. It seemed ever since the meeting in the war room that Theo had been far less forcefully, and instead asking rather than assuming. Perhaps without such the slap of reality in the war room, Theo would have likely cradled Isabel in his arms and marched over to her painting. Theo has often realized that even though he may have good intentions, he can rub off as the aggressive type due to overambitious passion. It is best to be reminded, even when that means harshly, when being overbearing, overprotective, or just plain bumptious.
Blushing, Isabel stepped away from Theo's grasp, turning around to face him and opened her mouth to speak, though she seemed to stop herself before any words could flow forth. Finally, fixing a wry smile to her lips before she began to walk away, glancing back for Theo to follow.
"Oh, and deeper do I descend into your lair... Ha, ha, exciting!" Perhaps why Theo seemed so enthusiastic about the moment was because he felt that she might be actually enjoying his company. Even if her reactions were quite reserved, at least he was getting somewhere.
As the two of them walked through the Gallery, Isabel would occasionally slow to glance at any art that had drawn her eye before, or the few new pieces which had recently been installed, as some works would be replaced every so often with the consent of the artist, though a great deal of the expositions on the first level were left untouched from the moment they were set, save for the few occasions when cleaning had to be done to the surrounding area, or the art itself. The further the pair walked, the more recent the artwork became, leaving a slight scarcity upon the walls where there would be room for future inaugurations into the Gallery.
It hadn't taken too long a time before the two leaders reached the rear of the building, just a slight distance short of the wooden doors which acted as portals into the Stone Room. Here, the air felt cooler, dry; the smoke of the candles which burned pooling into a wispy fog, filling the nose with the light scents of lavender. Set between the two doors along the back wall, directly in the center, hung the portrait Isabel had crafted for her competition just over a year prior.
Theo tilted his head and folded his arms while viewing Isabel's profound piece, "Intacta Caelo". As he stared at the crimson painted skies, he could not help but ask a curious question. "Isabel... I can't keep my eyes off of it... When did you paint this?" Why Theo precisely asked this, was because he wondered what exactly inspired her. Was it the Overseer oppression in general, or perhaps a specific painful experience compelled her? Theo wanted to know what drove her heart.
"It isn't often that I come to view my own work," It seemed almost as if Isabel had not even taken notice to Theo's question, her eyes locked upon the sweeping crimson skyline which seemed to plummet into the blackened soil. "Often times, I would finish my painting, it would be published, and then I would never let my eyes fall upon it again, lest I spot all of the faults in the canvas, all of the little mistakes that only I can see," her jaw tightened, Isabel raised her chin to take a deep breath, finally turning to respond.
"Though many have attributed this to be some sort of cry for freedom, I can't say that that was my intention, as I find the topic to be incredibly mundane. Not to mitigate the meaning of that, 'freedom', for which all of these colonists seek, but rather, I wanted it to stand for hope... Maybe, rebirth, in some sense. Notice the little girl, beside her parents," raising an arm, Isabel let her fingertips grace across the canvas, though she drew her hand back quickly as it approached the smaller figure. "I guess people always want to associate it with the Overseers for the color scheme, but then, look at the rest of my work. And even so, it wasn't long after... Vanderbilt... I drew this, knowing that if I could give the colonists some sense of hope, then maybe we could begin to grow, and shape our own destiny. It's funny, I hadn't truly expected to become..." her voice trailed off, leaving the shadow of a smile upon her lips, the weight of seeing her own work hung as the symbol of her position suddenly bearing down on her.
"I like that... you called us colonists, not convicts..." Theo unfolded his arms while stepping forward towards her. "The crime that got me here, arms-dealing, I thought I was doing the right thing. Allowing others to defend themselves by possessing arms." Theo scoffed at himself, "Hell, I'm so damn American! But that was how life was back in States, on Old Earth. We had that right then, and yeah, I was seven when my dad told me about my good American rights, but I guess that all means nothing now." Theo paused, soaking in the silence he now caused. "Isabel... I'm sorry I made you cry earlier... I know it's random, but I haven't stopped thinking about it. You've probably noticed, I've been on better behavior since then. I don't want you to be scared of me. I would never hurt you, of course not physically, but not even emotionally. I'm not using you for political gain. No matter what anyone says, I'm genuinely trying to make something of us."
"I must admit," Isabel began, her hand raising up to touch at the crimson brooch pinned to the collar of her dress, "this alliance of ours, when it was brought to my attention, I had no intention of accepting it. Yet, as I thought, I saw only a chance to better the colony as a whole, and I threw my own feelings aside. I hadn't fully grasped what I had agreed to, until this morning..." Turning, Isabel stared deep into Theodore's eyes, her own gaze clouded with contempt. "You are, Spartan Callahan, the most abrasive, vulgar, childish man I have ever had the hindrance to consort myself with." As she spoke, the Renaissance's tone actually lightened, as if she was making a joke at Theodore's expense.
"And yet..." her lips curled into a coy smile. "You've revealed that there is a gentleness to this giant. And for this, I suppose, I can make peace with the prospect of being wed to you, so long as you keep your head." Isabel snickered to herself, turning as if to leave. Stopping, she looked back, glancing down at the Spartan's bare chest, then back into his eyes. "Oh, and I do hope for you to at least wear a shirt to our wedding. A few of the older Muses wouldn't find it, ehm... 'Proper'," then, smiling, she began to walk toward the door out into the lobby.
@Vashonn Pretty cheery lately. Which is always good.
Thought I let it be a heads up to everyone that I added a new NPC to the NPC character post.
Thought I let it be a heads up to everyone that I added a new NPC to the NPC character post.
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