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Post by Gilgamesh on Jul 5, 2016 20:53:12 GMT -7
By the time she would make it to the roof Gilgamesh was already in position. Both of his legs tucked under him as he sat on his knees, his head bowed down as he faced the water. Hands pressed together and resting in his lap. One might almost think he was praying, if they believed he was the type. He'd make no greeting or physical change to his posture to acknowledge the fact that she had not only managed to follow him up here. But decided it was a worthwhile use of her time.
Of course she did though. Why wouldn't she? She'd already followed him this far, though with luck she would quickly tire of him doing nothing. He couldn't imagine watching him meditate would be terribly interesting. This was his gambit.
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Post by Awenydd on Jul 5, 2016 20:58:49 GMT -7
Awenydd figured he wasn't praying; she knew first hand what one of the more common positions for meditation were, and she knew better than to disrupt someone doing so. Not forcefully, anyway. That was beyond rude. Instead, she paused where she was, taking note of the things she'd first noticed about him. After a moment, she pulled herself awya from the edge of the rooftop before she made a complete fool of herself, folding her body into a cross legged position as she studied him with her chin resting in her palm.
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Post by Gilgamesh on Jul 5, 2016 21:09:27 GMT -7
He he noticed her (which he did), he made no motion of it. He seemed to be completely engrossed in what he was doing. Eyes closed and breathing slow and rhythmic he cleared his mind of the millions of thoughts buzzing around it. For him he envisioned himself inside of a void darker than the blackest night. However no darkness could exist without some light, and that light was nothing but a small flickering speck. The small flame of a candle.
Into that candle's flame he poured his doubts, his distaste for his growth situation. His curiosity about his Master's whereabouts. His annoyance at this woman following him, staring at him. His concern over Limen and her progress, or lack there of. His unease at being in a position to teach, where other people were depending on him. He'd never had anyone depend on him like that before. His Master didn't need him, he could fend for himself. And he certainly didn't have to worry about helping his family. For almost as long as he could remember it had been just him.
And he liked it that way. He knew it, it was comfortable, it felt natural. It was his place in the world. To stand apart from it. Opposed to it. The world was his proving ground with his path laid out before him. Running headlong to the inevitable death. The flame grew with each emotion and doubt poured into it. It fed off of his fear, his doubt, his uncertainty. Nearly roaring with the fuel as he considered which death would be better. His, or his savior's. But one would die at the other's hand. Fate had put him on this path and borrowed time must be returned or stolen forever.
The inferno within thrummed with power, his safe black void burning with inner heat and fire. The light blazing so brightly that he could only see white behind closed eyes. The shadows loomed, but always out of sight. He could not allow himself to dwell on such questions. His Master would beat the sense back into him if he was here, he'd remind him that there were no heroes. Just people, and the weak were crushed by the strong. It was the natural order of things, and all of them were part of that indisputable order. It was not the job of the strong to pity the weak, it was their job to climb to the top of the chain. The duty of every apex predator, every force of nature, every warrior. He could not allow himself to be satisfied. Not with his strength, not with this life, and not with these challenges.
He needed more...
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Post by Awenydd on Jul 5, 2016 21:16:31 GMT -7
Nothing. Awenydd found she was okay with that, her gaze going unfocused until she closed her eyes for a moment and drew a deep breath. This was not what she had expected of tonight. Maybe she hadn't expected anything so much as embraced the notion that she might. When she opened her eyes, he was still there, and the tension drew back into her shoulders on instinct as she tried to prepare for an attack that wasn't happening. It didn't even have to do with Gilgamesh himself, though his reputation did nothing to help with that. Perhaps that was why she had sought him out? For information, or morbid curiosity? For a moment, he had worn a different face, hooded but slighter, and there was no sound from him other than a grunt of disapproval. Whether it was for her or those he had taken down, or even both, it didn't matter. Truth was, no one expected anything from her as a super. She'd hung up the hood and mask, but taking it up again was new. It felt like a skin she had discarded long ago, patching it back together in a haphazard way that made it feel like it wasn't even hers anymore. Not even the same mask, but a stage prop, one that she would be sure to throw away after tonight. It just didn't feel right. It didn't feel like her. Maybe it wasn't. She pulled the guitar from her back and began playing, quiet chords that contrasted her usual heavy melodies laden with anger and burning energy. She didn't feel like she was alive, nor burning with the passion she typically felt. Instead, she sought expression, a way to pour her thoughts into the world in a way that required sound and the familiarity of repeated motion rather than stillness. |
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Post by Gilgamesh on Jul 5, 2016 23:56:05 GMT -7
The noise didn't really bug him. He was used to tuning out far more than someone playing a song. Especially when they were clearly making an effort to play it quietly. It was far less jarring than gun shots in the distance, car alarms, or the sounds of barges pulling into port. There was something about it that tugged at a heart string that had yet to be severed. Slowly he opened his left eye, and then his right. Glancing over at her as she played, a small frown tugging at the corners of his lips.
"You're the one that doesn't belong here."
For everyone commenting on how he didn't fit into the mold of Pandemonium, he felt that he did. Even if his interests didn't quite align. Even if he held next to no loyalty to the group as a whole. Nor did he hold it's leader, or other influential members in particular high regard. But he could tell right here that he belonged far more than the person who only minutes ago had been questioning his motives. Maybe she was trying to find a fellow outcast to bond and connect with. He could understand that feeling if it was true, it was often lonely being separated from the world. For whatever reasons. But that solitude helped to make you stronger. He had to believe that. With every fiber of his being.
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Post by Awenydd on Jul 6, 2016 8:36:58 GMT -7
The notes grew more fluid as she played, lost in the music. At least, until Gilgamesh her, pulling Awenydd back to the reality that left her sitting on a sketchy roof with a man who was even sketchier. It was hardly the worst situation she's been in, but the fact that the words he spoke weren't telling her to go away or another challenge surprised her. She had thought he would put up more of a fight than that.
"Oh?" She lay the instrument across her lap and looked back at him, raising a brow despite the fact he wasn't look at her.
"How so?"
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Post by Gilgamesh on Jul 6, 2016 9:06:30 GMT -7
"Your lack of conviction will kill you."
Maybe it was buried deep down within her. Everyone had it somewhere, but hers was clearly hiding. It was something none of these Supers seemed to understand. They thought they could just put on masks and hoods and run around having fun without consequence. But when it came time to lay the chips on the table one by one they would fold. And that was just to Gilgamesh, he'd had to see how many of them would fall if they ever faced a super that was worth a shit.
Or a Dragon.
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Post by Awenydd on Jul 6, 2016 10:27:19 GMT -7
Both her brows raise at the statement, intrigued and put off at the same time. Still, it's not enough to discourage Awenydd from prodding further.
"And how did you reach that conclusion?" She wondered if it was a standard he just put on the rest of the world, or if it there was more to it. With the ease and tone he said it in, it could be either, but even the mindset of the former had to come from somewhere.
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Post by Gilgamesh on Jul 6, 2016 10:35:12 GMT -7
"Look at yourself."
Was it not obvious? Everything from the way she was dressed, or rather how she seemed to hold herself like this. The way her music played, and even the aimless choice to follow him. For no reason at all. It all screamed of someone looking for direction, for purpose. Hiding behind a mask to latch on to a symbol. Following him looking for guidance, if though deed rather than words. Somber musical introspection. She was lost.
Why she had chosen him to be the Shepard though, he didn't understand that.
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Post by Awenydd on Jul 6, 2016 10:39:57 GMT -7
Awenydd didn't need to look at herself, snorting at his response but letting him finish. She's heard similar more than once in her life, even before becoming a super. The implication wasn't lost in her as she leaned back to stretch, sighing as she sat upright once more.
"I assume this is the part where you claim I'm a maiguided fool who doesn't know what they want."
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Post by Gilgamesh on Jul 6, 2016 10:45:42 GMT -7
"Nope. Go die for all I care."
He'd wave a hand dismissively off to the side. He wasn't going to talk her into a different path, or anything of the sort. That wasn't his job, and he didn't know her from squat. But more than that, it wasn't his right. Every Man, Woman, and Child had the right to choose they path they wanted to walk on. And they had the right to find that path on their own. She wasn't asking him so he'd keep his opinions on just what she should do to himself.
She probably wouldn't like it anyways.
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Post by Awenydd on Jul 6, 2016 10:50:37 GMT -7
Awenydd shakes her head with a snort of contempt at his words. It was rather resting to have something that honest, if irksome. This wouldn't be what killed her, she truly believed that. Otherwise it already would have.
"And what do you think I should do." Anyone who had a negative opinion believed they had a better solution. Like as not, he would be no different, and like the others, he would miss the point.
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Post by Gilgamesh on Jul 6, 2016 10:53:55 GMT -7
"Get your shit together and figure out what you really want."
He snapped back at her when she asked what he thought. He was quickly losing the little patience that he had with this whole situation. He wasn't a fucking therapist, and he certainly wasn't looking to start collecting lost little puppy dogs because they put on masks.
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Post by Awenydd on Jul 6, 2016 11:04:57 GMT -7
"Thanks, Dr. Gilgamesh, I'll get right on that." Sarcasm pours from every word as she snapped right back at him. It was the sort of thing she expected at this point.
"I know exactly what I want; the difference is life still has limits." She rose to her feet with a sharp motion, the idea of leaving tempting, but so was the idea of getting under his skin in return.
"So, what, what you want is beating up thugs and other supers? Because I have to say, it's doing wonders for you. Talk about needing to get your shit together."
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Post by Gilgamesh on Jul 6, 2016 11:08:47 GMT -7
"Don't blame life for your inability to achieve what you want."
When she started to verbally attack him he actually found his own anger reigning in. This was more familiar. This was a fight. This is what he did. She could stand and loom over him, he would remain where he was. He was in the winning position.
"I'm not the one following you around like a lost puppy."
Say what she want about his hobbies. He didn't doubt what he did, and he was committed to what he did. She may not see it or understand what it was working toward. But she didn't have to. He wasn't doing it for her, or anyone else buy himself.
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