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Post by cyansky on Jun 22, 2009 1:55:22 GMT -5
Syl smiled. Veronica, like Kiel, could brighten its mood, althought to a lesser extent. Notheless, it made Syl feel happy.
"Well, it's still huge to me. It's like a maze. It's confusing," it said, "in any case, I am glad that you went and rediscovered the past of the city, or at least a part of it. I've just been wandering around hoping to run into anything interesting concerning the city's past, as I'm not sure where to start looking. As of now I... haven't made much progress in that."
Its face fell.
"... I'm sorry, miss Veronica. I really want to know more about this place, but I feel that my wanderings have yielded nothing."
It looked at her straight in the eyes.
"I am curious, though, about your plans concerning the church. It is no doubt an interesting place."
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Post by citizenmike on Jun 22, 2009 2:08:57 GMT -5
"It's alright, Syl.", Veronica replied as she motioned her arm around it. "I've done the same before and yielded hardly any results in the process. It was almost as if something or someone didn't want us to know. Going into the past, despite the losses, could have been the greatest thing that could have happened to us. We are not lost anymore, we now have a grasp on this city."
"I am curious, though, about your plans concerning the church. It is no doubt an interesting place."
"What would you like to know?", Veronica asked Syl.
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Post by cyansky on Jun 22, 2009 2:22:23 GMT -5
Syl was glad of her curiosity. Oh, how it loved explaining things and asking questions.
"Well," said Syl, "Personally I'd like to know as much as I can. You know, the nitty gritty details, although I do understand that you may not have the answers to all of them. Such as..."
As Syl began to list the subjects away, it counted them on its fingers.
"When you plan on actually commencing on the reconstruction, how you plan to do it, with what materials, with whom to help you, with what blueprints or architectural and mathematical knowledge, how long it might take, how you plan to speed it up compared to the time it takes to construct most other churches, how will you manage to make all the pews, scuptures and other details when most of the city's inhabitants are mindless, what modifications from the original you plan on doing and what benefit you seek to gain from it."
Syl sighed and lowered its hand. That was ten things it demanded. Maybe it was a bit much, but Syl couldn't help itself. It had no doubt that its curiosity and desire for knowledge had gotten the better of it on more than one occasion.
"Please understand that I ask this out of sheer curiosity," said Syl, "and while I desire to know more, I dare not bore the others here. Please don't feel too pressured, miss Veronica. Rebuilding a church is a grand project, after all... Last I checked a lot of thought went into it."
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Post by Trace on Jun 22, 2009 2:49:58 GMT -5
Trace listened in disbelief at their conversation. He still could not understand why anyone desired to be restricted by ridiculous laws laid down by a false ruler.
"I see no point in rebuilding this place. Religion is not going to help you here. From my knowledge religion has only ever hindered a person, restricted them."
Trace paused, knowing full well what he had to say next. He wanted to make Veronica doubt herself, emotionally torture her without any chances of a physical altercation.
"Plus, what makes you think you have the right to make decisions about the church?"
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Post by childofthehunt on Jun 22, 2009 4:33:18 GMT -5
The ground outside the church shook for a few minutes, and then it errupted as a crystalline spear shaped encasement came out. Inside the 'tomb' was a man, motionless, garbbed in black robe with silver trimmings. He had his eyes closed as his beautiful face was framed by his long flowing blond hair.
A crack started at the base of the 'tomb' and it travelled all the way up to the top. The crack spread all over and finally, it shattered. Shards of diamond flew in all direction as the man stumbled forward to the ground on all fours. He started coughing.
"Shit!" Arqus cursed in between coughs. "I swear to God I'll kill you one day Bremmen."
The demon in him chuckled.
Arqus staggered to get up and added, "Don't do that again!"
He looked up when he finally was able to stand and realized he was infront of the neglected city church. It brought back memories. Myzrael took him here.
Arqus clutched his left chest. His heart started beating faster.
"Someone's awfully excited." Bremmen teased.
"Shut up!" Arqus said, wondering if he was having a heart attack. "Just shut up! Ok?!"
He started walking and heard voices coming inside the church. He was able to identify who they were. Veronica, Johnny, Trace and Syl. But there's another voice, someone new. He raked his golden hair away from his face as he started ascending the flight of stairs leading to the church's entrace.
From where he is, he could see everyone inside. They were talking. And he was right, there was a new guy with them. He furrowed his eyebrows at the man as he took the last step up.
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Post by citizenmike on Jun 22, 2009 7:05:50 GMT -5
Veronica listened intently to Syl; her eyes widening at the mention of ideas she hadn't quite conjured herself. "Slow down, Syl.", Veronica replied. "I am not there yet. All I'm thinking of for now is repainting the building and remodeling everything inside. Anyway, it isn't like I want everything done by tomorrow, and some work should do me good."
"I see no point in rebuilding this place. Religion is not going to help you here. From my knowledge religion has only ever hindered a person, restricted them.
Veronica turned to Trace and replied, "I can agree with your argument. However, keep in mind, the Jesus that preached two thousand years ago is very different from the Jesus Christ that people have used in their quest over power and dominance."
"I don't intend on taking a role over the development of this city." Veronica continued. "I don't intend to influence anyone with my own personal beliefs. All I wish for is to rebuild this palace of solace as a way to give refuge and guidance over the lost of this city."
Plus, what makes you think you have the right to make decisions about the church?"
"Easy.", Veronica replied. "Johnny and I have been here the longest. If anyone knows this city by now, its the two of us. And besides, all views on religion and spirituality are subjective, you should know that."
Johnny kept quiet. Something in him was telling him that this back and forth was gonna go somewhere, and wherever it went, he was gonna go with it.
Looking around, Johnny spotted Arqus, the boy who has been crushing over Veronica. Johnny gave him a smile and a salute.
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Post by sacredrapture on Jun 22, 2009 7:12:21 GMT -5
V was quiet this whole time. He turned to the entrance. Arqus was there. He glided slowly over the ground, until he came face to face with Arqus.
'Hello. I am V. How are you?'
V hoped that with his friendly demeanor no one would notice any possible similarities between him and Myzrael; it would be best for him not to associate with the dark angel for now.
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Post by Trace on Jun 22, 2009 7:51:28 GMT -5
"Johnny and I have been here the longest. If anyone knows this city by now, its the two of us. And besides, all views on religion and spirituality are subjective, you should know that."
Trace was amused that they still thought they'd been here the longest. He had spent time in Animus long before they were even alive, and he had also been trapped in its future, watched it crumble around them. He had watched them die and were as before he would have stopped that, now he planned on causing it.
"You stake your right due to longetivity, and claim that you have the right to make decisions because you think you know this city? Now that certainly sounds like a dictatorship to me."
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Post by citizenmike on Jun 22, 2009 8:46:18 GMT -5
Veronica looked at Trace as she replied, calmly, "Those are your words Trace, not mine. All I want to do is provide guidance and help to those who seek it. Nothing more, nothing less."
Johnny stepped in as he placed a cigarette between his lips and replied, "Hey Trace, you've seen the future of this city, wouldn't you have seen this coming?"
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Post by Trace on Jun 22, 2009 9:33:58 GMT -5
"Hey Trace, you've seen the future of this city, wouldn't you have seen this coming?"
The truth was he had seen this coming, but he hadn't been present during the original conversation, or rather the future conversation. With his memories returned to him Trace had been carrying out different actions that before, and therefore stopping the future he had witnessed coming to pass. He wasn't going to allow these human's deaths to come at anyone else's hands but his own.
"Yes, I saw this coming. But in that future, Veronica had died long before she even got started on rebuilding this church."
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Post by citizenmike on Jun 22, 2009 9:51:34 GMT -5
"How did Veronica die, then?", Johnny asked.
Veronica motioned before Johnny and stopped him, "Trace, don't answer. I think I've died enough already. And Trace, where are you so much against the reconstruction of this church?"
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Post by Trace on Jun 22, 2009 10:06:50 GMT -5
"Trace, why are you so much against the reconstruction of this church?"
"Because of what it stands for. Because of all the delusions that your kind have about religion and a Devine creator. Because if you allow religion into your lives you allow it to control to very essence of yourself." Trace pauses, a thought popping into his head. "And do you really think that the Black Goat is going to allow you to do it?"
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Post by citizenmike on Jun 22, 2009 10:15:06 GMT -5
"I don't care what the Black Goat thinks, Trace!", Veronica shot back; the calm in her still there, but slowly thinning. "If he was a problem with it, then he can stop all his bullshit and deal with it." Veronica took a moment to compose herself. "I appreciate your concern, but do understand that I personally believe that any spiritual path is a personal one. That said, I have no say over what other people believe in. The doors of this church will be open for those who seek it."
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Post by childofthehunt on Jun 22, 2009 20:30:40 GMT -5
Arqus saw Johnny's gesture at him. He flashed him a weak smile. Somehow he still felt uncomfortable around him.
He entered the church and was surprised when the stranger with the long blond hair approached him. The man had a band covering his eyes. Arqus was surprised that he was able to find his way around despite the eye cover.
'Hello. I am V. How are you?'
"H-hello." He spoke softly, not being able to look at the man directly in the face. "I-I'm Arqus. I-I'm fine."
Arqus gave himself a mental kick in the head for stuttering and for acting like a loser. He would occasionally look up at the man's face. There was something strangely familiar about him. His heart skipped a beat.
He looked passed V's shoulder and saw the others.
"You must be new?" Arqus asked, smiling at the newcomer sheepishly.
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Post by cyansky on Jun 22, 2009 23:11:30 GMT -5
Syl gave Arqus a small smile as he enters as well as a small wave.
'Hello there. I am V. How are you?'
Syl gazed at V impassively as he said that. He sounded mechanical, artificial, forced. This wasn't how V was inside - Syl had a feeling of that. To Syl, V seemed to be wearing a cracked mask, concealing something that he really wanted to hide from them. It was suspicious to say the least.
Then there was the fact that he seemingly knew that Arqus was not arrogant like Trace, even though they had supposedly never met. Judging by the fact that Trace didn't receive the same gretting as Arqus, Syl suspected that V wasn't particularly fond of Trace. Perhaps it was because of the way he spoke and walked in here, almost as if he owned the place.
Then... why did Arqus get that nice greeting? Why did V suddenly decide to change his demeanor? If V wanted to be nice, he should have at least acknowledged Trace - Trace was a powerful type 2 fallen angel after all. Perhaps V's reasons might have something to do with the secret that he's hiding, thought Syl, I don't know what it is, but I know it's there. I know my logic might not perfect in this case, but the way he approached Arqus... Argh, this man is stretching my logic - I don't know what to make of it.
It sighed, lowering its head and touching its first three fingers to its forehead.
How perplexing, thought Syl, I don't know exactly why, but there's something eerily wrong with him, no, familiar with him. I just can't put my finger on what.
Syl turned its attention and worries away from V to observe Veronica and Trace's argument.
It listened to them argue, with Trace questioning Veronica's reasons for building the church and Veronica doing her best to hold out against them. Syl agreed with Trace's views somewhat - religion could be detrimental to a person's development. Religious zealots who seeked nothing but the destruction of those who didn't have the same beliefs.
Yet... it worried at Veronica may be slowly but surely losing the argument. It didn't want her to be captured by the Black Goat, but it would have like some repairs for the roof. It would be a more comfortable place to sit and relax.
It gently tugged at Veronica's sleeve, looking downward with a solemn expression.
"... I don't want you to get kidnapped by the Black Goat, miss Veronica," it said softly, "not again."
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