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Post by Deleted on Mar 17, 2012 10:45:41 GMT -5
Tears felt cornered. "Run. Run. Run." This time all the voices inside her spoke in unison. They all thought that she should run from this man. Even her normally feelings of anger wanted nothing more then to run at this moment. Rarely did the voices inside her head speak in unison, but when they did it was usually around Smiles.
Fighting the voice down with a frustrated face, she turned to Smiles. "I came back for the conference meeting." She said, though from the look of her face it seemed like she was having a hard time saying it.
Smiles spoke and when he did it made the voices inside her shout all the louder. "Yes, that will be occurring tomorrow. I will be presenting Ivory tomorrow to the other members of the committee. I can count on you having no objections, can't I?"
Tears looked up and when Smiles locked eyes on her she felt stunned. It was almost like someone had punched her gut and took her breath away. The voices were screaming now, and it took everything inside her to just keep herself standing. "... yes." She finally managed to say.
She had to get out of here. She needed to speak to Snake. Eyes cast to the floor she said, "I need to leave." And with her eyes locked on the floor she walked past Smiles. Only when she was a good five feet past him did she finally look up.
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Smiles watched her walk past him. Tears.... another player of the game. Unlike Fang though, Tears was subdued. Not to her opponents or many others in the organization, but to Smiles she was. He could remember when he first discovered her and their eventful first interaction. Being not so sane himself, he recognized her condition right away.
Glancing down at Ivory he noticed she had not yet finished eating. He was hoping she would eat now that Tears wasn't bothering her. He figured she might have some questions, about Tears at least, so he waited for her to say something.
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Post by Sprow on Mar 17, 2012 23:58:42 GMT -5
Ivory watched as the girl spoke to Smiles as to what she was here for. Something about a conference meeting. According to Smiles, that would take place tomorrow. It was tomorrow that Ivory would be presented to the rest of the members. The thought of being put on a pedestal again was intimidating. She was used to not being in the spotlight and observing from the sidelines. Oh well, best to get it done and over with when it came time. Ivory wasn't sure how most of them would react. Hopefully, she wouldn't have to worry about fighting more than one person at once.
When Smiles had asked the girl if he could count on her to having no objections, it looked like she was going through a really tough decision and it worried her. Eventually, the girl agreed to not object. Casting her eyes to the floor, she stated that she needed to leave. Not even looking at them anymore, the girl turned and left. Not once did she lift her head up until she had reached a good distance away from them.
Well, that was yet another interesting encounter for Ivory. Thankfully, she didn't have to worry about being attacked since Smiles had arrived just in time. Of course, she knew she shouldn't constantly rely on someone else to get her out of a tight spot. She just hoped that if she were to get into a fight, not because she was causing it, that her skill would be enough to keep her alive.
Now that the girl was gone, Ivory was able to relax. It wasn't easy trying to eat with someone giving you so much attention, after all. It was like sitting there trying to eat with someone else staring at you the whole time. "...So um...who is she?" Ivory asked Smiles curiously. As she did so, she took a bite of what was left of her food, trying to speed up the process of eating. She didn't want to keep Smiles waiting if he had anything planned for her to do. That and she was hoping he'd actually relax and sit down on a seat instead of just standing there, making her feel awkward.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 18, 2012 19:11:13 GMT -5
"Her real name... I don't know." Smiles said. He wasn't aware that he was making it awkward for Ivory to eat, but he did walk over to the bar. Ordering a drink he returned with a mug in his hand. Deciding to take a seat on the couch a few feet across from the one Ivory sat on, he continued. "Fang would know about her real name and all that."
Taking a sip of the coffee he had ordered he realized it was a bit to hot still. "She goes by the name of Tears. She's one of the newer members of the committee actually. She tends to do her own thing." And by her own thing, Smiles meant trying to find her own way in taking down others of the committee. She played the game of politics as much as Fang.
"You've met four members of the committee. I make five of course. There are two others that you have yet to meet. One is not only the head of the organization, but the creator as well. You will meet him tomorrow. The other.... Well she is a strange one."
"Must you always talk about me so." Said a voice behind him. Glancing up with a smile, Smiles locked eyes with Smoke. A woman in her forties, Smoke had long blond hair that reached all the way down to her waist. Dressed in a black sleeved dress and long black stockings, her wardrobe seemed from a century ago. Across her left eye was a black patch, and strapped to her back was a huge rifle.
Smoke spoke in a single monotone. It was emotionless and dull in every sense. She glanced from Smiles to Ivory sitting at the opposite end. "Good evening." She said in the same tone as before.
Smiles had nothing against Smoke. She was the forth person to join the committee, and was one of the few people who did not play the politics of the committee.
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Post by Sprow on Mar 19, 2012 3:10:48 GMT -5
Ivory listened as Smiles began to talk. Well, Ivory didn't expect to know the girl's real name. It seemed everyone in this building, except her, went by an alias. She didn't even know Smiles' real name, at least not that she could remember. Ivory wouldn't ask it of him though. It seemed as though asking people's real names here was like taboo. Would she have to also go by an alias? Kind of hard to do when already people knew her real name now.
As Smiles went to get a drink at the bar, Ivory took that as for her to continue eating. Smiles didn't appear to be in a rush. Then again, he didn't always appear to be in a rush from what she could remember. Why did she think he'd be in one? Ivory mentally slapped herself as she took another bite from her grinder. Just a few more bites and she should be done with it.
By the time Smiles returned, she ad just a couple of bites left before her grinder would be finished. Smiles finally resumed their conversation about that girl. Apparently, her name was Tears and she did her own thing pretty much. She, too, was also a newer member of the committee.
When Smiles told her that she had already met four of the committee members, Ivory let her mind wander back to the faces she had met. Well, she already knew which ones she wouldn't hang with, that was for sure. According to Smiles, she would be meeting the rest of the members tomorrow. There were only two others that she hadn't seen. The leader and creator of the organization and another woman. Just after Smiles stated she was a strange one, a voice piped up.
Just finishing her grinder, Ivory turned to see who had just spoken. It was a woman that looked to be in her forties or close to it with long blond hair. She had an eyepatch and a huge rifle strapped to her back. The way she was dressed, Ivory got the impression that she was a no nonsense individual. Taking her gaze off of Smiles, she looked over at Ivory. What she said, Ivory didn't expect since most people were being creepy toward her so far. Where the woman's voice was monotone and emotionless, what she said was polite.
Ivory smiled over at her in return. "Thank you. Good evening to you too," she greeted her. Maybe this was someone a little more friendly?
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Post by Deleted on Mar 19, 2012 22:04:54 GMT -5
Having received Ivory's response, Smoke turned back to Smiles. "I am here for the conference. Do you know the agenda being discussed?" Once again she spoke in the same monotone. While Smoke was an interesting sort of person, but her speech normally bored people to sleep. It had the opposite effect on Smiles. He found it her most exciting feature.
"I actually have no clue. I spoke with Snake, but we did not speak of the discussion for tomorrow. Most likely Fang would know more. Since he seems to always plan the things." Snake was the head of the committee but for the most part Fang did all the work. That included bringing issues forward at the committee.
Smoke nodded in response. "Well then. I shall see you tomorrow." As she began to walk off she stopped by Ivory just long enough to say, "Watch your back around here. People have their own interests at heart." And with that she walked the same way Tears had gone.
Once again it left Ivory and Smiles alone in the room. Finishing up the rest of his coffee, he hoped that Ivory had the amount of time she needed to finish her meal. "Why don't we head over to your room." Smiles wanted to take her over there so that when they finished training she would be able to retire.
That was the only thing on the agenda that he had for today. He wanted to show her around the building and try out the training stimulation on the top floor.
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Post by Sprow on Mar 19, 2012 23:39:24 GMT -5
Ivory looked on politely as the elder woman turned to Smiles, asking him if he had any idea what the conference's agenda would be about. According to Smiles, he wasn't sure but Fang should know since he organized these meetings. Just what would be in the conference tomorrow? Ivory couldn't help but ponder about it. Well, she wouldn't know until tomorrow, it seemed. Hopefully, things would be okay up to that point. Ivory always felt a bit intimidated by going in front of a number of others. It took her back to the days when she had to present in front of a class. It always made her nervous.
Satisfied with Smiles' response, the woman began to walk away. Before she did, she paused next to Ivory and spoke to her. It was a warning to keep an eye on herself. Well, Ivory could tell that for herself the moment she walked in this place. Most of the members seemed unfriendly or perverted. "Thank you, I'll keep that in mind." With that, Ivory watched her leave before turning back to Smiles.
Ivory had just finished her meal and it looked as though Smiles finished his beverage too. Hearing his suggestion, Ivory nodded her head in agreement. "Alrighty, then!" she answered him before getting up. Heading over to the garbage disposal, she disposed of her trash and gave the plate back to the cook for cleaning later. Turning back to Smiles, she patiently waited for him to lead the way.
"Right behind you, sir."
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Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2012 0:09:09 GMT -5
Smiles led the way out of the common room and back to the moving staircases. Walking down the staircase he walked back to the center where the two connected. Once crossing to the other side of the staircase he turned around and looked back towards a different way.
Looking towards the staircase that Gat had walked down he watched the staircase in front of them retreat, and the left most staircase connect. "One thing about the staircases is that you have to go back to this central staircase to go up a different one. Fang was supposed to fix that..."
Walking back up the staircase he came to the other side. The door lead to a long single hallway. To the right and left were doors fairly spaced out. "Everyone's quarters are either located here, or the other side. Sadly mine are on the other side. Yours are here." He said coming to a stop at the very last door on the left.
Opening the door revealed a kitchen attached to the living room. The rooms were fairly large, easily the size of a room one would expect to go along with a condo. To the left an open doorway led to a bedroom. Walking through it revealed a made bed, and an empty walk in closet and dresser. A television hung from the wall with small speakers hanging from the edges.
"Sadly we don't provide free clothes. Your responsible for buying your own. Though you are given a stimulus for such things from the committee every month. That's what the tax they take goes towards. Of course they keep more then half for themselves. But your receiving some back at least."
Walking back to the living room, Smiles took a seat on a stool at a side bar in the kitchen. "Well you've been quiet for the most part. What do you think of this place? Of the committee? Of everything?"
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Post by Sprow on Mar 21, 2012 1:45:47 GMT -5
Ivory followed closely behind as Smiles lead the way back toward the moving staircases. Like he had done before, he stopped half way. Mimicking him, Ivory paused and followed Smiles' gaze. He appeared to be looking toward the staircase from where that large man had been earlier. As he did so, the stairs seemed to pick up on where Smiles wanted to go and began to change the direction it had been facing to go towards the direction Smiles was looking. As it did so,Smiles explained that she would have to stand on this one in order to move from stair to stair.
"Alright, I'll be sure to remember that."
When the staircase finally stopped, she followed Smiles up the stair it stopped on. Reaching the top, she followed Smiles through a door and into a hallway with several doors on opposite ends of each other. So, was this where the rooms were then? It definitely looked like it. If not, well it would be easy for Ivory to get herself lost in such a large place. The pair of them walked down the hallway as Smiles spoke once more.
He had confirmed that their quarters were here and on 'the other side'. Whatever he meant by that, she guessed either down another hallway or maybe somewhere around a corner from here and then that was where the rest lay. Ivory's was the very last door on the left side of this hallway. She made a mental note to make sure her door was locked at night. After meeting that large man and Tears, she didn't want an uninvited guest to wander in during the night.
Curious as to how things would look, as anyone new would be, Ivory stepped into her own living quarters that they were giving her. As she stepped inside, her eyebrows raised considerably. Compared to what she was used to, this were as if she had stepped into a place of luxury. Really, she felt unworthy with all the stuff they had given her in this very room. It was much cleaner than the hotel room she had been in last and even far more cleanly than the room the orphanage had provided her back in her home world. It was even better than the cramped Gummi Ship that she and Darius lived in for a time.
Smiles seemed content to just let her explore the area a bit as he explained there wouldn't be any clothing until she bought herself some. That was understandable, Ivory could live with that. They had given her enough already. "That's fine, I can live with that! I'll just make sure no one tears or burns the only ones I have for now!" she joked. Then again, she probably shouldn't be joking about that. It could happen if she wasn't careful and then that wouldn't be funny anymore.
Seating himself in a bar stool at a mini-island located next to the kitchen, Smiles allowed her to explore a little more before asking her questions, of what she thought of everything so far. Taking her eyes off of the area around her, she turned to look back at Smiles. What to say? There was a lot to say but Ivory was usually introverted and didn't speak her mind too much. Not that she wouldn't answer Smiles upon his request. Of course he would be curious what she thought of everything so far! It had definitely been one of the most interesting tours she had so far. Then again, Ivory never went on a tour before.
"This castle is amazing! I mean, the guardian almost gave me a heart attack but this place definitely has a good mixture of mystery and beauty to it." She took another glimpse at the quarters around her before looking back at Smiles again. "Even this room is better than what I've been in!" she told him. It had been the truth. It was just way cleaner and spacier. If she ever had time to herself, she would probably go here mostly since she could see herself calming down here more so than in the common room. The common room was beautiful but it was open and people like Tears could give her problems. The common room wouldn't be quiet.
"As for the committee...Where I've only just met a good number of them, I kind of have an idea who I...should be careful around." That large man and Tears were the most obvious ones. Bullseye, she wasn't sure but she guessed it might be best to give her space after Wonderland. She might still be sore at her for besting her. At least she wasn't intending to kill her for now. Whether or not that will change in the future remained yet to be seen. Fang, on the other hand, she just picked up unwelcome vibes from him.
"Fang...polite but...gave me that vibe like he would rather I leave him alone. That woman with the blond hair was nice. Tears...I'm pretty sure I'd not want to sneak into my room in the middle of the night. Bullseye, I'm not sure how she'll be after the incident in Wonderland. As for that man we met earlier, I'm pretty sure I'd keep my distance from that one. He wasn't exactly nice...and too suggestive." Ivory had been careful to not say anything too bad in case Smiles took offense but she didn't think he would. Not much seemed to bother him, or at least he didn't show it. "Not sure what I'd make of the leader but I guess I'll be able to once I actually meet him. As for you, I admit I'm never not surprised around you. I really appreciate you going through the hassle of training me and over all for helping me out with everything. Thank you!"
It probably came out a bit awkward but Ivory meant what she said. Hopefully, she didn't put him to sleep with her response. "I'm curious about the conference tomorrow and whatever that challenge thing is. I know what it's for, just not what one would do. Would it be like what I had to do with Bullseye on Wonderland?" she questioned him. Her only reason for asking was just because she was simply curious of it. She would have to go through them eventually by the way Smiles made it sound when Fang had mentioned it. Was Smiles going to push her to do more of them? Maybe.
Ivory also wondered if Smiles had anything else in store for her today...erm, night? How he was ever able to keep his cool, she couldn't help but wonder. He seemed to have the patience of a saint...or close to it. Where his constant smiling and his wide eyes were things to send unpleasant chills down a person's spine, she did find him interesting. She wasn't about to try and pry about him though. It was just rude to get into someone else's business. He never really questioned her about her own life either.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 22, 2012 14:14:11 GMT -5
Smiles listened to Ivory's reply. Some of her reactions to some of the others would be expected. He'd expect anyone new in the organization to feel that way. There was a lot he could tell her about the way things played and worked within the committee. After all he was a co-founder. Of course that was not his rank. In deed he was one of the lowest on the lists.
"The trial, like Fang said, establishes rank. It's not like before, where you personally challenge another member for their rank. More it's a test of skills and performances. If you pass beyond a member's score, you obtain their rank. The higher rank you have, the more of a say you have in the organization."
Smiles took a moment to make sure she was getting it. Once he was sure she did he continued, "However the trial is not mandatory. For that reason one's rank may remain the same. Take my rank. I have a rank of five. However if I chose to take the trial, I could no doubt increase that rank as much as I desired."
It was quite clear, that even though Smiles was smiling, he was serious about the fact that he could increase his rank as much as he wanted. "But why would I want to do that? With a higher rank you do have more of a say in the organization, but also your responsibilities increase. Take Fang. He has a rank of two. That is right underneath the head of the organization. I'm pretty sure he hasn't gone on a job in two years. The majority of his time is spent in that office and in the virtual training facility."
Having clarified what rank meant, Smiles went on to explain more about the trial. "The trial itself will test your physicality and your mentality through various tasks and scenarios. As for the conference tomorrow you'll most likely see various arguments about contracts, complaints about how someone is failing their rank, and most likely a direct confrontation that probably will just about get to bloodshed. Conferences are always interesting. They happen only once a month."
Smiling, Smiles stood up off the bench. "Come, why don't we head over to the training room." They could always continue their conversation on the way.
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Post by Sprow on Mar 23, 2012 3:04:24 GMT -5
Ivory paid close attention to Smiles when he spoke. The trials didn't consist of openly challenging another member. Instead, one competed in a series of challenges with their skills and certain performances. Depending on how well they did, if they beat another's score, it would increase that person's rank. "Ah, so that's how that works." Ivory was afraid that she'd have to fight to the death every time. That at least put her mind a bit at ease but there was no telling how dangerous the tasks were in the trials.
She looked back at Smiles, her head tilted to the side a bit as she took in what he had just said about himself. The way he made it sound, despite his smiling, it appeared as though he was saying he was much more skilled than what he let off. Well, having trained under him, she guessed there was more to him than met the eye. Ivory wouldn't doubt his capabilities. However, what he said next, sounded...typical of what she knew of him so far. Why should he bother getting high in the ranks only to be forced with more responsibilities? Smiles probably preferred to get outside more than be stuck like Fang in an office all day. Ivory guessed being stuck in an office would be boring.
The trials themselves would test one's physical and mental states to see how well they'd do. Ivory nodded with better understanding before Smiles continued on about the conferences. Conferences were only held once a month. During a conference, people would be complaining about contracts, rank failing and fighting amongst themselves. "I see."
Smiling like he always did, Ivory guessed Smiles was the sort to enjoy people fighting amongst themselves. Well, whatever made him happy. She never saw him when he was unhappy. Quite frankly, Ivory never wanted to see him when he wasn't happy. There was something in the back of her mind that told her that he wouldn't be pleasant to see when he was angry with someone. Hopefully she would never anger him. Ivory never wanted to make him angry. In fact, she didn't want to make anyone out of the committee angry. It would be a hassle to have to fight with someone constantly in order to stay alive.
As Smiles stood up,he mentioned the simulation room. Well, that certainly hadn't taken him very long. At least she got to tour the place, eat and converse for a bit before jumping into training once again. "Alright, sure!" she replied, following him out the door.
'Wonder what else he's going to put me through training wise?'she wondered to herself as they walked. Where she knew his training sessions were often tough and hard on her, they helped her prevail in the end. Ivory was inwardly cautious about the thought of training but would also bare with it. Still, she couldn't help but feel curious as to how it looked in the training room. Smiles did mention it being a simulation training room. Did it mean what she thought it meant? It would be stupid of her to ask but she had never before experienced a place so high in technology. She couldn't help but feel curious and somewhat eager to see what it would show her.
"So, this simulation room...it'll put us in a situation where we think we're someplace being attacked by things?" she questioned him.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 23, 2012 13:52:52 GMT -5
Smiling, Smiles laughed. "Something like that." There was much more to the stimulation training room. It was hard to describe it in words to Ivory. She would just have to see for herself.
Continuing back to the staircase, Smiles walked back down to the center of the first staircase yet again. This time though he looked down. When he did all of the other staricases in front of them began to move like rising bridges. They all rose so that they were standing straight up. The sound of a wheel turning could be heard from the vast darkness below them as another staircase rose from the ground.
This one though, when connected, went down. They were headed for the basement. Smiles took the lead, smiling all the while. As they walked down the stairs into the darkness, their way was lit by lit tourches on the wall. It took a few minutes before they finally were able to spot the ground. The staircase led to a single door.
Coming to a stop at that door he put his hand on the handle. "The moment we step through this door the stimulation will end. You must understand that the first person who goes through this room sets up the stimulation. Only they can end it. The person who sets up the stimulation is the only one who can see the door to the outside. Only when they walk through the door will the stimulation end. Anything you experience here, you must treat as real. For even though it is not, your body and mind will react to it as if it is."
Clarifying how serious the situation was, Smiles made sure Ivory was ready then walked through the door. As soon as Ivory followed she would find herself in an entirely different place.
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Post by Sprow on Mar 24, 2012 3:18:37 GMT -5
Ivory blinked as Smiles laughed at what she said. It was something like that. So, what more was there to the simulation room? She would have to find out as she followed Smiles all the way to the staircases again. Once they got to the middle of the first, Smiles looked down instead of up at anywhere. When he did so, all of the stairs seemed to turn and all point upwards completely straight. Just like rising bridges.
As they did so, the sound of something turning below could be heard. Looking downward, Ivory saw another staircase rising from the floor! A dark void seemed to have opened below them and another staircase was coming up to meet the very one they were standing upon. Apparently, the training room had to be somewhere in the depths of the basement. When the new staircase that had risen to meet their's had connected, it was clear to Ivory that the only way they could go now was downward.
Smiles taking the lead, as always, Ivory followed him. "Wow, didn't think the stairs could do even this!" she stated as she climbed down the steps behind him. She took note of the torches lighting beside the stairs on either side to light their path as they went.
The trip down the stairs took a few minutes before they were finally able to see the bottom. The staircase lead to a single door. When they walked over to it, Smiles paused as he set his hand on the doorknob of it. Ivory blinked as he spoke to her. Once they stepped inside, the simulation would begin. Since Smiles was the one who looked as if he would be stepping through first, it would be most likely he who would see the exit out of it. She took care to keep in mind that what she were about to see should be treated as realistic since her mind and body would react to it as such. This simulation thing sounded more dangerous than she had thought.
'Why am I always surprised? I should be expecting something like this by now!'she thought, mentally scolding herself. She looked back at Smiles and braced herself. Once again, she would be thrown out into the unknown. How would she fare now? Ivory could only wonder but she was as ready as she'll ever be.
"Alright, I'm ready." With that, without even a word, Smiles turned and headed inside. Taking in a deep breath, Ivory followed him inside and gave pause at where she just found herself. Compared to where they had been last, this wasn't anything she had been expecting.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 25, 2012 1:48:29 GMT -5
Once Smiles was sure she realized the seriousness of the situation, it was time to head through the door. He would walk through first, and that was exactly what he did. Opening the door, a bright white pierced his eyes. He stepped through the door way. And when he did, he found himself in a different place.
He was in a cellar, just as he had wanted. Chained to the wall were three individuals. When Ivory walked through the door, this is what she would see. Smiles wasn't so interested in the cellar, which was more like a jail cell then a cellar, but in the chained individuals. The first was a younger man, dress in rags and stank something terrible. His body was starved and he looked near death.
The second person chained was a middle aged man. This man was dressed in a business suit, and despite being chained, he looked the best off. He was buff with combed black hair and worn an absolute scorn. He was a fighter, it was obvious. Looking at Smiles, he tried to rip out of the chains that held him to the wall. Of course he failed, but he tried his hardest.
Finally there was an elderly woman. She was indeed old, had to have been at least in her eighties. With gray hair and a frail body, she seemed in the same condition as the younger man. However their was wisdom in her eyes, and she was not so willing of her accepted fate as the first.
Waiting for Ivory to enter the room, Smiles glanced over to a table where a single sword lay rested on it. Once she entered he would describe what had to happen.
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Post by Sprow on Mar 26, 2012 1:55:53 GMT -5
Ivory looked all around at the area they had just gone into. A bright light had pierced her eyes, causing her to shield them as she followed Smiles. When the light went away, she blinked around at their new surroundings. There was a single table with a sword on its surface. Nearby, there were three prisoners clasped in chains. Ivory peered at them curiously. Was this a test of some kind within this training area? Why did it look like an execution would be taking place here?
Smiles seemed to be quite interested in the chained individuals. The place looked like a cellar but had a prison set up where these individuals were chained. Not really sure what this training session would be, Ivory wandered over next to Smiles and looked back at the other individuals not really sure what was going to happen here.
As she stood there, she examined them each. One looked to be a young man of sorts. The odor that came off of him was rather foul and Ivory tried to not let her nostrils flare in distaste. It really was a putrid smell. If she could describe it in a single word, he smelled of death. His over all appearance suggested that he was at death's door already.
Her eyes then turned toward the man that had suddenly fought with his chains. The look in his eyes was of pure hate. He seemed in far better shape than the younger man next to him. The way his eyes were, Ivory could see a similarity between him and how her brother's eyes looked. Darius was a fighter when it came down to it. He was always the stronger of the twins where Ivory was the milder one.
The last one was an elderly woman and where she wasn't as feisty as the middle aged man, there was a wisdom in her eyes and a look on her face as though she wouldn't be accepting death any time soon.
"What're we doing here, sir?" she questioned Smiles as she took her eyes off of the three prisoners.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 26, 2012 15:07:11 GMT -5
Smiles was pleased with this set up. It was exactly the thing he wanted. This was not a physical training exercise. It was a mental one, and one crucial to the mind of an assassin. He examined the youngest boy yet again. To Ivory he turned, and told her his story.
"This is Charles. He was born in a world of poverty. He is twelve years old, and from the age of five has never had a full stomach. He lives day to day, with a family of four. His mother is sickly, both mental and physical. He can do nothing for the family. His two younger siblings are too young to help with the gathering of food. They live in the slums of a city and his is the provider. He was arrested for stealing and has been condemned to death."
Pausing he turned to the middle aged man. He took a step closer to him, and immediately the man launched forward in attempts to attack him. "This man is Donald. He comes from the same city and has been born into a life of luxury. He inherited his father business and his father's criminal activity as well. He was caught not paying taxes and depriving the city of millions of dollars that would have helped feed the hungry and clothe the poor."
Finally, he went over to the oldest woman. She just stared at him with those self determined eyes. "Agatha is in her eighties. She has had a long life, worked as a baker, raised her children and has lived her life to the fullest. However she is deathly ill. She has a sickness that will kill her very soon. She is determined to live, but its only a matter of time before she dies. And her condition will only worsen."
Turning back to Ivory, a smile crossed his face. "Choose two to kill. One to save." He waited for her answer.
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Post by Sprow on Mar 27, 2012 3:20:37 GMT -5
(OOC: Sorry if it's a bit rushed, had some issues.) Ivory really didn't like the looks of this situation right now. Where it was fake, there was no telling if these were actually people or not. After all, Smiles did say everything in here would appear to be real and should be treated as such since her mind and body would believe it were. Smiles examined the younger boy before turning to speak to her. As he did so, he explained the boy's background story.
The boy was poor and was apparently caught for stealing. Due the that, he was condemned to die for it. Ivory felt sympathetic towards his predicament but the child smelled of death. He probably wouldn't last much longer on his own. Next was the middle aged man. As Smiles walked up to him a bit more, the man tried to attack him from where he was. Of course, being chained, he hadn't any real chance to do anything.
He was a man that was pretty much filthy rich. What crimes he committed other than skipping out on taxes was another matter entirely. Next was the elderly woman. Where her gaze was determined to not die, she heard the mention that the woman would be dying anyways from a serious illness.
When he was finished explaining to her who was who, Smiles simply turned to her and told her what to do. She was to kill two of the three and save one. Ivory couldn't help but look back at him uncertainly. Well, she had killed people before, this shouldn't be all that different but the mental strain this had would be taxing. Nodding, she headed for the table and carefully picked up the sword.
Once she did, Ivory thought carefully about who to kill. It was a terrible thing to be thinking but it had to be done. The thought made her hand shake a little. 'Get a hold of yourself!' she mentally told herself, her back still turned to Smiles. Who should die first? It was a curious thing. On one hand, she already knew one of them that she would kill justice wise. There was no telling what that middle aged man did crime wise. On the other, the fact she had to kill two people bothered her. Then again, killing the elderly woman would be putting her out of her misery. Even if she saved the youth, there was a chance he would die right after anyways since he looked to be on death's door already. Either of those two could be put out of their misery pretty much.
Breathing in deeply and silently, Ivory turned with the sword in hand towards the three prisoners. When she came right up to them, Ivory did her best to not look any of them in the eyes. Lifting the sword into the air, she let it move in a single, swift motion. At least the death would be swift and clean. None of those she chose to kill would suffer. Letting it move once more, she beheaded the next one. When she was done, Ivory placed the sword point down on the floor, holding it up by the hilt.
Ivory had killed the middle aged man and the old lady. With a quick glance, Ivory could see they were dead. "One for justice...and one for mercy." She was struggling to keep her mind from breaking. 'This isn't real! Feels real but it's not!' she thought. Still, she had to wonder if she even made the right choice. The old one lived long enough and would've died anyways as Smiles had said. The middle aged one looked healthy enough but there was no telling what crimes he committed. On the side of justice, she wouldn't allow him to kill more people if he did or who knows what else.
The child though, she had to wonder if he would even last. He still appeared to be on death's door. It were almost as if she could see the Grim Reaper standing over him already. Well, she at least did what she did. Even if it wasn't real, it made her feel horrible but she had killed before. Where she felt regret, she had blood on her hands from before. The only way she could repent and keep herself sane was try to not be sadistic and enjoy the killing. Only then would she lose herself. It was but a step though in the direction of the assassin life. In time, Ivory may or may not be the same person.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 27, 2012 21:59:44 GMT -5
Smiles watched Ivory pick up the blade and make her choice. He was a bit surprised by her choice. But it did not show on his face. The way he had presented everything, most people would have killed the oldest and the youngest. Mostly because their death was unavoidable. Whatever the middle aged man's crime was, they trusted he would get what was deserved. But it did not matter who actually Ivory picked.
Another small surprise for Smiles was that she had made her decision and acted so quickly. He had wondered if she would question the killings? Would she hesitate? Would she ask permission to kill? She did none of these. "Makes this training easier. Seems were ahead of where I thought we might be."[/i]
An assassin had to fulfill a contract regardless of who the person might have been. They did not have a choice in the matter. To prove this point, Smiles spoke up once more. "You are contracted to kill this boy. You know his history. Now I tell you, if he were to live past this experience he will discover that his family has found a diamond. That diamond will save not only his life, but his families. Your contractor wants that diamond. Kill the boy and you have it."
Contracts weren't fair. An assassin had to set aside their own feelings and kill without regard. They had to move by instinct, and yet keep in mind all the key concepts of what it takes to be an assassin. Secrecy, stealth, and a complete finish that satisfies the contract. But those were for another day. Now, he waited to see what Ivory would do.
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Post by Sprow on Mar 27, 2012 23:05:43 GMT -5
Ivory had made her choices on what she believed in rather than how things looked. Sure, the child looked like he would be dying soon anyway, but she did what she did. The middle aged man, she punished him for whatever crimes he committed despite the fact he had been healthy. Sure, she didn't know what they were but there wouldn't be any problems coming from him anymore. As for the elderly lady, where she was determined to live, it was a mercy killing. If one were to make comparisons, it were like putting a sickly dog or cat to sleep.
As for why she acted so quickly, she figured the swifter she did it, the better. It was less stressful for her to just hang on to the sword like she did and look at the would-be-victims longer. Now that she had gotten it out of the way, it was less frightening. That didn't mean it didn't bother her though. In fact, she was shocked how quickly and easily she had done it. Her hand didn't even falter or shake. Now that this had been going through her mind, Ivory did start trembling a bit. If one were to take a closer look at her, they'd notice how her limbs seemed to shake slightly.
She wasn't aware that she had surprised Smiles in the decisions she had made. All she knew was that she had to keep pressing forward now. Once it was done, she could think back on all of this later. She didn't allow herself to think too heavily on it despite feeling horrible for doing what she did. 'At least it was quick and painless!' she thought to herself.
Next came the second phase of the training. Smiles' voice pulling her out of her mental torment, she barely registered what he was telling her. Apparently, she had a contract with someone. The person that made the contract wanted the diamond that the poor boy's family had found. It would be enough to save their lives should she allow them to keep it and disobey the contractor. It was then that the mental struggle really began. Not that it hadn't happened before with the previous two.
'So all along, he was going to have me kill the survivor?' she wondered. Looking over the very weak and most likely dying boy, Ivory raised the sword. As she did so, she couldn't help but hesitate for a moment. It was against her morals but she had killed many before him. She killed a group of people to prove that she could and in order to remain alive. Ivory had also killed a keyblade warrior too. Something like this shouldn't be any different compared to those situations. Still, she had hesitated every time. Where she had gotten through the first phase without too much trouble,it was hitting her hard now.
'You can do this...it's not fair but...life's not fair,' she reminded herself. If life had been fair, she would've found her twin brother. With everything that had been going on, it looked bleak for her to remain the same as before. Why hadn't Darius found her? Had he given up? He promised her though!
Shaking her head a bit to rid her of these thoughts, Ivory forced herself to finally bring the blade swinging in a downward arc that would lift upwards once she cut the boy's head clean off. When that had been accomplished, Ivory's hands really shook. In fact, her shaking was so bad, she feared that she was about to drop the sword. Doing her best to steady herself, Ivory lowered the weapon so the tip could rest on the ground again. As she did so, her hands still shook as she leaned on the sword's hilt to stabilize herself but it was a bit difficult. Her breathing, she did her best to calm by forcing herself to breathe slowly. Once she managed that, her heart stopped pounding and her body started obeying her again. Although, her limbs still shook slightly.
"I-It's...done?"
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Post by Deleted on Mar 29, 2012 2:37:42 GMT -5
Smiles watched the third death. Ivory's response this time was much more predicted. Believe it or not their was a lesson in all of this. Smiles was one of the few people who was not bothered at all by the death of a person. That was what made him a great assassin. Even the other members of the organization could not take certain contracts.
Take Bullseye for example. Since each member was allowed to take their own contracts for the most part, Bullseye would never take one that dealt with a child. She viewed children as innocent, and so would not take their life. Smiles knew a lot more about the members of the committee then he let on.
However killing someone such as this meant nothing to Smiles. Why should he care if they lived or die. He was much more interested in the outcomes of what might happen with the death? Death brought so many different scenarios into play. It affected everyone different.
When Ivory dealt the killing blow, Smiles noticed her shaking hands. The sword was pointed towards the ground, its tip resting against the earth. Doing something very human, Smiles stepped behind Ivory and placed his hands on top of hers. Holding the shaking still he spoke in a more soothing manner, in attempt to calm her nerves.
"It is not for the assassin to morally judge the righteousness of death. We are given a contract, and it is our job to fulfill it. No matter what this teen was condemned to die. If there is no contract with us, then it will be with another. Better for us to deal the hand of death, then a man who finds joy in killing and torture."
Letting go of her hands, Smiles placed his hands on Ivory's shoulders and turned her around. Looking in her eyes he continued, "Remember what I told you Ivory. The universe has ways of righting itself out. You are not a killer. You are an assassin now. A hand of death, but not a murder. You must not hesitate."
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Post by Sprow on Mar 29, 2012 3:40:57 GMT -5
Ivory really wished that she would stop trembling. Her limbs just wouldn't stop even though her heart rate was normal once again. Her blood was still trying to even out due to her previously rapidly beating heart. That was why her limbs still trembled despite her trying to fight to stabilize them. She probably looked pathetic but she really couldn't help it. Her body was just acting of its own accord.
'Stop trembling!' she mentally scolded herself but it was to no avail. As she fought with herself, she didn't yet notice the fact Smiles had walked right up behind her. She was so busy struggling to get a grip on herself that she almost leapt out of her skin when quite suddenly, someone reached from behind and placed their hands over her's. It was so sudden, her previous thoughts of trying to calm herself had abruptly ceased.
Blinking a few moments, she heard Smiles' voice. His tone was surprisingly soothing as he spoke to her. It was obvious that he was trying to help calm her nerves. He must've known what it had been like for her since he was far more experienced than she was at this assassin business. Maybe, a time long before this, that he too once experienced this kind of reaction?
Ivory allowed herself to focus on Smiles' voice as he spoke. He was talking about how they shouldn't focus on the righteousness of things and that they had a contract to follow. Where if she chose to not kill the boy, another would've done it and Smiles even went as far as hinting that someone worse could've done it. One that enjoyed to torture the boy to death rather than what she had done. Now that he had put it that way, no matter how she looked at it, Smiles was right. That still didn't make her feel any better about murdering the kid.
As if sensing this, Smiles removed his hands from her's only to grip her shoulders next and turn her around. Her nerves finally getting a hold of themselves, Ivory felt her trembling finally ebb away as she could do nothing but look back into Smiles's always wide open blue eyes. The words he spoke, it was clear that he understood what made her hesitant. Ivory had felt horrible because she felt like a murderer. He was telling her again that she wasn't one but an assassin now. She might be a hand of death but that didn't make her a murderer. Ivory shouldn't hesitate and it looked like he was trying to instill that importance that she shouldn't by making it sound urgent in keeping direct eye contact with her.
There was a moment of silence between them as Ivory absorbed the words Smiles spoke, him allowing them time to sink in. It was clear that she was taking his words into account and processing what he had just said to her. 'He's right...I'm not killing people for the fun of it or for ill intent,' she thought, allowing her eyes to stray toward the side. It was a habit of her's since making direct eye contact with others for a period of time felt a bit awkward for her due to her introverted nature. Letting herself mull it over in her mind, she slowly nodded her head.
Looking back over at Smiles, making eye contact with him again, she nodded again. "Yeah...I'll remember it. I'm...sorry." she apologized for having reacted the way she did. It was probably difficult on his part to be training her and for her to go and react like this. She was wasting his time for not coming to terms with what she was now and probably made it a little more troublesome for him. Still, he always seemed to have a patience with her...no, with almost everything, that sometimes she wondered if there ever was anything that bothered him. After having spoken, Ivory no longer shook as she looked back at Smiles. Now if anything, she felt ashamed for having reacted the way she did.
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