Baddest Beach

“Backpoking?” Of all the words she had just thrown at him, that was the one he got stuck on.

“That’s hardly any of your business! You don’t see me stooping to comment on your love life… It probably smells like dead fish anyway!” he added, extra dismissively to show that he really didn’t care.

He cared so, so much.

The Condesce caters to his whim– at least, the unspoken yearning for a mask to conceal his emotions. And yet, when he takes it in his hand, he feels no real desire to put it on. Itching for protection in one instance, and in the next, feeling as though he owes this stripped down version of himself to his liege. Turning the mask over, examining the intricate designs on the front of the piece, Adam looks from it, to Her Imperiousness’ imposing silhouette.

How it makes his spirits rise. From the depths of the sands, choking and thick like a shackle around his neck. The Condesce understands. The voice of reason in this world that few others seem to truly understand. Clarity amidst the madness. A woman who can truly see past the guise of humanity for what they are– filth. Murderers. Cowards.

When she turns, requests an answer from him, Adam’s brows arch. Lowering his golden gaze to the mask, and then at last settling it upon the bridge of his nose. What does he want? The White Fang’s good name is tarnished, and there will be no rebuilding it. Without that in mind, it startles him how hollow his chest feels. Thus comes his answer, staring her in those imposing eyes as he speaks: “ I don’t know, Condesce. ”

“ You know the deepest desire in my heart already. To see my mission through to the end. ” A pause. Adam reaches up, feeling the ridges of his horns. Regrown and resettled atop his head. What would he do without those, on top of everything else? His horns, and his queen. Two blessings in spite of the curses. “ I wish for nothing more than to trample those who have trampled on me, at your side. I want… ” His last conversation with Blake echoes in his mind. “ To know true happiness in victory. ”

「You let your gaze linger in silence on the young man for a moment before you turn back to look at the ocean. You suspected as much. For all his passion and fury, he has nowhere to place it when he meets his goal. He is AIMLESS in his pursuit of that which he desires most, someone who lives for the moment as an ALL-CONSUMING FIRE and then fades to embers when the deed is done.」

「Some would call him FOOLISH. You call him YOUNG.」

「You think back on the things you’ve experienced ever since you were drawn away from the realms you called your own. You think about the people you’ve spoken to and the things you’ve gleaned from them. Their ways have been so very different from your own, but as you’ve thought on them, you have caught yourself thinking more than once “what if?” Before, you had mostly brushed off the thoughts that came along with that question. There weren’t any avenues to pursue. You’d made your stake and set down a path you couldn’t double back on. But this was a new realm. A new opportunity.」

「In all honesty, maybe it was just that listening to that old mountain of shadows wax poetic had rubbed off on you a bit.」

“You and I will know victory, Adam. Do you know why? Because we are strong. The strong survive. But there is much more to this world than strength alone.”

「You turn back toward the beach and float to the fire and settle yourself down before you bid him to do the same.」

“To be strong on one’s own is enough to build a reputation, that much is true. But to be strong for the sake of others... that is how one builds a legend. To lead a people---to rule---is not something everyone can accomplish. It requires cunning, courage, an indomitable will---all things you possess, my Knight.”

So, the same Condesence as before. That was comforting.

“Something of the sort, I hope. My last minutes in the old city involved bringing down that floating city and shattering the moon itself in half.”

“Maybe, this time around, I should take up tennis instead.”

He’s silent for a bit, thinking over his words.

“And yourself? How are you finding your current accommodations?”

“Sorely lacking. That odd phenomenon in the sky dissipating finally didn’t help to cast a better light on the situation.”

At the command, he takes the blade that lies in the sand, and stands tall. Part of him itches for the familiar comfort of his visor, to hide those scarred and brilliant eyes of his and prevent them from being read like a book. But he doesn’t feel any desire to crouch and retrieve it now that he stands on his feet. Would it truly make a difference, in any case? She, and everyone else formerly in the Hive, had watched him crumble in front of the devil herself.

“ You’re correct, my grace. It’s only been two days, at most… though little has happened aside from inane celebration. ” Lips pull into a tight, sharp frown. “ It was all I could have hoped for that the fear of annihilation would remain drilled in their heads, but as always… ” He casts a fleeting glare in the direction of the city proper.

If the ruins of this place can be called a proper city. “ Humanity carries on without the faintest of cares for anything but themselves. ” There comes a pause. He dips his head, closing his eyes in respect. “ …it brings me great pleasure to find you here, as well. This place seems like it suits you. ” Gestures out toward the water. Not the rubble.

Though that too would perhaps suit the Condesce; a beautiful foundation to rebuild upon.

「You’ve always been fond of his EYES. The hue of them had always been appealing, given where your loves lie, but they had always had a spark of something else you loved: ANGER and PASSION. Those were just some of the reasons you had decided to take on the Faunus as one of your own despite his non-Alternian blood. DRIVE carried someone far, but more than that, so did LOYALTY. It’s something you can definitely appreciate, all things considered.」

「You stroll past him toward the shoreline, calling his visor from where it lay in the sand with a thought and floating it over to him. As much as you would prefer he do without it, you can tell just from his posture he prefers otherwise. Things were delicate as of now. It was better to cater and grow deeper roots than bend the trunk when it was unnecessary, from your view.」

“Did you really expect anything less, Adam? Humans are foolish and think surviving one disaster makes them immune to the next. They love to gloat about their indomitable spirit, but when faced with true helplessness, they crumble from within. I have seen it. With any luck, I will do so again.”

“But you’re right. This sea is far different than the other. I can tell from the smell of it that it isn’t that grime-choked pond from before. It will serve as a good base, with time.”

「You glance back at the young man, a curious glint in your stalks.」

// Partial amnesia is a funny thing–the Drifter is certain he’d never met the other before, but recognizes her (then-grinning) face from behind a lit screen.

He doesn’t remember either her speech or actions, but an ingrained instinct loudly warns that he should be on his guard around Her Imperious Condescension. Anything hot-pink paired with inky-black is enough to get him uneasy in the first place.

The Drifter’s Companion Bot floats in the air nearby them. It projects a holographic screen over their shoulder. They know they’re glaring. The words load in slowly, carefully chosen.

                                                      ﹁

       Do you know who you were?

           What you have done?

﹂

「You look down at the stranger fairly UNIMPRESSED. As far as purposeful glares go, theirs is pretty weak. You probably haven’t hurt them directly, but considering how many people you’ve killed in your lifetime, you can’t be entirely sure.」

@imperiouswag 

The night would be dark enough without the strange lunar phenomena. Not that it bothers him, however. These keen golden eyes are accustomed to the shadows, drinking in every detail that might escape the regular eyes of a human being. Still. It’s lonesome, and the thoughts on his mind continue to press down, heavy and miserable. Thus the fire, his form seated in the plush sand, maskless eyes aimlessly searching for pictures in the flames with nothing better to do.

Nothing– until a gust of cold air caresses his back, words echoing forth just as he is about to crane his neck and glance backwards. Scarred eyelids stretch open, and he moves to rise to his feet, no longer wading in self-pity, but drowning in the empress’ imposing form, hair writhing behind her. A glorious sight.

He is not alone.

“ Your grace. ” There is a pause before he finds himself, lowering himself to one knee, bowing his head briefly before glancing upward once again. “ I… I wasn’t prepared for an audience. ” His features speak that clearly, as well. But surprise can be, unlike his arrival here, a gift. There is no forgetting his execution by fire. The status that hangs over his head, with no allies to hang back over his enemies.

Her presence is safety. A rock amidst the storm. Once more he bows his head, and remains so until commanded otherwise.

“And I was not prepared to find allies, so color us both surprised. Rise. This is hardly a place for decorum.”

「As modest as you keep your expression, you find yourself thrilled. You had long since stopped wondering where the faces you were used to had vanished to in the shadows and you stopped feeling bitter over it not long after.」

「The whims of that bygone city were crueler than you could ever be at times, but that was in the past. The fresh ocean breeze of this SPIRALE seemed to be the winds of change. 」

「It was all you could hope for, at the moment.」

「Here’s one face you hoped you’d never see again. Your blood is already boiling just setting stalks on him and you’re not even sure he’s seen you yet. You don’t really care. If he’s stupid enough to hang around a place where you two can openly cross paths, then he deserves what he gets. It was a perfectly reasonable flow of logic.』

“So you made it here as well, did you.”

「Of course he did. You would have found yourself disappointed, otherwise. 」

「You fly up to come face to face with him and settle easily in the air. He doesn’t appear to be quite as mournful as usual. That’s something of an improvement.」

「Well. It’s been a while since this one darkened your hiveportal. She looks as surly as ever, which is perfectly understandable, given the situation. 」

「That, of course, doesn’t mean you won’t give her shit about it.」