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Post by Sharei on Nov 13, 2020 15:40:32 GMT -6
The Genasi's orange eye narrowed. He didn't like the closing distance, but without outright lighting the man on fire, there wasn't much he could do. The vulnerability of his situation had never been as present - at least with John, Koji knew that John wasn't after his life. Just his dignity.
"If you're trying to get me worked up," Koji said flatly. "I'll have you know that I have fifteen years of temperament therapy that says you won't. I don't play games, and I don't respond to taunts."
The Genasi briefly considered the door again, though not for the same reason as he had done before. How long would it...? It was possible.
"You admit that you hunt them, then, and you know his name. No one on Sidelis uses it, so you're no cultist either."
The use of the hideout's name had been no accident. Anyone who was hunting the cultists knew of the legendary Sidelis, although no one knew where or what it was. Even Koji's expansive digging hadn't told him anything - and he'd actually been there.
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Post by luscen on Nov 13, 2020 18:05:33 GMT -6
“Well then you sound like a very boring person,” Casmir replied around his toothpick. “Living a very boring life, in a very boring hospital room. It's no wonder you get along with the Flashbulb; you two probably have very engaging discussions about watching paint dry.”
The Hunter took notice of the way Koji was eyeing the door- either he was stalling for time for his next appointment, or he was considering whether or not he could call for assistance before Casmir could make it out of the room. Either way, time was running short, and he needed to wrap this up. It was already a given that he would tell Agent Telmore about the Hunter's little visit, and that would just make it all the harder for Casmir to move around the city as freely as he had, so far.
At the mention of Sidelis, however, the Hunter's eyebrows rose ever-so-slightly. It was the name of Atol's base of operations, the seat of power of the Soundless. He'd seen it referenced in missives he'd recovered from dismantling their various sanctums and hideouts, but he was no closer to locating it now than he had been when he'd managed to find the old stronghold he and his brother had been taken to. For Koji to know it meant that either Atol had taken him there and mentioned its name, or the paramilitary organization he worked for had very good intel.
'He's baiting you,' Casmir's more rational side said. 'Ignore it. He doesn't have anything of value, and the longer you spend here, the more risk you put yourself in.'
The Hunter growled mentally; his logical side was right, of course. "No, I'm not. Gold star for you, then." Since Koji had refused the healing, he might as well get onto the main reason he was here. Standing up and walking over to the window, he rolled the toothpick between his teeth, revealing a set of carefully carved runes on the underside of it. “<Are you paying attention?>” he muttered in Polish, knowing who was listening.
'I am,' Delphi's voice spoke in his head, through the charm he had hidden in his coat. 'You don't seem to be having much luck with him, though... Must be frustrating. I can't see him, myself- I think someone warded the place? When you stepped into the room, I lost track of you, too.'
“<Of course,>” Casmir replied, still careful to keep his tone quiet- he didn't know how good the Firebird's hearing was, or if he could understand him. “<Can't be too careful where this guy's concerned. My guess is that whoever lost track of him might want him back; too much security for just a probie or a Paramilitary's liaison, and I doubt this is just for the Soundless- if Atol wanted him dead, he'd have been dead when they found him.>” He opened the window and flicked the rune-engraved toothpick out into the alley below. “<What do you need from me?>”
'There's a spider nearby.' Delphi replied 'Very nearby, at that. I think you're right on top of it? Can you see it?'
A spider, huh? Casmir had a feeling he knew the one Delphi was sensing through her strange connections. Careful not to scare her, the Hunter reached down and placed his finger near Sara's location, a clear invitation to crawl onto it. Once she had, the Hunter took the lighter from his breast pocket to hide his movement, keeping the spider on his extended finger, and flicking the lighter open and closed, hopefully to keep Koji from noticing the little creature on his hand- at this distance, it would be hard, but not impossible, and if he managed to notice anything funny about it, Sara's cover would be blown.
He frowned, however, when he noticed Koji's sputtering flames working themselves up into what passed for a "frenzy." He discretely checked the shielding talisman in his pocket, something he'd opted to bring along just in case he ran into any kind of heavy trouble on this venture- opting out of bringing any weapons, he settled instead for some strong defensive options, but he wasn't sure they'd protect Sara. "Stop glaring at me like you're trying to strike up that flint and tinder of yours," he said with a sigh. "Look, kid, you're a shrewd one, so think about it for a moment, please? If I wanted to kill you, don't you think I'd have taken a shot the literal second you outed me? I haven't tried touching a hair on your thieving head so far, and I'd appreciate it if you cooled it with the flamethrower act, or looking like you're gonna call the dogs on me at any moment." Casmir's eyes darted to the door. "I'm already anxious enough about that as it is, thank you."
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Post by Sharei on Nov 13, 2020 20:53:58 GMT -6
While Koji's gaze did not follow the toothpick he made a note of it, especially the glyphs that he'd seen on its underside. His eyes were not as keen as an icarim's, but he had been built genetically superior, and the room wasn't that large. Could it be some kind of reagent? It seemed such a specific action.
Got to make sure I tell them about that.
Then started the Polish. Koji did not understand the words, although his common knowledge of German and Russian helped him understand the inflection. The conspiracy behind the way he was talking to himself - starting and stopping, as though holding a conversation - got his hackles up. The Genasi brought his fire to bear immediately, threatened by it.
It was a good thing, perhaps, that Casmir decided to speak up when he did. Koji had been a half-second from lighting him up like a firework.
"Try to look at it from my point of view," the Genasi said, some of the immediate threat lessening. "The last time we met you were trying to hurt someone. You shot at Aaron, and you could have killed him if that bullet hadn't been rubber. I know for a fact that you're a Hunter, and I'm a super. Your job is to kill people like me. What am I supposed to think when you show up uninvited to my hospital room, which you shouldn't even know about, offering to 'help'? While I'm basically incapable of defending myself? Couldn't ask for a better chance. Nothing about this seems trustworthy at all."
Koji's eye narrowed. While some of the heat eased, the threat was not completely gone yet.
"There are a lot of people around here who think you're working with the Soundless. I don't agree, it isn't Atol's style, but there's nothing saying you don't have your own agenda. Zramek could have hired you, and since they want me alive, your arguments about opportunities don't count for much. If you really don't mean any harm, knock off whatever you're up to over there."
The Genasi snorted.
"And for the record, I wasn't looking for someone to call to just now."
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Post by luscen on Nov 13, 2020 21:54:15 GMT -6
“And you think I'm going to... what? Wheel you out of here? In front of all the agents and orderlies at the desk? Throw you out the window into a conveniently placed net? That I have some... what was that thing you said? 'Zramek?'” Casmir frowned as he pondered over the unfamiliar word. It sounded like the name of some comic book super villain organization. “That I have some goons waiting outside somewhere to stuff you in a duffle bag and sneak you out the back door? I don't exactly have a lot of genuine options, here, Hunter or not- what exactly are you thinking I'm going to do if not take you out?”
He flipped the lid of his lighter, the flame blinking on again. Mostly to try and keep Koji's gaze on it, rather than Sara, but also because he felt agitated. This whole thing sat wrong with him, and it was hard not to feel like a hounded fox. “But fine. If it'll make you feel better, I'll be a good boy.” he said, spreading his hands, though he was careful not to jostle the shifter too much. “And for the record, if we're keeping score, I was just trying to get some information on my Mark. Apparently, he'd been expecting me, and set up a little welcoming committee. Then you and the Trenchcoat showed up and screwed everything up. Then you stole my equipment. Now I have no leads, and the guy who did that to you is currently running around unaccounted for.” He flicked the lighter again. “And you still owe me two grand. Don't think I'm letting you off the hook for that.”
With no small amount of effort, Casmir kept his eyes from drifting over to Sara, and instead focused on the redhead; he needed Delphi to hurry this up, but he couldn't speak aloud without alerting Koji to the fact that he had someone he was working with. And while he wasn't concerned they could get to her, simply knowing about her existence put her in more than a small amount of danger. “If you weren't looking for someone to call, then why do you keep eyeballing the door? You're certainly in no shape to get to it,” he mused, nodding at the Gensai's rather pitiful condition.
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Post by Sharei on Nov 16, 2020 12:36:24 GMT -6
"You earned that two grand illegally, so I don't owe you anything," Koji retorted. He wasn't giving the money back. Besides, it was evidence, he didn't even have it.
"And frankly, I have no idea what you're capable of. I don't make a habit of assuming things about people's capabilities that I haven't had a chance to observe. You could have some kind of power or a magical item - I don't know. We could argue the ins and outs all day, but that doesn't change, and I've no interest in it."
"This room has a fire ward on it," he added, in the interest of de-escalation. "I was considering how easily I could trip the fire alarm in the hallway if I had to trigger an evacuation. In case you tried something. So now we're up to date."
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Post by luscen on Nov 18, 2020 20:45:48 GMT -6
Casmir rolled his eyes at the Gensai's accusation. “No, but you'll assume that any money I have can't have been legally earned...” he muttered, checking his watch; it had been about five minutes since he'd set foot in here, and without knowing what the visiting schedule was for Koji's other friends, he had no idea whether or not to be expecting another flower delivery, followed by some awkward questions. For whatever reason, Delphi was taking longer than usual in her examination, and that helped fuel the Hunter's anxiety, which made it hard to try and maintain a sense of civility.
'C'mon, Delphi, I need an update here...' Casmir thought to himself, flicking his lighter before taking a breath in an attempt to calm his nerves. Eyeing the redhead, the Hunter tilted his head slightly; Koji's flames were still simmering, his magical aura flickering like a campfire as Atol's lingering corruption futilely gnawed away at it. Odds were, the Gensai would make a recovery, possibly even burn the last of those dregs off once he did, but something about the situation still bothered Casmir.
“How did Atol manage to grab someone like you?" he asked, gesturing to the bedridden former Asset. "You seem pretty sure of your skills, and I'd figure he'd have a bit of trouble with you. I can only imagine he must have caught you at a bad moment. Did he manage to hold that Agent of yours hostage, or something?” Given the nature of the dagger, Casmir couldn't see Atol letting someone with light-based powers just walk around freely. Unless the Flashbulb was really that pathetic, the Magus would have either killed him or secured him at the first opportunity, and Koji didn't seem to be the type to simply let Atol do as he pleased, in that regard.
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Post by Sharei on Dec 19, 2020 13:07:57 GMT -6
"What?"
The assessment caught him so off guard that the built-up fire went out, and Koji's normally stoic expression flickered. He didn't have the words to express it, but the disconcertment was evident in his face, and the words that popped out were less than kind.
"Are you - stupid?"
Then the ex-asset caught himself and locked down his surprise. While it was true that he'd punched Atol during their confrontation, the magus had overpowered Koji and held him captive with relative ease. The thought that Atol would have trouble with anyone seemed ludicrous.
"Have you... never met Atol?" he asked suddenly.
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Post by luscen on Dec 20, 2020 10:34:52 GMT -6
“Doesn't matter if I did or not, by the looks of it,” the Hunter replied, taking note of Koji's momentary hitch. He tried not to dwell on the implications of what that unsettled expression could mean, but honestly speaking it was hard to avoid it completely; he'd assumed that the Magus had managed to sneak up on the Gensai unawares. By keeping Koji at a distance, then overpowering him magically, Atol would have come out the victor. After all, while the redhead's power was certainly far beyond any elemental Casmir had seen before, the fact was that Koji had a specific weakness, and could only do one thing, magically, even if it was exceptionally well. Atol on the other hand, had no such drawbacks, so a magical duel would have been decided in short order, with Koji being found wanting.
And yet... something about this still didn't sit right. There was still something he was missing. “So, what happened, then? Why did he take you?” Atol didn't tend to get involved in his Cult's “resource gathering” on a personal level. Not as far as Casmir could tell, anyway. That he was here in Wathais was likely due to the importance of collecting his stray god, but if he'd needed a powerful reagent for his ritual to bring back S'khet, wouldn't the eye of a Gensai be just as potent as the blood of a Storm Dragon?
Or was there something else at play, here?
“What happened to you, after Atol took you to Sidelles?” Casmir asked, keeping his heterochromatic eyes on Koji's orange-colored ones. “What did he do to you?”
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Post by Sharei on Dec 20, 2020 14:12:15 GMT -6
"He tortured me," Koji said flatly, and there was none of the trepidation one might have expected in talking about it. Perhaps it was way of coping with the trauma, or detachment, but he had never had trouble with it. "Why else do you think I'm like this?"
But Casmir hadn't asked about the torture. He was asking the far more important question of why.
"He takes the blood of his victims and gains their immunities," Koji said honestly, "but that's not why he took me. After our fight, I did some digging. When I found out a storm dragon was involved I was trying to warn Sarkany that his son was in danger - my capture was entirely incidental. Atol only did it to keep me quiet."
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Post by luscen on Dec 21, 2020 7:36:19 GMT -6
'Immunities.' A curious word, that. The mention of Sjira and Sarkany stirred a momentary heat in his gut- anger tinged with shame, but Casmir stamped that particular cocktail down- now wasn't the time to be thinking about his own shortcomings, after all. Instead, the Hunter continued flicking the lighter, his thoughts racing. Click, the metal lid flipped open, the flame burning for a moment. Clack, the lighter snapped shut, the flame snuffed out.
Click! Atol consumed blood, an act which transferred power to him.
Clack! A lost goddess, afflicted by a strange bout of amnesia. Set to trigger at certain recollections. Bearing the signs of Atol's corruption, but with no memory of the man himself.
Click! Sarkany. The strange man with the eyes of a wolf, an entity far older than any Delphi had encountered before, according to the Dryder's own testimony. Not a Storm, certainly, or Casmir's Eye would have revealed that to him, even if he hadn't understood what he may have been seeing, at the time.
Clack! ...The Hunter paused, as a niggling thought wormed its way into his head. Koji's tone, and the surety of his voice, had been bothering the Hunter; He spoke of Atol like he knew the man, personally- knew his name, knew his hideout, knew his Cult. Had been tortured by him, and then left for dead, afterwards.
"You seem very well informed," he said aloud, flicking the lighter open, again. His tone wasn't hostile or suspicious, but his eyes were gaging Koji carefully, reassessing the Gensai. He wasn't about to make an accusation of Sara's friend- she trusted him, after all.
'But how good a judge of character is she, really?' Casmir's more rational side pointed out. 'Didn't she take you at face value, the first time the two of you met?'
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Post by Sharei on Dec 21, 2020 16:28:05 GMT -6
The flame of Casmir's lighter snuffed out before the hunter could close it again.
"Atol talks a lot," Koji said, his single eye narrowing at Casmir's sharpened gaze. "When he's in the mood."
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Post by luscen on Dec 21, 2020 17:01:03 GMT -6
“Casmir?” Delphi's voice spoke in blonde's head, before he could reply to Koji's statement. The Hunter didn't answer immediately, as the Gensai was current looking directly at him. Speaking in Polish wouldn't work, as Koji's hearing was obnoxiously astute.
Instead he directed his attention to the lighter. "He must have been in quite the mood, then," he commented, pocketing it and letting Sara climb back into her hiding spot. "Given the state of your condition?"
“What are you- oh,” Delphi replied after a moment, catching on. “I take it you're not at liberty to speak freely. Listen, I... I hate to tell you this, but...” there was a pregnant pause, before the Dryder continued, quietly with genuine remorse. “I can't help him. I'm sorry. His Thread is... it's too weak, at the moment, and if I tried to mend it, it could snap." She paused again when she didn't hear him reply. “I'm sorry. I'm- If I were older or-or... I'm sorry.”
So, that was it, then. Nothing he could do, again. It didn't matter if the Hunter was suddenly unsure whether or not Koji was some plant put in place by the Soundless as part of Atol's schemes; those injuries were still real, the torture quite obviously sincere. It could have been because Koji had failed Atol, or because he'd turned traitor. It could have been a prelude to a backup plan, too. Hell, it could have just been because it was a Tuesday, as far as the Magus' mental state was concerned. It didn't really matter, at the end of the day.
Casmir pulled out another rune-carved toothpick, slipping his other hand in his pocket to hide the fact that it was currently clenching into a fist. "Anything else he bothered to say that you felt was worth remembering, then?" he asked, his voice tight due to the frustration of having to deal with the fact that he was being confronted with another person he couldn't help. Nevermind that Sara had pinned her hopes on him, and now he had to tell her there was nothing he could do for her friend.
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Post by Sharei on Mar 29, 2021 13:53:56 GMT -6
"He told me almost everything," Koji murmured, and for a moment his orange and yellow eye was haunted with the heavy shadows of the memory. The silken slide of the knife, the razor pain, the satisfied tone of Atol's voice as he continued his bloody narrative.
"The rest I overheard when he was talking with his... guest," Koji added, his mouth twisting unpleasantly. His thoughts skittered away from John and everything associated with him, a clear trauma in his expression. But a moment later Koji shook his head to dispel the thoughts.
"Listen, we don't like each other," Koji stated flatly. "But the Soundless don't care about our personal feelings. You should work with the WDSA. Your knowledge could be useful."
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Post by luscen on Apr 13, 2021 6:01:42 GMT -6
Guest? What guest? And why did Koji's tone shift in that way? Being so clinical, he should have simply rattled the name off without skipping a beat, and yet...
Casmir frowned, looking back at the miasma around the Gensai's body, peering closer at it. Before, he had assumed that the Magus had been the only one who'd laid hands on Koji. But, if someone else had been there with Atol, had participated in the... "conversations," and had some fashion of a magical aura, as well...
The Hunter's eyes sharpened, brows lowering in concentration as he stepped closer to the bed-ridden man. “Don't get worked up," he cautioned, keeping his hands where Koji could see them. "I told you, I'm not going to do anything to you. But there's something I want to check..."
He drew close enough to Koji that he could see the shades of orange within the Super's yellow eye. It really was like looking into a flame. However, that wasn't the object of Casmir's scrutiny; he peered at the black and red haze lingering over the other man's body, looking for some sign of inconsistency, the trace of the unfamiliar. If it was there...
And that was when he saw it: some of the black blotches Casmir had originally thought to be part of Atol's magical signature were behaving strangely. There was an area, right near Koji's shoulder, where the pitch gave off a faint smoke. That was most certainly not part of the Magus' aura, nor was it like the gensai's flickering flame.
“Hold still,” Casmir requested, reaching into his coat and pulling out a small silver talisman. He unscrewed the top, withdrawing a colorless crystal shaft. “Maybe you don't know where Atol is, but I might be able to find someone who does...”
He held the crystal out towards the black spot, the clear surface changing briefly to an ebony color, giving off a smoky sort of consistency. The talisman's color then diminished, but didn't fade. Casmir studied it for a moment, frowning, before placing it back into the silver receptacle. Unexpectedly, the item jerked in his hand, pointing like a compass to the wall near Koji's bed. The Hunter frowned, walking over to the area and examining it. Nothing seemed visible to him, however, and he ran his hand over the surface of the wall, trying to discern what the tracking charm was trying to tell him.
“This... 'Guest,'” Casmir asked, turning slightly to look at Koji. “Do you and he know one another?”
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Post by Sharei on Jul 8, 2021 14:26:00 GMT -6
It was an exercise of extreme trust for Koji to let the hunter anywhere near him in his vulnerable state. In any other situation, it would not have been permitted. But he'd just said, by his own admission, that they ought to work together. It showed a level of backhanded hypocrisy to shoo the man away now.
Even if the idea of Casmir being anywhere near him set his skin to itching.
But the thing that really got him, that closed all avenue to conversation like threats and danger never could, was the tracking charm. The jump in Casmir's hand, the examination of the wall, the threat of what might be there, had Koji's expression shuttering completely. From his body language to his tone, the Genasi shut down.
"No," he said. "We didn't. If you're not going to help the WDSA, then leave."
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