kings and [QUEEN]s

[mikaelrogers]

TIME IS TICKING [style=width=110px;border:3px solid #000000; width:100px;float:left;margin-bottom:10px] TAGS: Kira as QUEEN COUNT: 529 NOTES: Go for it. coded by JIN of PREDORMITUM[/style][/style] Mikael liked to think that he was a cautious person. With Julius and Laelia by his side, he felt quite confident that the three of them would remain unseen. He took care to stick to the grove of trees with thick canopies of leaves that cast large shadows. On top of that, Julius' aura abilities allowed him to detect nearby hostility while Laelia's nose also did a decent job at keeping him alert of trouble. He studied his Pokémon's body language carefully. Even if he knew that they'd immediately alert him if something had gone wrong, Mikael still liked to to try and be a step ahead of them if he could. Better to be safe than sorry. Julius was alert, but the Lucario's shoulders were relaxed and Laelia's body was not tense either. It wasn't that Eterna Forest was bad, but he was quite aware that it was disputed ground. Mikael had an equal chance of bumping into an ally or an enemy, though since it was Sinnoh, chances of running into Nox were probably higher. He most certainly did not want want an encounter with them, especially because of the folded sheet of paper neatly tucked away in his belt pouch. It was a tattered sheet of brown paper, smothered in coffee stains. It didn't look like much at all, perhaps nothing more than the coarse paper one may find to wrap up a parcel with the help of twine. But a closer examination would reveal ink and pencil marks scratched onto the sheet. It had to be a code of some sort. There were sequences of numbers and letters lined up on top of each other, though what they meant, he had no idea. He was just the messenger. Decoding the cryptic codes would be left up to a different member of Lux. The trio had, by now, penetrated the heart of the forest. The trees grew thicker and the sound soft buzz of bug Pokémon was stronger here. Typically, people stuck with the main road if they were passing through the area in order to reach Eterna City. However, such a route would have made Mikael's presence far too obvious for potential Nox members that may or may not be tracking him down, so he went the more secretive route. He had an excellent sense of direction anyways, and this was not his first time using the different path. In fact, he quite preferred it. The less people he saw, the chance of getting involved unfavorably with other people was also reduced. He was all about avoiding contact. "It's too quiet..." he mused, mostly to himself. Laelia tilted her chin up to meet her trainer's eye with a curious expression. She could not smell anything hostile nearby and Julius seemed to disregard his trainer's words, perhaps too concentrated on attempting to pick up any signs of trouble. But he could sense nothing, and his aura sight simply revealed the black silhouettes of trees. So the three of them continued deeper, Mikael slipping his hands into his pockets. He was convinced that he was simply being paranoid. Maria would have scolded him for being so skittish.

[kira]

[cs=2][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 400px; border-left: 15px solid #000000; height: 520px, bTable][STYLE=border: 5px solid #000000; margin-left: -3px; width: 100px; height: 100px; float:left;][/style][STYLE= font: 20pt georgia; color: #111111; letter-spacing: -4px; line-height: 25px;] YOU TRY TO RIP ME BUT I DON'T TEAR AND I DON'T CARE [/style][STYLE= margin-left: -3px; font: 7pt tahoma; line-height: 11px; letter-spacing: 1px; padding: 5px; text-align: justify; color: #eeeeee; background-color: #111111; height: 300px; overflow: auto; padding: 10px; border: 3px solid #000000; -moz-border-radius: 0px 30px 30px 0px; -o-border-radius: 0px 30px 30px 0px; -webkit-border-radius: 0px 30px 30px 0px; border-radius: 0px 30px 30px 0px]The morning was young but small rays of light were already filtering through the cracks of the forest canopy and, like hands, reaching towards the silent figure of a girl who sat amongst the branches. It had been a messy evening, earlier. A blood bath of identified Lux soldiers, and agents. But the rusty scent of blood that clung to the stiletto heels of her boots reminded her of something else. The crucial information that had been passed to her by a messenger sent from Headquarters. Obviously, it was no light matter that covert documents had been stolen by a Lux operative. But, this time, it was strange. The informer made it clear that all Nox personnel should be on the lookout for suspicious activity - and recover the documents by all costs. This was a subtle clue enough. Especially when speaking to guerillas that were always on the lookout for questionable movement. It wasn't like, guerillas sat around exchanging pleasantries like spies did, after all. They meant business. Business with a capital B. Queen closed her eyes, listening to the sounds of the wild pokemon all around her. Somehow, it was comforting. Even at a critical point like this, where she couldn't let a single person pass her without checking - it was a peaceful sound. The sound of life amongst the dead. She opened her eyes, "After all, war is the most questionable thing of all." Although there were mostly, two sides - it was hard to define one or the other as essentially "good" and "bad". What the Lux wanted was what everyone wanted, but the way that they did it was not commendable. In contrast, what the Nox wanted to protect was beautiful but not with the best intentions. One wanted peace with the price of restriction and dehumanization. Another wanted freedom through the chaos of anarchy and the desire to do whatever one pleased. Still yet, she killed anyway. And she didn't hesitate, especially if she had to. If the Lux had their way with their controlling laws, and tyrannical organization - then, everything would end there. However, with Nox, there was still hope to re-adjust the perspectives and allow for a more democratic government to emerge. It was a decision for survival. Slowly Queen moved to lay down on her stomach, as she observed the ground below her. The forest, apart from the wild pokemon, was quiet. The trees swayed in the morning light, and despite the events of the night before - everything seemed at peace. She wouldn't be fooled. Her nights spent in the slums would not disappear after all the lessons they'd taught her. Even a guerilla, she'd learned new tips to stay alive. Rule one? Trust nothing in sight, because there's always more to be found in that which was hidden. Rule two, stay in higher ground - unless able to keep a low profile on the ground. However, Queen knew it was best to stay in the trees. It was rare for most people to think of it, when passing by. The ground was a place for the hunted, after all. The trees was for the predators to watch from overhead. So, Queen kept everything in the trees. And, her pokemon stayed there too. Whether it was because she was in the tree, or because they liked trees, or because they sensed the logic behind staying in the trees - they followed suit. Beside her, tied onto a branch, was one of her herbal pouches. However, unlike the others, this one was not just raw herbs. Her long bamboo blowgun stuck out of the leather sac, ready to be grabbed in the event that a person approached. It wasn't that Queen didn't like using her gun, or that she thought her pokemon were ineffective. It just helped to be quiet and stealthy and not traumatize her pokemon by having so much blood on their hands. If she could help keeping her pokemon from being too affected by the war, she would. In ways, apart from her sisters, they were among the rare friends she had. And, they made up the last of the family she had left in the world. Queen closed her eyes again, steadying her breathing as she listened again for any movement below her. In ways, she felt rather indifferent. Her body was relaxed, and at ease. As it always was. Even in killing, Queen maintained a cool profile - unblinkingly executing a plan without feeling anything but the steadfast cold that existed in her heart. It made life easier, separating her feelings from her thoughts. A small flurry of wind. Queen opened her eyes the moment she felt Pixie teleport in front of her. The Gardevoir had been standing on the branch above her, only a moment before, but it's sudden movement indicated that she'd sensed another's presence in the forest. It took only a second to turn everything off. And then, it wasn't a girl who sat atop branches but a guerilla ready to kill. Queen grabbed her blowgun and three darts. At the approach of the person, Queen zeroed in on the passerby before deciding he was too conspicuous to let go. The pokemon were too tensed, and the passerby themselves seemed to emit an air that screamed they were up to no good. She couldn't help but think, "So much for a peaceful early morning." Observing the rate of which her quarry walked, Queen predicted the distance between herself and them before deciding the manner of which she'd shoot them. Then, she inhaled and placed the loaded in front of her lips to blow out her first dart. It went out, cleanly and quietly, aiming for her targets neck. Queen reached for her second dart, placing it into the tube as inhaled and placed the blowgun in front of her lips to send the dart flying at her target's legs. With her third dart, Queen watched from above to see if either the first or second reached her prey. This was the way she played her game. [/style] [STYLE=background-color: #111111; border: 5px solid #000000; font: 7pt courier; text-transform: uppercase; width: 345px; color: #ACACAC; margin-left: -3px; -moz-border-radius: 0px 30px 30px 0px; -o-border-radius: 0px 30px 30px 0px; -webkit-border-radius: 0px 30px 30px 0px; border-radius: 0px 30px 30px 0px;]words 1008 | tags mika | notes let's get this party started | made by prism![/style]

[mikaelrogers]

TIME IS TICKING [style=width=110px;border:3px solid #000000; width:100px;float:left;margin-bottom:10px] TAGS: Kira as QUEEN COUNT: 614 NOTES: He's got his gun on him, the plans in the belt pouch, and a couple of Full Heals, Revives, and Hyper Potions. coded by JIN of PREDORMITUM[/style][/style] At first, Mikael had thought that he was bitten by a bug. But then he put into perspective that given the bug type Pokémon that crawled around Eterna Forest, he would have at least seen the bug that bit him or felt it on him. Or Laelia and Julius would have seen it coming. Had he been attacked from afar then? His knowledge on Pokémon move sets was nowhere near the level of a professor, but he was sure that the amount of Pokémon that knew Poison Sting in Eterna Forest was not too great. There was also Pin Missile, but he would have been stung more than just twice from a single one of those. Well, he probably wouldn't even be alive if something did try to Pin Missile him. That would have been painful, not to say that the situation he'd found himself in was less unfavorable since loss of movement was on par with just an immediate death. The first thing that startled him was that as soon as he felt the prick of the darts, he found it very difficult to move. In fact, he'd taken a step forward and failed to take the next. Mikael felt his knees buckle beneath him as he fell to the grass, prone. Laelia let out a startled squeak while Julius' eyes immediately noted the darts in the back of his trainer's neck and leg. He gathered his front paws together, a blue ball of energy gathering between them before he let loose an Aura Sphere at the trees. The attack, however, was not meant to kill. Mikael had probably been poisoned and chances were, they carried the antidote as well should an accident happen. The Lucario glanced that the Glaceon, who returned the look with a nod. It was quite obvious why Mikael had been targeted. The assailant would probably come down to take the stolen plans off of him. Laelia's hackles were raised as she snarled at the trees while Julius prepared a second Aura Sphere. Which left Mikael mentally swearing at this ridiculous situation and Laelia gently plucking the darts out of his neck. She spied the second one in his leg and set to working that out. Her tail swished anxiously from side to side. They had no medicine to fix whatever had gone wrong. Mikael was not a Pokémon that could swallow a Cheri berry and would be up and moving again in an instant. He wasn't in pain, but it did concern him that his left leg had gone entirely numb by now and he could not move his neck. It would be only a matter of time before the poisons reached his arms. Still, he managed a muffled, "... fuck," as he gritted his teeth. He felt the tempo of his pulse quicken. No, that wasn't right. He had to remain calm. Panicking always made things worse and the increased blood flow would only carry the toxins closer to his heart. But the fact that he had to strain to get air, almost gasp, quite troubled him. So there he was, lying face down in the grass. He knew that Laelia probably wouldn't let anyone touch him. She was as protective over him as a mother Ursaring. Or at least, she'd make sure no one got their hands on his pistol. That would have caused even more problems. At least there was somewhat of a chance that he would be getting away unscathed, antidote or something provided. Mikael hadn't thought that today in particular would not be a good one. Perhaps he'd jinxed himself. The mission had seemed easy enough. What could possibly go wrong? Right. This.

[kira]

[cs=2][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 400px; border-left: 15px solid #000000; height: 520px, bTable][STYLE=border: 5px solid #000000; margin-left: -3px; width: 100px; height: 100px; float:left;][/style][STYLE= font: 20pt georgia; color: #111111; letter-spacing: -4px; line-height: 25px;] YOU TRY TO RIP ME BUT I DON'T TEAR AND I DON'T CARE [/style][STYLE= margin-left: -3px; font: 7pt tahoma; line-height: 11px; letter-spacing: 1px; padding: 5px; text-align: justify; color: #eeeeee; background-color: #111111; height: 300px; overflow: auto; padding: 10px; border: 3px solid #000000; -moz-border-radius: 0px 30px 30px 0px; -o-border-radius: 0px 30px 30px 0px; -webkit-border-radius: 0px 30px 30px 0px; border-radius: 0px 30px 30px 0px]To say she was calculating would be putting it mildly. Queen hated to be outmaneuvered by anyone, especially at her own game. Usually, adjectives like clean, instant, and lethal underlined the style that she fought with. However, there was something else on the flip side that she was unafraid to brandish at will: Her undying patience. After all, she delighted in being a wild card. It kept people guessing at what might come next. For, at moment like these, Queen could not afford to lose. It was in her best interests to simply take urgency by the horns and keep it at bay while she watched everything eventually - and hopefully - fall into plan. Searching for Koko in the branches overhead, Queen found the pachirisu watching her with large black eyes. She lifted her arm towards the small pokemon, indicating that she wanted it to come towards her. It didn't take long for Koko to get the nonverbal message, as she jumped onto her trainers outstretched hand and moved to sit upon her shoulder. The darts hit home. And, that set off the entire plan. Time for phase two of the plan. Queen sat up, placing the third dart into a pocket of her skirt before glancing at Pixie, "Now, Pixie, if you'd please?" The gardevoir understood her almost immediately, slowly distorting the dimensions to confuse the lucario and glaceon below. Then, she tied her blowgun down to the side of her body and, from another of her pouches, placed ten tranquilizer darts into her pocket. Unlike their trainer, Queen didn't need the pokemon awake and conscious. In fact, the tranquilizers would most likely have more effect on them than they would for a full-grown adult human being. Stealthily, Queen moved towards the ground as Koko clung to the side of her neck. Time was of the essence, particularly for the fallen trainer that Queen had shot. But, she had to be careful to not be attacked. The abilities of agitated and anxious pokemon were not to be undermined. Assessing them from the cover of the trees and large bushes, Queen noted the way both pokemon were acting. Their attention was on their trainer. A natural reaction that Queen could use to her advantage. It didn't matter if they removed the curare darts from their trainers skin, after all. The poison was already in the person's system. Quietly, she loaded her blow gun and blew her first tranquilizer at the lucario. Two other darts followed quickly, and soon she was assailing the glaceon with two tranquilizers as well. It was difficult to miss, now that she was in an angle that compromised both pokemon. But, Queen was ever cautious. Taking one of the pokeballs off of her belt, Queen had Hex standing next to her in mere minutes. Protocol. Peering over her shoulder to look at Hex, the liepard gingerly rubbed against her leg before vanishing. She knew what Queen was up to. And she knew what she had to do. Pixie appeared next to her, "Ready?" Queen nodded before proceeding towards the fallen trainer. Plan A to C were set in motion, but she was still wary of anything may go wrong. The target was a male. Perhaps around her age, give or take a year. Queen took out another pokeball, calling Cashmere out to watch out for her. Hex was probably prowling around and Pixie watched her with a steadfast eye, but having the nintales present made the plan feel more secure. Sitting down next to the immobilized boy, Queen made sure to first grab his gun and then take the Nox document out of his belt. "It's in your best interests to be quiet, and not tell your pokemon to attack me. If they do attack me, you will die after having multiple seizures in which you will be completely unable to stop." Her voice was nonchalant, as if she encountered death everyday. Thing was, she did encounter death everyday. She wasn't giving him much of a choice, but it didn't matter. Queen unhooked another of her pokeballs from her belt, "Spice, take this to Headquarters." The staraptor didn't need to be told twice, and flew off towards Nox.[/style] [STYLE=background-color: #111111; border: 5px solid #000000; font: 7pt courier; text-transform: uppercase; width: 345px; color: #ACACAC; margin-left: -3px; -moz-border-radius: 0px 30px 30px 0px; -o-border-radius: 0px 30px 30px 0px; -webkit-border-radius: 0px 30px 30px 0px; border-radius: 0px 30px 30px 0px;]words 690 | tags mika | notes /excitement | made by prism![/style]

[mikaelrogers]

TIME IS TICKING [style=width=110px;border:3px solid #000000; width:100px;float:left;margin-bottom:10px] TAGS: Kira as QUEEN COUNT: 761 NOTES: Proboards finally cooperating with me. coded by JIN of PREDORMITUM[/style][/style] Julius was lucky enough to dodge the first dart, but was not quite quick enough to avoid the other two. One lodged in his arm and the other in his side, the Lucario stumbled and let loose a rather disoriented Aura Sphere attack. The blue ball of energy went sailing through the air, though completely missed its target by a whole seventy degrees. Julius snarled, forcing to keep his eyes open as he felt his eyelids grow heavier. His knees were going weak, and before he could gather enough energy at the back of his throat for a Dragon Pulse, the Lucario collapsed on the Eterna Forest grass in a deep slumber. It all happened before Mikael got a chance to tell the Lucario to stop. But with only one tranquilizer dart in her shoulder, Laelia was still up with a bit of fight in her. "L-Laelia, it's fine,"

[/color] he said to her and the Glaceon let out a slight whine from her throat as she sidled up beside her trainer. She let out a halfhearted growl in Queen's direction.

This mission had been going along swimmingly... until now. Mikael figured he'd have to take on two of them the next time around and actually follow through with them. Maybe Lux would be able to allow this to slide. He certainly hadn't been expecting to be poisoned on such a mission. He made a mental note to carry a panacea on him the next time he went out into the field. He believed in learning from one's mistakes. He took some more time to swear mentally as he listened to the wing beats of the Staraptor. There was no point in wasting his breath in swearing out loud. It was getting noticeably harder to breathe anyways. He wasn't sure what exactly he'd been injected with, so Mikael figured that his best bet would be to actually listen and cooperate with Queen.

"Why, do you have the antidote?"[/color] he asked Queen in an equally nonchalant voice. His voice was slightly muffled by the grass. He didn't appreciate having to lie face-down in the grass. He had tried rolling onto his back, only to realize that his body was entirely immobilized. So why didn't Queen just leave him this way? He didn't think it truly mattered to her whether or not he lived or succumbed to the poison. As long as she had the plans back for Nox, Queen would be able to make her merry way back to the Nox headquarters. Then again, he knew very well that there were people involved in the war who did not necessarily wish to take lives. But Queen didn't come off as that sort of a person. He was quite convinced that she may have her share of blood on her hands. Quite frankly, Mikael avoided killing as well whenever possible. He hadn't killed yet. There had been no real need to do so. He was not necessarily a soldier for Lux and instead, ran around behind the scenes for Lux. It was only a matter of time when he moved onto doing their dirty work though.

Mikael had a habit of disregarding his own health and safety by worrying of others who would be affected by his potential death or inability to fight, specifically, Maria. Although she appeared to be the reason for all the work he did for Lux and even before the war, the reasons as to why he had turned to thievery for survival, he never blamed her once. He did it because he cared. If he could reduce her suffering, he was happy, even if that meant that he would have to take upon burdens as opposed to her. And speaking of Maria, he wondered if Queen planned on taking his wallet off his hands as well. Mikael rarely carried around much money, and it wasn't the money that he was worried about, but an old, slightly folded photograph of him with his sister in their childhood years along with a second one of her before Apollo had come into the picture, before she had grown frail and weak. He didn't show anyone those pictures. No one knew that Mikael, as a child, had been free-spirited and carefree as a Pidgey, capable of such wide grins, and it was hard to believe that Maria once had rosy cheeks and glowed, even in still pictures. Now she was pale and confined to a hospital bed. Those photographs were private and not meant for anybody else's eyes, especially not this strange girl. [/div]
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[kira]

[cs=2][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 400px; border-left: 15px solid #000000; height: 520px, bTable][STYLE=border: 5px solid #000000; margin-left: -3px; width: 100px; height: 100px; float:left;][/style][STYLE= font: 20pt georgia; color: #111111; letter-spacing: -4px; line-height: 25px;] YOU TRY TO RIP ME BUT I DON'T TEAR AND I DON'T CARE [/style][STYLE= margin-left: -3px; font: 7pt tahoma; line-height: 11px; letter-spacing: 1px; padding: 5px; text-align: justify; color: #eeeeee; background-color: #111111; height: 300px; overflow: auto; padding: 10px; border: 3px solid #000000; -moz-border-radius: 0px 30px 30px 0px; -o-border-radius: 0px 30px 30px 0px; -webkit-border-radius: 0px 30px 30px 0px; border-radius: 0px 30px 30px 0px]Bottom line was, the boy was stuck playing her game. And, he'd play by her rules. All she had to do was act the part, and everything would most likely go smoothly. Queen turned to Cashmere, eyeing the ninetales before coldly saying, "Watch the glaceon, Cashmere. If it moves, kill it." The ninetales didn't blink and simply padded over to watch the glaceon. Fire against ice. It was a good pairing. "This is my territory, I ask the questions here and you answer them. That is, if you have any reason to stay alive. Because, without me, you will die. Soon, you won't even be able to talk or, much less, breathe. That is, if you don't receive immediate care." She replied to the fallen trainer, turning from Cashmere and kneeling next to him. Gingerly, Queen turned him over and searched his body for anything else that may be of real interest to Nox. But she wasn't interested in whatever else she found. Full heals? Revives? Hyper potions? Queen had no use for such things. She was no thief, trying to take things from unarmed persons who most likely were barely scraping by in this war. Queen was tough but she had never been petty. All of the things that she had found on him were things that she had no right to take from him. She had already recovered the Nox plans, after all. "Nothing of value in your pockets or pouches. I'll keep your gun until later, though. I can't have you getting up and shooting me to Hell right this minute." There was no room for mistakes. Even if Queen didn't intend to kill anything at the moment, she couldn't let anyone think otherwise. Being a monster was in her best interests for this war. Otherwise, she wouldn't survive. And, let's just say, hell after death was not what she feared most. The only thing Queen would ever fear most was the world. And, money. After all, those two things were enough to destroy her family. Which was the only thing Queen could ever care about. On the other side, Venus and Saint were fighting with Lux. And Kali was trying her hardest in guerilla warfare. How had it come to this? She was the eldest sister. The one who had, from the beginning, been born with the responsibility to take care of them. But, there they all were fighting and bleeding and crying somewhere on some battle front. It needed to end. Why did she not kill him? Like the so many others she'd killed without a single thought. Queen killed ruthlessly. It was all apart of being a guerilla to find the monster within. But she didn't kill because it was a sport. Though, Queen had to admit to herself that - like Emil - she'd come to find killing exhilarating at times. It was a completely different story to kill without real reason to. That was simply savage, and barbaric. Just as completely disrespecting the dead was a horrendous and dehumanizing act, Queen had never been a bird of that feather. She couldn't find it in her. Not while she still clung to her last bit of humanity as the first thing she'd ever do for herself. "Time is of the essence for you, so it'd be best if I got started. Keep this mind, however. If your pokemon attacks me, you will die with me. Along with anything else you might be trying to protect in this war. Oh, and while I'm at it - I should also tell you that your death would most likely be more painful than mine. But that's not the best part. Thing is, your pokemon would have to watch you helplessly as you're consumed with agony and finally leave this world. What a better way to traumatize them, yes? So think before you act. Your decisions affect everyone, not just your stupid pride." It was better for her to paint a cruel image of herself. It'd give people reason to kill her, because then they'd think they'd rid the world of a monster. Not some girl. It would ease their conscience to encourage them to believe that she wasn't the same as a human being. The truth was, Queen was tired of seeing dead bodies all the time. It was a sad thing to stand at death's doorstep so many times, but for the purpose of handing another to Him. Such a sad thing. But the cold in her heart helped her keep going. It was necessary, after all. "Queen, if you're going to save him - it's now or never." Pixie broke through her thoughts, her tone of urgency bringing Queen back to the fallen boy in front of her. "Got it. She called back Koko into her pokeball, and positioned herself at the trainers right side. By now, he most likely would be on his last few breaths of self inhaled air. Her turn. Looking at him, she smiled, "It's not going to be painful for as long as I steadily give you air all throughout this ordeal. Remember to stay calm, and - if it makes you feel any better - to close your eyes. Everything is going to be alright." It was like talking to Saint again. All those moments they'd shared. Whether it be her having another anxiety attack, or consoling her when they stood at the front of the church to see their parents' caskets. Even that time when she was sick at home with a extremely high fever. The boy had a delicate quality that fostered a sense of familiarity and attachment despite him being a total stranger. Queen bent over him, placing one of her hands under his neck to lift it up towards her. That way, his airway wouldn't be obstructed by his tongue. Then, she placed her free hand upon his forehead, pinching his nose with the fingers of that hand and quickly tilted it back so that his chin pointed upward. She closed her eyes, filling her lungs with air as she pressed her lips to his. And, then, she was blowing into his mouth. One breath. Two breaths. Three breaths. Four breaths. Up, more air. Then, down again. Repeat. She'd have to do it for at least twenty minutes before the poison would finally end. It was critical that she kept going. If she got past the twenty minute mark, the poison would have worn off. Though he'd most likely still be paralyzed at first, he'd eventually regain control. And there wouldn't be any side-effects after that. She just had to make sure that there was air in his lungs. The clock was in at fifteen minutes before she was starting to feel light headed. Still, after having done it before - she had long learned to ignore it and tolerate it to the end. There was a person's life on the end, after all. She had to keep going to the end.[/style] [STYLE=background-color: #111111; border: 5px solid #000000; font: 7pt courier; text-transform: uppercase; width: 345px; color: #ACACAC; margin-left: -3px; -moz-border-radius: 0px 30px 30px 0px; -o-border-radius: 0px 30px 30px 0px; -webkit-border-radius: 0px 30px 30px 0px; border-radius: 0px 30px 30px 0px;]words 1152 | tags mika | notes so much research | made by prism![/style]

[mikaelrogers]

TIME IS TICKING [style=width=110px;border:3px solid #000000; width:100px;float:left;margin-bottom:10px] TAGS: Kira as QUEEN COUNT: 699 NOTES: I hope this post isn't crap lol. coded by JIN of PREDORMITUM[/style][/style] Queen wouldn't have to worry about Laelia attacking. The Glaceon was entirely immobilized by now and could barely keep her eyes open. Her eyes were half-lidded and her mouth was slightly open. That was one less thing to worry about for Mikael, though he wasn't entirely sure whether she was all right or not. After all, he didn't know what it was that Queen had injected into his Pokémon. It was potentially lethal, though by the way she was treating the situation, Mikael doubted that it was truly harmful. Briefly, his skin crawled as she turned him over onto his back. He still didn't understand why Queen's intention was not to kill. Would it not have been safer to just let him die? Mikael thought it was, perhaps, a bit dangerous to be a guerrilla fighter that revealed their appearance to an enemy. The chances of bumping into a person like Queen was only a small margin, but that did not necessarily mean that it was entirely impossible. Maybe Queen wasn't as heartless and cold as she made herself up to be. Not that it actually mattered. Here he was, wondering and theorizing on why she would build up such an icy exterior where he was potentially hanging between the cusp of life and death. It was a very odd feeling, knowing that he might very well be dying out here in the Eterna Forest entirely immobilized and in the hands of a stranger. "Right, right," Mikael mused feigning indifference. He wished she would hurry up. He was typically the strong and silent type, but the main reason why he hadn't been speaking too much was because it was getting harder to breathe now and when one was not receiving air, it wasn't possible to speak. Despite trying to keep his breathing controlled, Mikael soon found himself nearly gasping for air, a single bead of sweat rolling down from his forehead to the side of his temple. After that, it wasn't long before he realized that his air supply had been entirely cut off. It didn't feel as if someone were necessarily choking him, but instead, something on the lines of trying to breathe in but not taking in any air. The smile that Queen gave him was very disarming. He certainly hadn't been expecting that one. Not too long ago, Queen had been reminding him not to make things harder than they had to be in an incredibly cold tone. Now, he saw a glimpse of nurturing behind the hostile front she put up. Of course he was uneasy because he couldn't breathe, but he felt himself relax slightly at Queen's words. He remembered when his mother soothed him when he was injured or upset. She smiled and used the same, gentle voice, and maybe it was the lack of air that was causing him to fall back into his memories, overlapping Queen's face with his mother's. That was right. Everything was going to be just fine. He remembered when he'd had to use the same smile and words when Maria and he had nothing to eat or nowhere to sleep. He'd said the same exact thing when she asked him at six years old if the two of them were orphans now. Perhaps it was for the best that Mikael was beginning to feel light-headed. He understood that CPR was probably necessary for his survival, but he'd had quite enough of physical contact when she'd moved him onto his back. Now this was absolutely unheard of. He could barely feel Queen's lips upon his own as he struggled to keep a hold on reality. He felt the first breath of air from her, then the second, third, fourth, but still he was barely breathing on his own. However, by now, the light-headedness had subsided to the edges of his consciousness and his blurred vision was beginning to sharpen slowly but surely. Mikael shut his eyes as he realized that he was entirely unable to move his body. It was a scary thought, knowing that his life depended on this girl who had practically appeared out of nowhere and after helping him, would probably disappear back into nowhere.

[kira]

[cs=2][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 400px; border-left: 15px solid #000000; height: 520px, bTable][STYLE=border: 5px solid #000000; margin-left: -3px; width: 100px; height: 100px; float:left;][/style][STYLE= font: 20pt georgia; color: #111111; letter-spacing: -4px; line-height: 25px;] YOU TRY TO RIP ME BUT I DON'T TEAR AND I DON'T CARE [/style][STYLE= margin-left: -3px; font: 7pt tahoma; line-height: 11px; letter-spacing: 1px; padding: 5px; text-align: justify; color: #eeeeee; background-color: #111111; height: 300px; overflow: auto; padding: 10px; border: 3px solid #000000; -moz-border-radius: 0px 30px 30px 0px; -o-border-radius: 0px 30px 30px 0px; -webkit-border-radius: 0px 30px 30px 0px; border-radius: 0px 30px 30px 0px]Death was a kind of dye that never faded, regardless of scrubbing or starching. It was a color that never disappeared. Even if you couldn't see it, that didn't mean it wasn't there. Once you encountered death, it became a part of you. It was always there. Just as it was always with Queen. For her, it had never been a matter of personal opinion or preference. Killing, that was. She had to do it if she meant to survive, and she didn't hesitate about it. Even if there were consequences to be had in the end - that didn't stop Queen from doing what had to be done. Call it bones in the back of her closet. But Queen was the kind of girl that stood in front of an audience and preformed her part. As the protagonist or antagonist, it didn't matter. As long as everything went to plan, Queen didn't care what people made of her or what she made of herself. If it meant a better future, she'd do it all. Sometimes she wished she could stop though. It was a small feeling. An aching feeling that had somehow laced itself in-between the coldness that filled the bottom of her heart. But every time she felt that choking feeling, Queen took it apart. It was necessary. All of these things that she did were a part of a bigger picture, and that was all that mattered. That was all it took for her to turn everything off. And, then, all she was left with was the chill that she had long grown accustomed to. That ruthless apathy that stretched endlessly across her form, like a sheet of ice. For, in the moments that she killed, there was only room for her mind and her reason - not her heart. No one else would find out about what lingered underneath who Queen made herself believe she was. Like a wax doll that words slipped off of, unaffected. Only she would know what she felt, and only she would have to make the decision to put that all aside. By default, Queen was impartial to the opinions of others and the impact that her actions would have on others' opinions on her. It was a survival mechanism she'd been taught time and time again in the city. And yet, here it was - in her very arms - the first error she'd ever made. Artificial Respiration. By definition it was an act of restoring someone else's breathing in the event of them being unable to breathe. But the keywords here was: Lux operative. In the minutes that had passed with each breath, Queen found herself frozen in place and unable to find the will to stop herself from saving this single individual. All she could hear was the screaming of those who would die. The words of those in charge. The whispering of her thoughts. The yearnings in her heart. The multiple voices that rose to be heard stuck in a gridlock of obscurity. White noise. "Queen," Pixie's voice was soft. Melodic, even. "You can stop now. You won't be able to stand up. Be careful not to hyperventilate." Even in her lightheaded stupor, Queen found herself lightly placing the boy's head down to her lap so that she didn't give him a concussion of sorts. Then, it was her turn to struggle for air. "It's not like I'll die," she thought, though it was difficult to focus on anything. But, really, there was nothing she had to focus on except being calm. And, making sure that the semi-paralyzed boy next to her didn't neutralize her right this moment. She forced her breath to be steady. "It'll be awhile until you can properly walk. Perhaps till night fall. Your pokemon should be conscious by that time, also. I shot them earlier with a few doses of tranquilizer. It's not much for you and I, but to them it's enough. There are no side effects, except that they should feel quite refreshed when they wake up. If there are any problems, then take them to the Pokemon Center. Other than that, I am not obligated to do anything else for you since you are in my territory and where in possession of stolen documents." To him, Queen maintained her blase tone. Every smile and tenderness that she'd mustered in her voice earlier was lost the second that Queen dissociated herself from her body. It was just her mind talking now. "I'll return your gun when I see fit. If you do anything conspicuous, I'll see that you're paralyzed for life. That's the one thing you can trust about me." Whoever this man was. He was not Saint. He was not of Nox. And he was not a child or a woman. No different than the common male Lux operative that she'd do better to be wary of. Once her heart had steadied itself enough, Queen felt herself relax underneath her skin. It was soothing to feel the cover of indifference spread out within her blood. Unlike the familiarity and tenderness she'd felt only a second ago, the chill of her uncaring black heart settled Queen in a way that made decision making easier. Sliding her legs from underneath him, Queen moved to grasp him by the arms and semi-carry him towards the tree. He was heavy. A boy of about six feet, maybe. She could feel her tendons and bones struggling underneath the sheer force of his limp body. But Queen had fared such weights before. She was not a guerilla for nothing. In minutes, she had him down on the ground again. This time, he was laying against a tree. What good would it do for her to save this one guy? None. None at all. He was a liability she'd do better to cut loose. There was no room for mistakes. She'd known it from the beginning of this operation. From the moment she'd sent out those darts. Queen wasn't stationed in this forest to save people. Yet she acted on her instinct as a Pokemon Ranger. A spontaneous impulse to help a person, even if she was the one who'd shot him down. Did she somehow, deep within herself, think that saving this one boy would make up for every death tagged to her name? That was impossible. For too many months had she claimed the lives of others as her own, and delivered them to the door of death himself. The blood on her hands, yes - it was a dye that could never be erased. Even if she washed them. The winter air was chilly. But Queen was used to the biting cold. Still, if one was paralyzed - it was difficult to feel warm or cold. Which was a dangerous state. Perplexed, Queen climbed up the tree she'd originally been positioned in. It was there that she grabbed and threw a blanket out from her bag onto the boy down below. Then she reached for the packets of hot chocolate and a mug. Feeling around her satchel, Queen caught sight of the small package lingering at the bottom. Belladonna. Her eyes narrowed, "It'd be for the best… if I killed him." She slid the thin package into her pocket, before jumping down. The movement made her bones click as her stiletto heels jarred her back into reality. How could she save him, only to poison him now? If she'd made the decision to save him, it was better to live with the consequences of having saved at least one person. "No, it's better to be sure. It's better to kill with finality. I clearly wasn't thinking earlier." Queen moved towards the handicapped Lux operative, still paralyzed and laying against the tree where she'd left him. "Let's see some identification, darling." Queen stated steadily, situating herself in front of him and sitting down between his legs. Unaware of any discomfort that he may have of her actions. Peeling the blanket she'd tossed onto him a few seconds before, Queen quickly located his wallet in his belt pouch and pulled it out to reveal his Lux identification card. That was all she needed. A lux was a lux. But as she was closing the boy's wallet, she noticed the glint of color out of the corner of her eye. Pulling the glossy square out to where she could see it, Queen found herself looking at the picture of a young girl. Perhaps a teenager. It didn't really matter. But by the second picture, she'd felt her heart skip a beat. There he was. The paralyzed "just a Lux" guy. Mikael, according to his identification card. Standing next to the same girl that she'd seen in the picture before. He had family. A sister. Just as Queen had her sisters. Of course he did. They all did. It made no difference. Queen stood up quickly, going over to pour some heated water into the mug she was holding. There was blood on the handle, and somewhat on the side of the handle she'd held onto. There was pain in her palm, where she'd held the handle so tightly that her fingernails had tore into her palm. No. It didn't change anything. Sister or no sister. He was a Lux. He was the enemy. Did that girl have family? Or, were they orphans like QUeen and her sisters? Queen slid the packet of hot chocolate into the heated water. Looking down at her reflection in the mug, Queen hesitated. The packet of belladonna positioned above the brown liquid. How would that girl fare without her older her brother? She'd be fine. Yes, she'd be alright. "Let him die. Let him die. Let him die --" She slid a few grains into the cup, before freezing. How would Kali fare without her? How would Saint and Venus do? "Oh please, let this not be a mistake that I'll regret." She put the package back into her pocket, stirring the contents of the mug. Then Queen sidled back over to the boy, careful to not spill the hot liquid over her injured hand and herself. She'd make him sleep. A few grains were enough to knock him out for nearly all day. That way, she'd be able to disappear - and turn her back on this moment in her life forever. "Here, boy, for the cold. It's winter, after all. It'd be stupid if I expected you to live without warmth in your state. But don't expect anything else of me." She spoke roughly, her eyes focused on Mikael's. Yet, she wasn't really seeing him. She was seeing her sister again. "I suggest you not speak. Try to conserve your breath." She wouldn't be able to stand it if she heard him speak. How ironic that Emil had just had his breakdown only a few days ago, and now - here she was -caught in the same situation. It was all burning down.[/style] [STYLE=background-color: #111111; border: 5px solid #000000; font: 7pt courier; text-transform: uppercase; width: 345px; color: #ACACAC; margin-left: -3px; -moz-border-radius: 0px 30px 30px 0px; -o-border-radius: 0px 30px 30px 0px; -webkit-border-radius: 0px 30px 30px 0px; border-radius: 0px 30px 30px 0px;]words 1835 | tags mika | notes /added more | made by prism![/style]

[mikaelrogers]

TIME IS TICKING [style=width=110px;border:3px solid #000000; width:100px;float:left;margin-bottom:10px] TAGS: Kira as QUEEN COUNT: 697 NOTES: wtf this is a third of what you posted. coded by JIN of PREDORMITUM[/style][/style] At least he could breathe on his own now. That was weird, maybe even bizarre. To be awake and not be able to move was a little concerning, especially while in the presence of an enemy. Queen would only have to do so much as take a knife and slit his throat to end his life like an animal led to the slaughterhouse. Mikael made no audible replies. After all, he had just caught his breath again. It wasn't possible to speak while suffocating. The icy air burned at his throat as he heaved in and out. He found that he actually had to think about breathing in and then exhaling, a little concerned that he might suddenly forget how to breathe. Mikael wouldn't take air or his diaphragm for granted again. If it really did take until nightfall for him to get up and walk, Mikael figured he was still as good as dead. So maybe he wouldn't suffocate and die, but instead, he'd die of hypothermia. He didn't really think it mattered how it happened. Either way, the chance that he wouldn't see Maria's face again haunted him ad it was something that he could not ignore. It was like a bony hand with thin fingers that perched itself over his shoulder, squeezing harder, all the while its invisible voice prodded and probed at his mind with its whispered words, planting seeds of anxiety and fear. He was not afraid for himself, on the contrary, for his own Pokémon, for Griff, for Maria. Obligated? Queen hadn't been obligated to help him. That was what baffled him the most. Perhaps she believed that he wasn't worth killing... but if that was the case, then surely he had not been worth saving? Or, was she one of the people who opposed the senseless killing but she too had been forced into fighting? ... No, that couldn't be it. She was far too cold for that to be the case. Mikael didn't consider himself cold, just indifferent and apathetic when it came to other people, but he got the sense that Queen's goal was to make him loathe her. Everything that had happened occurred in frames inside Mikael's memory. He did not remember when Queen had taken him by the arms and half-carried half-dragged him beneath a tree. He just realized that he was now in a different location than where he'd fallen, Laelia and Julius further away from him. He was surprised that the petite woman had been able to drag him to that point. Then again, a guerrilla fighter had to be strong and swift to strike silently, strike fast, and then retreat as quickly as they appeared. He felt Queen prop him against a tree and he leaned his head against it. He felt a blanket land in his lap from above. Was it really that cold outside? He couldn't tell. His hands, feet, entire body was numb from the curare. If it had been physically possible, Mikael would have kicked Queen away from him. There was no need for her to probe about his belongings. He felt violated. By nature, Mikael was a private person. He already resented her a bit for putting him in said situation, even more that she'd gone frisking in his wallet, and now she was calling him boy. She appeared to be the same age as him, give or take a year. Still, it was petty, so Mikael ignored the feelings. Instead, he wondered if the drink she was offering him was safe to drink. Never take food from a stranger, especially one that had just tried to poison you. His emerald eyes narrowed as they met Queen's. He'd caught his breath. He would speak if he wished to do so. "... I'll pass," he muttered. His lips parted for a moment as if there was more that he wanted to say. Mikael stopped himself though. There was no point in asking that simply three-letter word. It wasn't as if Queen would give him the truth anyways, would she? Of course, he'd never know if he didn't try. The single word formed itself on his lips again. "... why."

[kira]

[cs=2][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 400px; border-left: 15px solid #000000; height: 520px, bTable][STYLE=border: 5px solid #000000; margin-left: -3px; width: 100px; height: 100px; float:left;][/style][STYLE= font: 20pt georgia; color: #111111; letter-spacing: -4px; line-height: 25px;] YOU TRY TO RIP ME BUT I DON'T TEAR AND I DON'T CARE [/style][STYLE= margin-left: -3px; font: 7pt tahoma; line-height: 11px; letter-spacing: 1px; padding: 5px; text-align: justify; color: #eeeeee; background-color: #111111; height: 300px; overflow: auto; padding: 10px; border: 3px solid #000000; -moz-border-radius: 0px 30px 30px 0px; -o-border-radius: 0px 30px 30px 0px; -webkit-border-radius: 0px 30px 30px 0px; border-radius: 0px 30px 30px 0px]A life was like a long piece of thread. Delicate, thin and so easy to twist. Brittle, even. The world was a mess of threads that were tousled about, and filled with people who had no idea that somewhere in the Heavens, their lives were slowly being stretched out and cut by the Fates. Yet, while Hercules had been given a golden string that could never be cut - she'd been thrown into the realm of lost souls before her string had even been untangled. Down there, it was a human eat human world. It was only a matter of time before the sins of the fallen became numerous knots in what leftover thread they had. After all, living in the darkness changed them forever. For, how then would you ever restore your thread with so many knots? That was it - you couldn't. It was then that a person realized that there was nothing left to do but slowly disappear into the eternal darkness. Ephemeral existences snuffed out by the world's harsh winds like candlelight. For being alive, Queen had been sentenced by destiny with two choices: Becoming a monster - or, fading away with the rest of the forsaken. The latter was not even an option for her. Regardless of whether or not she desired to die - that was a decision that she couldn't make. Her life wasn't hers to end. Not with her sisters still in the equation. So, Queen accepted it and moved on. This was fate. Her fate. It wasn't fairytales, happy endings and damsels being saved by prince charming. But she wouldn't cry. It was a cold world and that was that. She'd made the decision. No one had forced her. No one had asked her. She'd done it of her own free will. What more was there to deliberate? Who was there to blame? No one. That was the end of it. Whether it was living in the brothel, or starving on the street - Queen had long come to terms with the reality of common life. The fact was - no one gave a damn if a person lived or died. People were too busy with their own lives, whether their lives be easy or hard. It didn't matter. Every person had the same basic set of characteristics. It was just human nature. And, humankind had the tendency to hate each other instantaneously without legitimate reason. But, that meant absolutely nothing to her. In hindsight, every lesson to be learned on the street had provided her with the insight of such a reality. And, she'd long learned to counter it. After all, survival of the fittest was simply a game of patience and knowing the facts for her. Maybe for an average girl - an average rich girl that she'd been - the action of a mocking laugh, an angry glare or a hostile sneer was enough to unnerve or hurt a person. But, that side of Queen had long died. Things like that meant absolutely nothing to a guerilla. Not when the daily routine was about dissecting body language, shooting curare darts, attacking pokemon, counterattacking assassins and the like. Feelings had to become hard, and strong. In this case? Old habits died hard. And the rough played harder. Even if her heart felt uneasy. Her mind was always sure. It never stopped or hesitated. And when that failed, Queen had already merged within herself an internal auto-pilot switch. Maybe that was why, then, that Queen's heart didn't stop entirely when Mikael spoke. Her breath was steady, and her eyes were leveled. She didn't shake or shy. Queen hadn't even lost the casual edge to her body. Nor had she lost the lethal lines that outlined her demeanor. There she stood, simply taking in the sound of his voice with her eyes. As if the rest of her body wasn't there, because she'd dissociated herself from the rest of her to trivialize and diminish the power of what was at hand. "You seem to be under the impression that I was asking you a question. Except, it was more of a formality to address you before I do anything. " Queen mused nonchalantly, her eyes peeling his words apart as if they were fragments visible only in sight rather than heart. It was such an easy thing. Dissociation, that was. With such apathetic eyes, everything became unimportant and ineffective. Things that could never be taken seriously, or personally. Queen pointed to a part of the mug's rim where, as if it were a pitcher, it curved into a thin whistle-like formation."However, formalities aside, I'm more than capable at grabbing your hair, yanking your head back and wedging this between your teeth. I just however prefer a less messy instance. Too bad you don't share my sentiment." He didn't have a choice. And she wasn't giving him any. It was either he accept her way with grace - or, she take every sense of dignity away from him as she forced the mug rim between his teeth while he was still almost completely immobilized. "If you have an inkling about what kind of situation you're in, I'd suggest Mikael that you learn to cooperate and not forget that - whatever the circumstances - I am still the one with the gun." She said, her voice sliding through the air like a hot knife going through butter. Queen lowered herself to him again, taking out a knife from her belt and resting it against the side of his cheek while her free hand rested against the tree trunk above his head. The blade slid easily against his soft skin, the sharp edge pressed deep into the epidermis. Perhaps, she'd cut him. Perhaps not. It didn't matter if it made a point. She was the devil, and she'd make him believe that. "I am no friend of yours. I am perfectly capable of killing you right now. Don't ever feel that you're exempt from my blade, or my wrath. Don't even allow yourself the idea that you may be safe here, with me. Try my patience, and you're dead. Which, I'm assuming - would be difficult for that younger sister of yours in that picture." It didn't matter. It didn't matter. It didn't matter. She felt sick. Why had she saved him? Queen rose, stepping away from the rather perceptive but temporarily handicapped Lux operative tentatively. "I'm a devil, I'm a devil, I'm a devil -" Yeah, she could do this. "On a whim. You mean nothing to Lux, according to your identification card. What point is there in neutralizing your existence when I've already taken what I need from you? You're most certainly not in the position of any kind of status that entitles fame or power in Lux. Why should I give you the light of day? It's completely boring." Now was the time to struggle. He had a little sister. Her family was more important. But, so was his family. She was a part of Nox. He wasn't necessarily important. He's still an Enemy. But, even if it was something so menial, he was still someone like herself. She felt perplexed, deep in the recesses of her thoughts. Her ideas were dysfunctional, coming in arguments that were mismatched and opposed one another. The side of her that wanted to remove a witness - and the side of her that perhaps sought redemption. "Or, maybe understanding? She quickly dispersed that thought. So, why? The question seemed to slip from her mind to his lips. Queen slid the knife back into her belt, her eyes closing for a brief moment before exhaling sharply, "I didn't feel like killing you. Just leave it at that." The truth fell heavily, like a large rock, onto the soft grass. But there was more. She wouldn't tell him. After all, men were the most dangerous of creatures. "Don't ask anymore questions. I'm not in the mood for small-talk." Yes, her nerves were unraveling. After all, here it was - her one weakness: Family. And, it was almost nearly exposed to an enemy operative. It was too close to home for her. "Just drink the hot chocolate."[/style] [STYLE=background-color: #111111; border: 5px solid #000000; font: 7pt courier; text-transform: uppercase; width: 345px; color: #ACACAC; margin-left: -3px; -moz-border-radius: 0px 30px 30px 0px; -o-border-radius: 0px 30px 30px 0px; -webkit-border-radius: 0px 30px 30px 0px; border-radius: 0px 30px 30px 0px;]words 1367 | tags mika | notes <333 mwehehe | made by prism![/style]

[mikaelrogers]

TIME IS TICKING [style=width=110px;border:3px solid #000000; width:100px;float:left;margin-bottom:10px] TAGS: Kira as QUEEN COUNT: 632 NOTES: ffft sorry this took so long. coded by JIN of PREDORMITUM[/style][/style] It wasn't as if Mikael had the strength to clench his teeth in protest. The hot chocolate was warm and as much as he would have liked to drink it, Queen gave him no reason to trust her and for all he knew, there was the chance of something being in it. Perhaps she enjoyed toying with her victims' feelings, giving them a false sense of security as she performed artificial respiration to assure them that her intentions had not meant to kill, and the blanket she provided for her victims only worked to further soothe and reassure them that everything would be all right. The hot chocolate was an even bigger comfort, but should it be tainted with something more, it would, in the end, be the comforting liquid that would kill. Here came the knife. He felt it sliding against his cheek, leaving a thin line of red. There was something warm running down his face and it took Mikael a moment to realize that it was blood that had escaped the cut and was now trickling down his face. It didn't hurt. He was numb from the curare anyways and the cold air helped to take away feeling in there. Memento Mori, as the saying went. Mikael was quite aware that his life potentially was being held in the hands of this female. He would have ignored all that Queen said, but when she mentioned Maria, the young woman struck a nerve. His eyes glinted with a subdued hostility. No, he couldn't reveal to her that he was feeling too hostile. He would only be wading further into the deep end. So Mikael complied. He would drink. Perhaps it was because he was soft, but he felt that there might be some truth in Queen's words. It was rather odd, since she gave him no reason to trust her. He parted his lips, feeling the warm, sweet liquid run down his throat. It warmed his insides as he drank it. He would just not drink too much. As he drank, he kept his eyes fixed upon Queen's. She was unpredictable. He still did not know what would happen if he refused to comply with her and Mikael did not want to take that risk anymore. He only swallowed twice though, not ready to drink the entire mug yet. Queen was right that he held no positions or titles within Lux. He was just another soldier out on the battle field, another pawn in the whole scheme of things. However, he had no true desire to climb up the ranks. Then again, a title would mean extra benefits would go to Maria. Saffron City's Sabrina had remained in Lux's ranks and the gym leader was the one who had been charged with managing the city. Mikael generally dissented of any job that took him far away from Kanto. The furthest he agreed to go had been Johto, but lately, it was getting harder and harder for him to fight on home territory when the battleground had moved out to Hoenn, Sinnoh, and now Unova. Or so he had heard. The hot chocolate had been unusually sweet. Hot chocolate typically had varying degrees of sweetness though. Giving it too much thought or dwelling upon it probably wasn't too good of an idea, so Mikael instead took it upon himself to study Queen's face. He searched for a sign, something, anything that would give him further insight into her. Mikael did not believe that humans were innately evil and that situations uncontrollable to them were what forced them into such vile positions. It was when he tried focusing on her eyes that he found that the edges of his vision was becoming blurred and it was getting harder to focus on her.

[kira]

[cs=2][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 400px; border-left: 15px solid #000000; height: 520px, bTable][STYLE=border: 5px solid #000000; margin-left: -3px; width: 100px; height: 100px; float:left;][/style][STYLE= font: 20pt georgia; color: #111111; letter-spacing: -4px; line-height: 25px;] YOU TRY TO RIP ME BUT I DON'T TEAR AND I DON'T CARE [/style][STYLE= margin-left: -3px; font: 7pt tahoma; line-height: 11px; letter-spacing: 1px; padding: 5px; text-align: justify; color: #eeeeee; background-color: #111111; height: 300px; overflow: auto; padding: 10px; border: 3px solid #000000; -moz-border-radius: 0px 30px 30px 0px; -o-border-radius: 0px 30px 30px 0px; -webkit-border-radius: 0px 30px 30px 0px; border-radius: 0px 30px 30px 0px]Dry unrest slithered about in her veins. To be frank, it unhinged her. Like vines that laced themselves through the bolts on doors, and left her vunerably open to everything she'd tried to keep outside. The anxiety took hold of her and made her heart thrash about like a struggling captured thing. Yes, she was caught - and, such an indescribable feeling it was to be caught. Here, in the broad daylight of the forest had Queen shot down and then rescued an enemy. Under the eyes of all that had fought here, she'd done it intentionally and by no mistake. Such a ghastly thing. Yet, it was true. Although no sooner would she have liked to accept such a blunder, denial wouldn't suit Queen any better than the atrocious shame she felt staring at the boy in front of her. So, as she knelt there, in front of him - Queen swallowed her injured pride that objected to accepting such a daft mistake and forced herself to get over it. What was done could not be changed, altered or even erased. So, Queen did nothing. Like everything else, she let the wave of emotions overtake her - and pass her by. It tumbled and tumbled out over her, raw and trembling. But even when it overwhelmed her, she ignored the urge to change her expression or move. She was still and expressionless, even with every atom inside of her reeling. Yes, it didn't matter. It didn't matter because she could dissociate herself so easily. Apathy ran so deep. It made everything inside of her indistinguishable and meaningless. All she could do was kneel there calmly, in front of this strange boy, as she watched him with chilled but subtle curiosity. It didn't matter that his eyes had burned briefly with hostility. It didn't matter that blood trickled down in a stream of crimson off of his soft, pale skin. To her, her eyes felt like glass. Cool and unfeeling glass that neither cracked or changed, even when both the ugly and the beautiful became reflected on its surface. It's just who she was. A woman who could never be comfortable enough in her own emotions for very long. Such a shame that she'd grown to be such a weak and fractured thing. "It only takes a sip. You don't need to swallow the rest, if you don't want to." Queen spoke, smiling at his hesitance to finish he whole mug. It wasn't a hostile smile, or a smug smile - just a delicate and subtle smile that rose against her pale features, like quietly descending mist. As his eyes flickered, Queen gently reached out to brush the hair out of his face before taking the mug from his limp fingers with her free hand. It was for the best that he fell asleep. For the best that he close his eyes, and let the image of Queen disappear from his sight. He would sleep for a long while. Perhaps, until night fall. "Stay warm. Survive, and cherish your sister, Mikael. Sleep well, dream beautiful things - and return to her side, far from this ugly war." She said absentmindedly, her warm fingers sliding down the side of his face before dropping to her side. "The next time we meet may not end the same way as this. It's better that you forget ever stepping into this forest. It's better that you hate me." It was better that he was too far gone asleep to ever know that she was speaking to him with warmth. Speaking to him as if, somehow, she was longing for him to reach out past the glass that encircled her and make her feel alive again. As if he'd hear her and keep her next to him, because she knew that he was someone who'd understand everything - and she was throwing him away anyway.[/style] [STYLE=background-color: #111111; border: 5px solid #000000; font: 7pt courier; text-transform: uppercase; width: 345px; color: #ACACAC; margin-left: -3px; -moz-border-radius: 0px 30px 30px 0px; -o-border-radius: 0px 30px 30px 0px; -webkit-border-radius: 0px 30px 30px 0px; border-radius: 0px 30px 30px 0px;]words 665 | tags mika | notes breakdown, yo. | made by prism![/style]