[Kushiki Kioko]

I HAVE PROMISES TO KEEP

AND MILES TO GO BEFORE I SLEEP

Sight and height granted much in the way of the information Kioko valued from her vantage point adorned in the trappings of silence and stillness. She did not disappear so wholly as another so much as she blended into the background as others took to the fore with their antics and idiocy with scant few exceptions. Naturally that meant anyone qualifying as the latter drew the full force of her awareness upon them. Primarily the exchange between the unseen. Both revealing themselves outside the cover of technology. Logic dictated one possessed control to put on a show and find the other who relied on less inborn means to conceal if he had been found by the former. Of the two, Kioko’s primal sense of survival marked the light cloaked entity as more dangerous and the source of her earlier fight or flight instinct rising up.

Time and a trigger finger would prove her right because as things often did when Villains were involved, the meeting unraveled as if a devil’s delight had been the cue they were all waiting for. A knife thrown. A gun fired. Though the term gun was an understatement. The sound and impact alone implied a design far outclassing most arms on the black market. Kioko knew because she had designed many of them and intentionally neutered their potential to cause large-scale devastation. She had no love for nor loyalty to those around her in the warehouse, but she did to two on the other side of the line. The idea of Renjirou or Sebastian finding themselves on the receiving end of the weapon fired so expertly into the crowd churned her stomach — which required protection itself.

Mercury hidden in her clothing from where it had crushed the burner phone on her person snaked its way through the fabric. Her head was already reinforced by the ornate mask she wore, so the extra metal plated her abdomen and heart. Would such a thin defense even with how dense it was do much against what was essentially a portable cannon were it turned suddenly upon her? Unlikely, but Kioko was hardly the type to not make what preparations she could when faced with the reflection of another reaper. Only the phantom himself would understand the irony of her actions for the time being.

Words wailed against walls erected out of arrogance and ignorance alike. All postured from positions of knowing better. Including the armed apparition. He spoke more eloquently and with more authority than the rest to be sure. Logic even backed his statements, but Kioko perceived the truth woven into what he was saying. Motive. He was not offering them helpful advice on how to deal with the issue at hand. He was telling them how he was going to do it and his display of prose and power to set himself up as a cult of personality to spearhead the effort. That more than anything else thus far made the venom in her veins run cold because it meant it could succeed where others had failed and create a world that she was trying to burn to the ground before it existed by removing her own family that sought the same thing this man did.

So it was not with gratitude upon which Kioko looked at him when he loosely offered her services to water the seeds of war he had planted with what they might need to make up any gaps in Quirk or bodily deficiencies. Rather, hatred seethed through slitted eyes and gritted teeth. Her tongue was only held at bay for only one reason. Fear. Plain and simple. She had never been the type for a face-to-face fight. Stealth and assassinations were her forte by necessity.

Relief did not come at the end of his speech and subsequent disappearance. If anything, Kioko was more on edge. She pushed her back further into the wall for safety while keeping her senses on high alert for anything out of the ordinary and marking the best exit points whether they be doors, windows, or walls. Being approached by a stranger did nothing to help her paranoia even if she echoed Kioko’s own serpentine nature back to her right down to the forked tongue offering casual conversation before disappearing behind a smile.

That was where their similarities ended. Where the woman projected a manufactured but pleasant warmth, Kioko was nothing but imperious ice as she responded, “And what exactly, pray tell, did you expect from such a meeting? A cocktail party?” A pointed glance at the woman’s attire was spared from Kioko’s reconnaissance efforts.

Notes & Tags: IL Fantasma rhea

[junko]

@name | ### | notes

Junko held her peace through the mummy's explanation and exhortation. It was all she could do- that snotty bitch that had responded right after her had made it almost unbearably tempting to lash out and put a fist fulla steel into those perfect white teeth of hers. She was clearly so utterly disconnected from the reality of what everyone outside her prissy little circle went through that she was hardly worth engaging, but the street punk's spitfire tendencies screamed to be allowed to surface.

It was all over in a few more moments, though, and that freed her up to think about what he'd said.

Armies. That tracked. Wars are won by armies. By people willing to fight for a cause they believed in. To die for it. 

In other words, if you want change, you need people. And if you want people, you need hearts. And if you want hearts, you need to stand at the front and take the lumps. The first one through the wall always gets bloodied. That's just the way of the world.

Junko stared up into the rafters as he disappeared entirely, taking a deep breath before her chains hissed, drawing her back towards the door and turning her to face it halfway. 

Nobody else here seemed to have the welfare of the streets and the people on them in mind.

She'd just have to handle that angle of what the world was in for next herself.

J U N K O

Template by: Monkey

[Revision]

Kamiya Nadeshiko I shall subvert this unwanted reality and replace it with one of my own design

i am revision, the failsafe Revision let the phantom say his part and depart before she turned around to address everyone else. "He is right about much of what he says, but he is short-sighted, maybe a little narrow-minded about his idea of war." "Maybe a soldier, or some officer of some sort. He could potentially lead you to victory if you chose to fight the heroes, but he will never hold on to victory, because like you, he lacks something that the heroes do not - a unified vision." Revision looked around, giving a little more attention to her underlings, Chuck and Rui, than to others, but she did make a mental note of everyone she could see. It may be useful to remember what faces she could see now. "Heroes exist primarily for one of two reasons," she held up two fingers. "The most obvious is that they want to protect society, and those that feel that way tend to believe in a similar idea of what society should be. The other reason is for fame and money, it is a job for them, but they still have a similar concept of society." "The people they protect believe in a generally uniform idea of what is right and wrong, what they want and need are similar things, and because of that, they live within their society without conflict." She let a pause linger for a moment. "Despite all of us gathering here, I doubt more than one or two share a vision of what they wish society would be. Therein lies your problem." "You can unit under the banner of defeating the heroes, but once you have done that, only one vision can be established, one new society. What happens when that society isn't the one you want? What happens when the only person that wants that new society is the person who led you to victory?" "Claiming victory over the heroes is one thing, but holding on to that victory is an entirely different problem. Society will reject you. Your one-time allies will reject you. Soon, you will stand alone again, and that is why there will be no war." "Give up those foolish ambitions, or you will undoubtedly end up as my enemy. I assure you, you do not want that." And then in the blink of an eye she was gone. No puff of smoke, no bending of light, no nothing. Just gone, like she was never even there...

TITLE: The Vestibule TAGS: Event PROFILE: Revision

[rhea]

if i'm a danger to myself Just think what I could do to you Kushiki Kioko

Rhea let out a small hum, shrugging a little as she looked at the group as they started to process what the bandaged man had said, trying to determine a plot to course. One of them began to irritate Rhea with her words, and it was becoming more and more clear that everyone in this room had different ideas and goals for what needed to be done. To make matters worse the one that had any kind of idea was now gone. "To be honest, darling, the criminal work I'm exposed to on a daily has a lot of class. However, seeing that the dress code for this is much more lax than I was anticipating I've missed the opportunity to wear my favorite skirt." She gave Kioko a glance, keeping her smile. "I was expecting an actual evil scheme with plans and goals and people looking for specific roles, a manifesto and code that all were to abide, and a list of demands to the government. I suppose that is the optimist in me speaking.~"

She let out a light laugh, relaxing ever so slightly. Despite this she'd keep an eye on Kioko; the cold shoulder was much too obvious, and there was no telling what exactly this lady was capable of doing. For all Rhea knew, she'd slip a knife between the vertebra of her neck and severe here spinal cord before she could bat an eye, which would not only be hazardous to her health but also potentially ruin her dress. She couldn't has such a nice thing be ruined by something such as blood! "The way that man spoke, he seemed like he knew you. Have you had business with him in the past, or do you just have a reputation that is well known?"

0 Victims

OWL

[Kushiki Kioko]

I HAVE PROMISES TO KEEP

AND MILES TO GO BEFORE I SLEEP

A fine, albeit obvious, line existed between the common criminality where such a thing as class might get one by and true villainy entrenched in brutality. The former had been far more prominent in the days before Quirks. How odd it was to see someone that still imposed the expectations of the former upon an underworld that had long since shifted toward the latter. What one considered optimistic, the other considered naivety if not outright delusional. Though that did mean she fit right in with the bulk of those Kioko encountered in her work.

The speaker whom the other woman referenced was not in that category — not yet. Regardless of an easy answer at the tip of her forked tongue, Kioko was far more professional than many beyond her years. “I am not in the habit of discussing the nature of my clientele list in any capacity.” Professional and paranoid. Her ability to keep secrets was tantamount to survival and not just because she needed the money from new and repeat customers that valued anonymity. Her own thoughts veered toward the possibility of knives in places they did not belong and were not wanted.

“As far as my reputation is concerned, those that have need of me and can afford my services are informed on the matter. Those that do not or cannot, are not.” She paused her scouting in the aftermath of yet another speech and abrupt disappearance to once more look to the one that had sought out her attention. “Which perhaps brings us to the point of this conversation; what do you want from me?”

Notes & Tags: rhea

[rhea]

if i'm a danger to myself Just think what I could do to you Kushiki Kioko

Rhea gave a few small nods. Compared to everyone else in this room, she was a nobody. Nothing. And while her ego did chafe at that she was also content with the classification. It meant that no one knew who she was, and that no one would expect someone like her. The perfect disguise. Now if only she could keep it up for the rest of time.

Her smile only seemed to grow at the question. She let out a hum, debating how to go about answering. "I could give you a list, but I don't anticipate that I would receive any of them. Simpler is better, yes?" She tilted her head, firing a wink in Kioko's direction. "The short of it is, I need to find two people. No one specific in this room, I am of the belief that most of the brain power in this room has either left or is in this corner. But I need a way to acquire names. Either that, or make a few friends," she says, shrugging. "I find it harder to get my foot in the door with the criminal if I don't openly murder a school bus full of children. Either that or offering my body for unsavory purposes, which no one would take seriously in the long term."

0 Victims

OWL

[Kushiki Kioko]

I HAVE PROMISES TO KEEP

AND MILES TO GO BEFORE I SLEEP

Initial quip was ignored in the flow of conversation that transitioned into a compliment both self-serving and otherwise before arriving at the point. Villains only seemed to drive a point home with any haste when it involved blades and backs. Kioko, for one, had enough monologuing for the evening, if not a lifetime though and was thankful the kindred serpent at her side had at least kept it short.

“Money talks more than either supposed sins of the flesh you mentioned,” Kioko replied. “Certain circles claim it is the root of all evil, so perhaps that is fitting.” She had been a victim of that reality herself. A vast fortune stolen from beneath her then weaponized against her in the blink of an eye. “Violence and seduction certainly have their uses, but when it comes to pure information, cash is queen. Perhaps start there. As for me…”

Kioko took a step away from the woman. “I am an arms dealer, not some sort of shadow broker in the business of bartering information.” She could have been. Kioko had a mind for it and a collection of intel to match, but what remained of her tattered morals prevented her from selling away her hard earned info because while cash was queen, knowledge was king and all the power that implied. Which was far more than any weapon she could place in the hands of these ne'er-do-wells.

Notes & Tags: rhea

[rhea]

if i'm a danger to myself Just think what I could do to you Kushiki Kioko

Rhea tilted her head at the initial statement, a hum escaping her lips. "That's not quite the saying, but I see your point. Though if I had the amount of money that could get me that information, then I would have no reason to come to gatherings such as this." Her tone had gone flat as the sour memories of her struggles over the years came back to her. If she didn't have the talents that she did, Rhea might have ended up selling herself to the night in order to get by. Power was a fickle thing, and while money was a sign of it money wasn't everything.

"An arms dealer. A little surprising to find you down here, but I'd imagine it would be good for business," she says, the 'sss' sound tapering off as she fell into thought. Kioko made it clear she wasn't at liberty to share client information, and while that was troublesome there was a little bit of an open door. "I can also imagine you would have to have people you can get in touch with that have trends in mind, people to keep an ear to the ground surrounding various dealings and the such. And while I might not be able to offer much, I know my worth based on my skills. I'd be willing to make a deal." The smirk returned as she considered her next words carefully. They couldn't be too forceful, nor give away too much. This woman was clearly skeptical of those around her, and it would be a bad idea to make enemies. Adjusting her vocal cords, she'd let her next question carry a tune that would hold a level of influence on Kioko: "What should I call you?"

0 Victims

OWL

[Kushiki Kioko]

I HAVE PROMISES TO KEEP

AND MILES TO GO BEFORE I SLEEP

The request was a reasonable one by most standards. That Kioko’s initial internal response was, You can call me uninterested, was a personal non-Quirk quirk of hers. Yet the response she actually gave was limited to a single word.

“Meliora.”

Censoring her true thoughts in delicate situations, as most involving scoundrels dubbing themselves Villains tended to be, was not unusual. Kioko had verbally navigated through treacherous conversations before and she would do so again in the very near future. What was odd was the subtle accompanying shift of Kioko’s mental state.

She was not the type of person to have random highs in her mood that made her more agreeable or otherwise. Kioko stayed on an even keel of annoyance, well-hidden fear, and most importantly at the present moment, paranoia. The woman before her may have gotten the answer she wanted through use of unseen and subtle force in less more typical situations, but now Kioko was even more wary than she normally was and with wariness came even greater reluctance and resistance to being agreeable. Impressive because Kioko was rarely if ever those things in the first place. The biting iciness her tone took when she spoke next heralded a warning of her suspicion and impending hostility with the same efficiency of a rattlesnake’s telltale tune.

“And you are?”

Notes & Tags: rhea

[rhea]

if i'm a danger to myself Just think what I could do to you Kushiki Kioko

The ice in her tone was definitely noticeable, and it set Rhea on edge. It meant that her abilities were going to be difficult to use, and it was this very thing she was afraid of. It was why she phrased the question that she did. Unfortunately for her, she was still within stabbing distance.

Just play it cool, no need to panic, she told herself, giving Meliora the sweetest smile she had. "I have a few names, but I think given the circumstances the most fitting would be 'Siren'. I'm certain you can guess why." Rhea turned to look at the rest of those gathered, letting out a hum. "I don't get to use it too often. While I love the spotlight, I would rather be remembered for my voice than my acts."

0 Victims

OWL

[Kushiki Kioko]

I HAVE PROMISES TO KEEP

AND MILES TO GO BEFORE I SLEEP

It took all of Kioko’s already strained self-control to not snort at the name she was provided. Siren. Of course it was Siren. Villains as a whole did tend to be a rather on the nose lot. But still. Siren was almost as bad as it would have been if Kioko had chosen to call herself Quicksilver. What Villains lacked in cleverness, they usually made up for in deceit and destruction though. Kioko was a nexus for all three traits herself, but currently those brought to the forefront were anger and awareness.

“Should you ever try your Siren song on me again, it will become your own funeral dirge.”

Mercury that had been in her pocket where it had disabled her phone during the tech display began to creep up and underneath her top to where it’d be more readily available for use either as a weapon or a shield in the form of earplugs should she need them. Hostile though she was, Kioko wasn’t about to attack Siren amidst the still lingering crowd. Not first, at least. But neither would she remain unprepared as she turned her back on the woman to make her departure from the lackluster event. She had more pressing matters to attend to and should Siren’s own matters press upon her a need to contact Kioko in the future, she now had a name to attempt such a quest. But was she either foolish or brave enough to do so?

Notes & Tags: rhea