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Post by citizenmike on May 31, 2009 1:57:40 GMT -5
Johnny looked at Syl and asked, "Aren't you supposed to be Roth's friend?". Turning to Chains, Johnny continued, "And I wonder, did Chains here ever tell you what he did to Veronica and I?"
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Post by cyansky on May 31, 2009 8:12:12 GMT -5
Syl's eyes narrowed. With one upward motion of its hand, it forced the air out of Johnny's lungs, leaving him breathless.
"My relationship with her is for me and miss Veronica to deal with, and whether it is a true friendship or not depends on the definition you use. Whether I am friends with her or not does not matter and is not relevant in this situation. Just because I can get along with her doesn't mean that I can't get angry. Whatever the case, even if you two are.... shall we say... 'boyfriend and girlfriend,' I still consider you a separate case, Mr. Johnny. Does a convicted criminal deserve to be set free because the judge is his mother or father? I think not."
Syl looked towards Chains and then turned back to Johnny. What a pest. Looks like Kiel wasn't kidding. Some humans truly were annoying, and Johnny was an annoyance that had to be dealt with. Granted, Syl would have prefered mental toture, but it didn't know on what strings to pull to do that. Physical torture? A beating? Also viable, but Syl needed Chains's help with that. Considering Chains's notion that it betrayed him (which was totally untrue), getting his help might be a little difficult. Syl would have to stick with the handiest tool in its arsenal - words.
"As for what Chains did to you and Veronica in the past, I am well aware that Chains is one of the more unsavoury characters in this city. You do not need to inform of that, Mr. Johnny. What's in the past is in the past, and while it is true that past behaviour helps predicts future behaviour, it is even truer that some people can choose who they want to associate with, and to hell with what other people say."
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Chains
Fleshling
Mistress Of Awesomeness
Posts: 133
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Post by Chains on May 31, 2009 8:17:13 GMT -5
Even though Johnny had backed away a few paces, Chains continued to stand where he had risen, Syl at his side, and stare balefully at the human. "Be all means," he said with a glitter of teeth, "Enlighten it. Let it know. I have already told it just how unsavory I am; let it hear it from the mouth of another if you feel so inclined to share. It was quite an interesting exchange, wasn't it, Johnny? We learned a lot, you and I. A little more time and I would have had you--humans are oh so predictably weak when it comes to dealing with a voice in their head."
I know what you are, Chains gloated, sliding an edge of his thoughts up against Johnny's mind. I know what you have done.
"But, yes, by all means," he spoke aloud at the same time. "Enlighten it. Tell it everything. Paint me in all the most forceful shades of violent attrition that you can."
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Post by citizenmike on May 31, 2009 9:49:34 GMT -5
Johnny lit a cigarette. Judging by how Syl spoke to him, he was settling himself to stay. Something was going to happen, he was already part of it, and it was much too late to back off.
"I know what you are. I know what you have done."
The voice inside him spoke.
"It doesn't matter. Veronica knows everything. If anything, I have to thank you... I'm free.
"Syl, I know that Veronica's pretty protective of you. Next to that Arqus and I, I'd have to say you're someone, or something, that Veronica happens to color friend. And I know what you did to save her, for that I'm greateful to you. I'm pretty protective of her, and still after meeting you, I reckon she's safe when she's around you.
What you don't know is what he", Johnny stopped as he hissed venomusly at Chains. "Is that he tried to hurt Veronica and I. Not that long ago, we were involved in a little altercation. That's all I'm gonna say. And if it wasn't for a payaso who tried to have his way with her, Chains might have actually hurt her.
I don't care where Chains and you stand as aquaintances, but do not let is stand in the way of what you have with Veronica and everything she's done to reach out to you. We don't have to like each other, just keep Roth in your thoughts."
Johnny approached the bartender and ordered a beer.
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Post by cyansky on May 31, 2009 10:18:30 GMT -5
Syl glared at him. It didn't like Johnny for just waltzing in here while Chains and it were toasting. Sure it was a puiblic bar, but he honestly did have to go so far as to sneak up on them and disturb them.
If he could do that now, Syl could only wonder where he could pop up next. He couldn't trust Johnny if he could just waltz around the city and interrupt people as if he owned it. Chains was not one to be messed with, and given that the interrupting person in question have enough stupidity on hand to get it angry... Well, one would not want to mess with Syl either. The pressure in the air nonetheless decreased to normal levels, but Syl stood ready to attack if need be. It wasn't shown in its mannerisms and posture though, so that Johnny would not be alarmed of it.
"You do have a valid point there," said Syl, "and I do intend to keep these two relationships separate. Veronica may as well be the key to unlocking what's going in this accursed city, and perhaps to some other useful information. She has also treated me well, and for that I will look after her."
Syl watched as Johnny went to order a drink. By all means, I hope he orders the same drink that Chains did... Oh, it's a 'beer.' Maybe there's a 'beer' version of that... concoction.
"As Chains is quite unsavoury, much like most people here," continued Syl, "I do realize that what had happened there would have hurt Veronica. However, when you have a bunch of unsavoury characters in one city, they will either hurt each other, negotiate a deal, avoid each other or strike each other's fancy. It's a given considering the relative uniqueness of everyone here. I'll keep your words in mind, Johnny. All I would want is for none of this to leak out to the others. Just keep in mind that I really don't appreciate you interrupting us like this, to put it lightly."
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Post by citizenmike on May 31, 2009 10:44:44 GMT -5
" Veronica may as well be the key to unlocking what's going in this accursed city, and perhaps to some other useful information."
"All I would want is for none of this to leak out to the others."
There was something about those words that struck Johnny. He sipped his beer and gave a smile as he stopped himself from addressing it.
"I wasn't interrupting. I only came here for a drink. If I interrupted, I was merely welcoming someone I haven't seen in quite sometime and I also thought it would be nice to address a stranger who Veronica happens to value."
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Chains
Fleshling
Mistress Of Awesomeness
Posts: 133
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Post by Chains on May 31, 2009 20:28:14 GMT -5
Chains had been following the conversation with all the intentness of a predator on the trail of wounded game. He marked the sally back and forth between Johnny and Syl, weighing their words and the implications of those words almost as soon as they had left the speaker's mouth. His inhuman mind darted from retort to retort, processing it all with ridiculous speed. By the time silence had once again been restored, he knew far more than he had a few minutes ago. And he wasn't entirely pleased with that he had learned. Johnny: A meddlesome, self-confident prick too stubborn to turn tail for the door. He looked to cultivate unknowing followers beneath him because he liked making decisions and being in control. Perhaps the only person he truly considered his equal was this Veronica. Chains remembered his one-time plan, to deal grief and misery on that woman, and wondered why that had fallen on the way-side. Getting old, he teased himself, To forget something like that. He considered Syl. It was upset with the human, that much was obvious. It was also obvious that the two hadn't engineered this meeting. Chains debated pressing the traitor angle a bit further nonetheless, to see how firmly Syl would protest its innocence, but there really was nothing to being gained by playing the victim this time around. Whatever Syl was (and the drink had proved that it was certainly NOT human) it was honestly irritated to find itself in Johnny's presence. As if it actually felt eager to shadow me. Chains rolled that thought around in his mind with all the methodical care he normally reserved for more delicate physical operations. Yes. It fits. And yet, if it truly wanted to impress me, it would mimic my disdain for the entire bumbling group of which Johnny is just the figurehead. Instead, what does it do? It admits to having some kind of protective sentiment anchored around Veronica. He admitted to himself that he didn't feel surprised. Just cheated. A slow anger was building within him. Chains turned slightly on his heel, so that he could just see Johnny out of the corner of his eyes. His hands were held loosely at his sides. All in all, his stance looked almost too pacifistic for the words that came oozing from his mouth. "I'm feeling very generous tonight, so I will warn you as I have never warned you before. I think you should leave, Johnny. Now." His pale eyes darted momentarily to Syl where it stood nearby. "You too. I think it would be the wisest decision you both could possibly make tonight." He stood ready between the two, balanced imperceptibly- ready to react in a split second's worth of time and yet, betraying nothing. His hands itched.
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Post by cyansky on May 31, 2009 21:02:50 GMT -5
Syl nodded
"Well, Chains, it seems that I have upset you in some way," said Syl in a very low voice, low enough for Johnny not to hear it, but certainly loud enough for Chains to hear it, "there is something I realized, that you don't seem to appreciate friends that much, and that you don't appreciate liars that much either. I could tell because earlier, you seemed to say the word 'friend' with, how should I call it? Ah, Disdain.
"However, think about this: what's worse for your views: if I lied about Veronica to please you, thus making myself a liar, or if I told the truth and prevented your ire from coming in full force later on? I certainly don't like that motley group as you do Chains, especially with Johnny as the so-called 'leader.' I don't tag along because I like it, you know.
"However, keep in mind there are people that for the sake of our long-term future, must be protected, even for selfish reasons. Everything as a reason, Chains. Sometimes you protect people to ensure greater protection later on, an investment that will pay off later. I associate with whom I choose, and I have no intention of letting these two relationships get in the way of each other.
"Also, Chains... the right words must be said to the right people, but sometimes, the right words for one person, might be the wrong words for another. Turns out that what was needed to be said to Johnny was obviously not pleasing to you, and that's truly unfortunate. Had the wrong things been said to Johnny, it would likely spread to the whole whole group; I doubt that humans are good at keeping secrets, hmm? And what gets out to the group will certaintly not improve my reputation and standing with the others either. If my reputation goes down, then the others like Myzrael and Trace will certainly feel more inclined to blast me to pieces at any given moment should they encounter me again, and they most certainly will. If there's anything I know about the world, it's that you can't please everybody, Chains. If I failed to impress you now, it was for good reason."
Syl stepped away, still in the bar, but just out of the reach of Chains's twitching arm. Its next words were audible to both Johnny and Chains. It readied inself in case Chains decided to actually attack it, but did not let it show.
"Well, what would you do if I left, hmm Chains? Would you really want to get rid of a future of interesting conversations so easily?"
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Post by citizenmike on Jun 1, 2009 5:30:14 GMT -5
Johnny watched from the last stool on the counter.
Something was gonna happen... And he was a part of it.
Johnny blew out a cloud of smoke as he stubbed what was left of his Marlboro on the ashtray. "Do what you want, man. I'm not going anywhere."
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Chains
Fleshling
Mistress Of Awesomeness
Posts: 133
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Post by Chains on Jun 1, 2009 16:00:56 GMT -5
"Bah!" Chains threw up his hands in disgust, both at Syl's final question and Johnny's stubborn refusal to even consider leaving. I should snap your neck and be done with you, human he thought savagely to himself. But the point was, aside from tormenting the mindless drones of Animus, Chains hadn't come to the bar seeking a direct confrontation. He had come for a drink with a curiosity. Nothing more and nothing less. And while his anger had indeed been growing, it had somehow peaked just under 'severe irritation' instead of blossoming into fully formed rage. Perhaps it was the shot he had tossed back. He didn't know. He didn't care. With a single lithe movement, Chains hopped across and over the bar. For a moment, the barkeep twitched out his dullard's stare and seemed about to protest, but a glance his way from Chains was enough to convince him otherwise. He faced the rows of liquor bottles, running his eyes across the faded labels. "Much madness is divinest sense To a discerning eye; Much sense the starkest madness." He quoted, turning a flask to read its inscription then moving on, ’T is the majority In this, as all, prevails." Stood on tiptoe to reach a large, imposing jug-like bottle, sloshed it back and forth once, then took it with him as he vaulted back effortlessly across the counter. Assent, and you are sane; Demur,—you ’re straightway dangerous, And handled with a chain." He walked away from the both, leaving Johnny at the bar and Syl standing there, to the rear of the building and the empty tables in the shadows.
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Post by cyansky on Jun 1, 2009 19:09:01 GMT -5
Syl remained silent, stepping away from Johnny, but keeping its distance from Chains. Best not to disturb him when he's angry, it thought.
It pondered what Chains had said. They sounded an awful lot like quotes, but if they were, then their meanings escaped its comprehension, something to do with sanity and madness.
Syl's eyes narrowed. They shifted downward as Syl thought and thought, trying to crack the mystery of those quotes, it rested its head on its fist as it paced, thinking. It started to hum a low tune to itself, as its pacing quickly became rythmic. First time here when it was given anything to interpret, so it might as well try its best.
"Much madness is divinest sense To a discerning eye; Much sense the starkest madness. ’T is the majority In this, as all, prevails."
Hmm... Syl thought, is it referring to logic as 'sense' and that logic is madness? No... could it be that Chains's type of madness, the logical type that he supposedly thinks with, is the 'starkest madness' as he calls it? Is it possible that Chains sees madness as a good thing? And what about those last two lines? Does it imply that this 'madness' is what 'prevails,' wins over all else? Does everyone secretly have some of it in them? This is so confusing.
"Assent, and you are sane; Demur,—you ’re straightway dangerous, And handled with a chain."
That was only slightly more understandable to Syl. Agree, and you're sane, and disagree, you're dangerous and handled with a chain... hmm... controlled? thought Syl, Could this imply that those that agree and accept things are sane because they realize what is going on? Does it imply that those who dissent, who deny everything, are dangerous because they only follow themselves? Does he mean that such people are more easily controlled?
Syl shook its head, sighing quietly in frustration. What was it doing, trying to interpret them? Was Chains really a madman, but of a different sort? Most likely. Syl wondered what meaning they had for Chains.
Chains, it thought, you really stick out of the mold here, don't you? I would think about the events here in depth, but then again, if I did so, I'd be here for hours, and thinking is exhausting sometimes...
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Post by citizenmike on Jun 2, 2009 11:58:05 GMT -5
Johnny turned to Chains and asked, "What's the matter, man?"
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Chains
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Mistress Of Awesomeness
Posts: 133
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Post by Chains on Jun 4, 2009 16:58:08 GMT -5
For his part, Chains ignored them both. The Clockwork Angel had taken a seat in the back of the building: close enough to keep both Johnny and Syl in seeing distance and earshot, but with just the right amount of separation to discourage casual conversation. Pulling out one of the two seats, he had dropped himself into it with disgusted nonchalance before turning his attentions to the bottle he had pilfered. With a single deft twist of his wrist, Chains had it open and as he had either conveniently forgotten or carelessly neglected to bring a glass, he drank a long pull of the stuff directly from the bottle itself. Whatever was in it, couldn't have been the same fiery draft he had served to Syl- he drank far too much of it far too fast for that. Careful, careful a part of him cautioned. Just because you do not feel in the mood for violence does not mean you should siphon your frustrations away with drink. Better to break a human, even without feeling up to it, than to become imbibed, even if you do. Despite the wisdom in that thought, he took another large mouthful. A quarter of the bottle was almost gone when he set it down, and wrapped his hands lightly around it. He still hadn't said a word. Johnny's question hung on the air, gathering dust. Well, let it. Let them all gather dust. Let them molder and rot and fall apart. Imbeciles. Idiots. Blustering fools with more displaced stubbornness than actual intelligence. Let the city take you all he thought- the impromptu toast coming to him from nowhere, And may it never spit you back out again. Such a fine thought deserved another drink. He obliged himself.
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Post by cyansky on Jun 4, 2009 17:25:55 GMT -5
Syl watched as Chains sat down and started drinking like an alcoholic... wait, maybe he was an alcoholic. It was too early to tell, but his casual ease concerning alcohol hinted at it in Syl's opinion. If I just stand here, we'll get nowhere, thought Syl, and I prefer not to stand too close to Johnny. Perhaps I should attempt conversation with him again.
Syl strode toward Chains and took a seat right next to him. It remained impassive in expression, watching as Chains drank a quarter of the bottle, set it down, and then raised it to his lips to drink some more.
It was only when one half of the drink remained when Syl finally spoke.
"Chains, may I ask you something?"
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Chains
Fleshling
Mistress Of Awesomeness
Posts: 133
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Post by Chains on Jun 4, 2009 17:36:06 GMT -5
Chains glanced up, to where Syl had taken the seat opposite of him. It obscured his view of Johnny, still presumably at the bar, but he didn't much care. If the human tried to join him he would regret it. If he stayed where he was, or better yet left entirely, Chains couldn't bother with him. He stared balefully at Syl, the shadows painting his features in interesting hues of darkness. His pale eyes still burned, but they sat heavily in his face. He looked malevolent and he looked irritated, but most of all, he looked haggardly exhausted. At least outwardly. Inwardly, he was trying to puzzle out just how he felt about Syl re-joining him. On one hand, it was a rather tempting puzzle to solve with its conversational skills, its wit, and its blatant lack of horror when faced with the events in the theater. On the other, it clearly fostered protective feelings towards at least one human and gave no indication of regretting its soft heartedness. Chains couldn't forgive it for that. He knew it was straddling the fence, even if it did not. He knew it was trying to appeal to everyone in order to learn about them: to what end other than personal curiosity, he didn't yet know. And so it was no surprise that it asked him permission to ask another question. Another on top of many. And no surprise that the look he gave it, told it it was quite possibly pushing things more than was wise. "If it is short and to the point," he warned.
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