Pandaemonium
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Post by Limen on Jul 29, 2016 19:49:28 GMT -7
Finding him was easy. He wasn’t at the dojo - she’d checked there first - so the next place to look was the docks. Somewhere abandoned, maybe with some probably undeserving people to vent rage on. She’d brought a first aid kit just in case said undeserving person was a Pandaemonium super who had extraordinarily poor luck this evening. Her motorcycle tires crunched on glass as she pulled into the old parking lot, once a day home to factory workers' cars and delivery trucks, now littered with trash and weeds. The crashing of either rodents of a very large variety or of someone or some people neglecting to use words had drawn her here from the narrow alleyways she’d been crawling this evening. She couldn’t be sure it was Gil - she’d already walked into three separate and unrelated to the non-super occasions. Kicked down the door, got a cursory glance by the dozen or so people having a debate with guns, fists, or on one of the three, superpowers, and then was either ignored or shot at. Limen wasn’t sure where exactly the indeterminant crashing was coming from; the ventilation system, for all she knew, but she figured the front door was as good a place to start as any. She propped her motorcycle up in one of the “reserved” spots and walked up to what used to be the central loading door for the main of the factory. It was a good bit larger than her, but it was also a good bit older, rustier, and made of wood. She gave it a hard kick. The final hinge snapped, and the door gave its last. It fell in sad splinters and a puff of dust to the ground. Lowering her foot, Limen drew in a deep breath. “Yo! Gil!” She yelled into the factory. Her words joined the echoing of the door’s fall. Gilgamesh |
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It's a brand new me, I got no remorse
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Post by Gilgamesh on Jul 29, 2016 20:36:56 GMT -7
When she kicked in the door she'd find Gilgamesh almost instantly. He wasn't hiding at all. She wouldn't be able to see the sweat dripping down his face, but his hair was certainly damp from perspiration hinting at just how long he'd been here. And what was he doing here? At the moment the focus of his attention was a large piece of machinery that had long stopped functioning before even Gilgamesh had gotten here.
His hood had fallen off long ago and the gloves were becoming worn and torn as they slammed into the dented and fractured metal time and time again. Each time the steel cracked and bent at it's strongest. At it's weakest his fists punched right though it, the jagged edges of the rusted metal slicing up his gloves and arms. But he didn't care. He welcomed any pain, and despised the metal for not being strong enough to withstand his fury.
He was burning inside, his stomach twisted into knots and his heart so tight that he felt it was preparing to explode outward. He knew the wooden punching posts at home would do nothing for him, and he had thought factory equipment would have been more suitable. But these long dead tools of creation were no match for the destruction that surged through his veins like a poison. The fire in his blood boiling him alive. He wanted to get it out, to vent it in some way. But everything was to god damn weak!
Especially himself.
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Pandaemonium
Posts 278
Power Level 25
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Post by Limen on Jul 29, 2016 22:19:46 GMT -7
Messy mop of near-sentient blond hair spotted. Limen sucked in a second deep breath and, steeling herself, strode towards him. Victim found as well; thankfully, she would not be needing the first aid kit. A good half of her had expected to find Gil in the center of a pool of blood. A small part of her was pleased, not in that he’d chosen to attack the machine and not the man, nor for Gil’s sake, but mostly for the other supers of Pandaemonium. She hated to think what would’ve happened to her if her first encounter with Gil had been on a night like tonight.
Her initial steps into the factory were purposeful and wide, but as she neared Gil, they became more loose and wandering. She meandered off around his side, into the open floor of the factory about twenty feet to his left, and gazed upwards, watching the dust dance in the moonlight cracking through the broken ceiling. Ultimately, though, she made her way over to the hunk of equipment Gil was pounding away on.
Limen hoisted herself up onto the modern metal sculpture she’d decided she was going to call Roger. The once testament to human creation was, on the other side, little more than shrapnel, but this side’s bars and levers was still whole enough to support her weight, groan as they might as she climbed them. She came to sit atop one of the higher arms of the machine, her legs about six feet off the ground. Her back was to Gilgamesh.
“Tell me about Giovanni.” She hummed. No point in being subtle.
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It's a brand new me, I got no remorse
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Post by Gilgamesh on Jul 29, 2016 22:28:32 GMT -7
It was wise that she chose to give him a wide berth rather than approach him head on. That would have likely ended in him giving something that can dodge a chance to work out his rage. And he'd get to make good on his word earlier than he'd ever intended. But she'd chosen wisely, and he'd just keep slamming fist after fist into the machine.
He just grunted at her question. Hitting the machine harder at hearing Giovanni's name causing the whole machine to shake and threaten to tip over with her still perched atop it. He wasn't in the most talkative of moods, the man was dead. There was nothing to talk about. Nothing to change. Nothing to gain by looking backward. He needed to keep his eyes forward, push himself harder for the next challenge. And the challenge after that. And the one after that.
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Pandaemonium
Posts 278
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Post by Limen on Jul 29, 2016 22:43:58 GMT -7
She grabbed the edge of the arm when the mechanical robot threatened to fall. She had hoped for an answer but she hadn’t really expected one. Gil, she had found, was the punch it don’t say it type. Sadly, she was not a mind reader, and if she was going to do anything about, well, this, as was her duty to attempt, she needed more than just the guy’s name and a grunt.
She jumped from the edge of the machine, landing softly on the ground below. She swung back around to Gil’s right, over by the conveyor belts that led what used to be built here to the thing that used to build them, her step wide and dance-like. She pulled off her bow and quiver and set them against a wooden support beam. Continuing forward, she stopped in a patch of moonlight perhaps two yards from Gil, and came to a crouch, resting her chin on her hand.
“Gil. Giovanni is dead. Why are you letting him affect you like this?” Her words were mildly blaming, and she let a bit of that come through in her voice. Had Gil been in more conversations with her, he may have called her out on her hypocrisy; Limen was well aware that the dead could have extraordinary impact on the living, and truly she believed there was nothing wrong with that. It was something people had to deal with. But she knew if she just asked him, it was unlikely he was going to tell her what she needed.
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Post by Gilgamesh on Jul 30, 2016 19:16:36 GMT -7
"Exactly."
He was dead and nothing would change that. There was no way to go back and do things differently. He had waited to long. He'd put it off to much. Stuck in his own head, looking for ways to put it off because he didn't want to face it. And by the time he'd forced himself to just do it. It was too late. He had no one to blame but himself. It was his fault that his kill was taken from him. He had no one but himself to blame for the fact that he would never be able to keep that promise. That he would never be able to avenge his Father.
"It isn't. I'm moving forward."
If he couldn't kill Giovanni then he'd strike at his allies. All of them until he was swimming in a sea of their blood. The mafia would be ripped apart. The Bulwark who had a representative there would be ground to dust. Valkyrie would be ripped apart limb from limb. The creator's of that robot would be blown away. And the police would be eviscerated. Everyone that stood between him and justice would suffer.
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Pandaemonium
Posts 278
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Post by Limen on Jul 30, 2016 19:46:15 GMT -7
“Uh huh.” She sounded entirely unconvinced. “This here is totally ‘not affected’ Gil. If it wasn’t bothering you, you wouldn’t be here. You’d be back at the dojo or wandering around the horde, doing as you normally do. So either I’m more crazy than I thought and I’ve missed this whole beating up machinery is normal thing, or Giovanni’s death is bothering you.”
She shifted her weight to her other leg and moved her chin onto her other hand. “You should probably tell the machine why you’re doing this to it. How long have you been here? If you’re trying to move forward, talking about it - or yelling, that works too - will make it go faster.”
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It's a brand new me, I got no remorse
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Post by Gilgamesh on Jul 30, 2016 19:57:43 GMT -7
"This is what I do. Conditioning my body into a weapon."
He was way past wood by now anyways. And the thugs around the docks hadn't been a challenge for quite some time. More than one Super had pointed that out while trying to get under his skin. Well, maybe they were right. Maybe it was time to take it out of the docks. Maybe that would draw them out of their little hiding places.
"I am moving forward. Tomorrow is the next step."
The police were the easiest and most available target. He couldn't tell a clean cop from a dirty cop. But they were all dirty by association. So they'd all have to die just to make sure.
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Pandaemonium
Posts 278
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Post by Limen on Jul 30, 2016 20:13:25 GMT -7
Limen sighed. This wasn’t working, just as spouting words out at him hardly ever worked. Of course the failed tactic wasn’t going to succeed now. “I’ll be blunt.” She began, swinging back up to her feet. “You don’t have to do this alone anymore, you know.”
Her footsteps were light, nothing compared to the sound of him hitting metal. It only took a couple for her to round around behind him. About three feet behind him, she spun so her back faced him and she looked out through the door she’d kicked down.
She took a breath and crossed her arms in front of her chest. Her backward steps were small, and her voice had quieted so that it cracked.
“If you want my help,” she stopped, knowing she was directly behind Gilgamesh. She let her balance shift, and her back lean into his. “Just ask.”
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It's a brand new me, I got no remorse
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Post by Gilgamesh on Jul 30, 2016 20:27:23 GMT -7
His gloves creaked in protest as his fists clenched tighter as she moved directly behind him. It took concentrated willpower to not just send an elbow into the back of her skull. Just to have the sensation of causing pain. To hear the sound of bone cracking. It was something that he knew. Something that he could use to ground himself in the moment. She was trying to help, he understood that. He understood the offer and what she meant by it. Why she was here. But he didn't need her help. And he didn't need her. He didn't need anyone by himself.
That was the big secret of life that no one ever told you. That you were alone. People came and went. Help was fleeting and friendships fragile. But the strength one carved out for one's self was lasting. If you could count on yourself then you'd never need to worry about fickle friendships and bonds breaking when you need them most. When you were alone you could never be abandoned.
He didn't say anything when she leaned against his back, offering her help once more. He'd just take a slow, deep breath. Trembling with rage and something that he couldn't quite put his finger on. Something that he didn't care to dwell on with the rage flaring up inside of him. It was far easier to think about what to do next. To focus on the blood lust and the words in his head and heart that reminded him that he was better off alone. That when he had been alone things had been better. That he hadn't been this soft, this weak. The doubts cropping up in his heart were given weight by Valkyrie's recent victory over him.
Just what has being nice ever gotten him? Where had mercy ever served him well? Problems that were dealt with using the brutality and finality of death could not crop up again and the heart was free to no longer dwell on them. The mind free to move forward, looking ever toward the future.
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Pandaemonium
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Post by Limen on Jul 30, 2016 20:44:57 GMT -7
She didn’t say anything. Her impression of the worst outcome - him spinning around and kicking her, knocking her with his elbow, or backwards headbutting her hadn’t happened, and so she didn’t move either. She simply remained, weight shifted backwards from the heels of her feet, her back against his. Her eyes were upwards, at the broken ceiling and the clouds that were beginning to drift in from the ocean.
She’d said everything she needed to say, and so she said nothing more. Gil’s shutter of anger - what else could it be - was little deterrent to get her to leave. Indeed, she wasn’t going anywhere unless he was going to make her or he himself moved.
If he wanted to talk, he would. If he didn’t, there was little she could do about that. This, just being here, she guessed, was the best she could do for someone she had to help. She knew there was nothing worse than being alone.
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It's a brand new me, I got no remorse
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Post by Gilgamesh on Jul 30, 2016 21:13:55 GMT -7
He stayed there motionless with her weight pressing against him. His fists remaining clenched as tightly as they could. The leather creaking and groaning in protest as his brows furrowed as he glared at the machines. Useless wreckage that wasn't even able to fulfill the purpose that he needed it to. Nothing he needed ever measured up. Everything bent and shattered before he was done with it. His own attitude had softened to unacceptable levels. Fear and sympathy had held too much sway over him. He had survived a Dragon. He had nothing to fear in this world.
Harden your heart, you fool.
He'd been too merciful since he returned to Emerald City. Limen was a case in point. If he had finished her off he'd be alone right now without someone trying to pry where they didn't belong. If he had gone after Giovanni earlier he wouldn't be in this position. If he didn't waste his time cleaning up the slums and docks of those that were unworthy then he would have been testing himself against bigger challenges. He'd be stronger. So much had been a waste of time, so much effort for nothing. Pointless distractions. Strength was the only thing that mattered in this world. Everything else was just a delusion for the weak. And he was tired of being weak.
It was time to put aside his mercy.
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Pandaemonium
Posts 278
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Post by Limen on Jul 30, 2016 21:34:04 GMT -7
He didn’t move, let alone speak. It felt odd to Limen, for him to be like this. To let her do this. It made her happy that he hadn’t automatically responded to her with violence. Whether it was trust shown to her or simply laziness on his part, she didn’t care. She was happy to let some time of silence like this pass.
She hadn’t realized it when she’d come, but she had something to say to him.
“Gilgamesh, I consider you my kin. I will do just about anything for you, you know that right?” Limen sighed, wondering where she had been taking this. “I ran from my last kin after…” She paused. Talking was normally easy, but words were escaping her. “I should’ve left this city already. It’s been three months now and people are starting to figure me out. But since the dragon attack, I’ve decided I’m not going to run again. So,” did she even have a point? “Guess you’re going to be stuck with me. Sorry.”
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It's a brand new me, I got no remorse
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Post by Gilgamesh on Jul 31, 2016 16:21:20 GMT -7
That was exactly the last thing that he wanted to hear. He didn't need kin. He didn't need friends. And he didn't need someone staying for him. He didn't need or want that tying him down. What Gilgamesh needed was to free himself of the chains that had managed to wrap around him. Everything that was stunting his growth, keeping him from giving it all. Childish and foolish things, Alex and his second life. Friendships, and this little makeshift family. All of it was pointless.
Alex died a long time ago, and so did his family. And he saw now that the dead should stay dead, there was nothing to be gained by bringing them back or pretending like it could ever be undone. With a cry of rage he slammed a fist harder into the machine. The machine creaked and groaned as it shifted and slowly at first began to tip before it collapsed under it's own weight. The damage done to it too extensive, the force of the final blow too much to keep it standing.
He'd whip around with a snarl, his elbow poised to slam into the side of Limen's head if she wasn't quick on her feet. She was too close to him, and he wasn't going to let her tie another chain to him. He was going to cut them right here and now. The time for the Warrior King to be fettered had concluded. Now it was time he was unleashed.
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Pandaemonium
Posts 278
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Post by Limen on Aug 1, 2016 21:46:31 GMT -7
The shifting muscle was a little too fast and a little too directed to be anything besides an attack. Limen let her legs give, dropping down into a ball hardly an instant before Gil’s elbow whizzed over her head. She felt the force whip through her hair. He’d gotten faster than last time.
How much faster, she wasn’t going to stay there to figure out. She rolled forward and away, jumping to her feet and taking several trotting steps backwards. She slipped on one of her brass knuckles from her pockets and messed with her sleeve for a moment longer to make sure everything was in place. If this was going to turn into a fight, Gil was not an opponent she could afford not to prepare against. She watched his movements closely.
Her smile was uneasy. “A heart to heart and you try to take off my head. Thanks, Gil.”
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