DEFILED. ;;

    “ If I didn’t KNOW any better…”

  her approach is silent, as always. the moment her sight had landed on the assassin’s son, her thoughts had taken a turn. first cinder – a still peculiar case – and now mercury….both on this little island in this strange world. she’s beginning to suspect that the rest are LURKING about. maybe tomorrow she’ll find tyrian harassing the locals or watts holding some unimportant conversation. maybe even emerald was off taking part in some petty thefts. 

      “ I would think that a decision to leave the castle and come here was made without my knowledge.  “

   salem halts before him, head tilting to the side. a hand shifts, resting atop the boy’s shoulder, fingers curling inwards slightly. no pressure is applied, no digging of the nails is added – a simple and relaxed touch. but it held no warmth nor comfort. blood red hues shift downwards, watching for the tiniest shift in expressions. the smallest inclination that her words held some truth.

               " But that would be ridiculous – right, Mercury? “

@sembless​ – s.c.

    HIS BLOOD RUNS COLD, ice spreading through his veins && taking root around his mind as that all too familiar voice enters his ears. the moment of silence that lingers leaves his heartbeat racing, aware that it didn’t mean she was GONE; that as much as he hopes it was merely his imagination, she is very likely still there, observing him -- because she’s quiet, eerily so. more than he could ever dream of being as an assassin.

    as he turns around, his worst fears are confirmed. a slow, hesitant crane of his neck allows his gaze to lock with hers, the rest of his body soon to follow suit so he can fully face her wrath -- or lack thereof, knowing her. no, her anger was often just as quiet as her footsteps, save for when it came to a certain someone. 

    && that near silent rage was scarier than anything he had ever seen -- especially the punishments that usually came thereafter.

         ❝ s - salem, i -- ❞ he begins, breath quickening as she approaches, then stopping all together once she’s directly in front of him. the hand that lands on his shoulder causes him to flinch despite the lack of pressure, gray hues slowly lifting to peer up at her, though his head remains lowered, as though he’s afraid to make any sudden movements. he can feel the expectancy behind her words, the mute desire for a reply -- && fast, but what can he say ? the truth isn’t any better than the outrageous hypothesis she’s presented. still, if he lied, he had no doubt he was as good as dead.

  it takes all of his strength to find his voice, shaky && no higher an octave than absolutely necessary for her to hear him.

   Oh, how this CHILD boiled his blood. And how difficult it was for Adam to remind himself that of the two, he was to be the adult–to not hiss and spit back, or snap at the Human for his lack of posture. 

   –But would that, ultimately, stop him? No. No it would not. 

   With a baring of teeth and a spat scoff, the bull rolls his eyes and flares his nostrils, tongue clicked against the backs of teeth with a slow, smooth drawl of voice to follow.

   “UNFORTUNATELY, I can see well enough to have spotted you out of the crowds. But, maybe my question was too difficult, let me ask you a more simple one.”

   He exhales, slow and precise, and like the flip of a switch the Faunus once again finds some mask of calm; choosing to ignore the further prods at his appearance, to suck up his ever growing want to ATTACK the silver bullet of a boy. Perhaps soon–…but, not in the moment, as he did have wonders yearning to be answered.

   “Are you able to explain the reason why we are here? Or maybe, even the POINT of this…place. I can only ASSUME it to be a form of Hell, with your lot here.”

    HE CAN PRACTICALLY feel the irritation welling up inside the other, ready to burst at any given moment -- && he looks forward to it. the thought of fighting against adam has crossed his mind many times before. when he was acting too haughty, or preaching about things he couldn’t care less about, && especially when he boasted about his power -- power mercury had yet to see demonstrated. he’s curious, wondering who is stronger between the two, && hopes to find out through this exchange. anything to quell his boredom.

    a short, derisive snicker passes his lips as the other bares his teeth && responds, his insults rolling off mercury’s shoulders with ease due to his own satisfaction at his obvious anger. the calm, careful tone that follows a moment later is disappointing, but he isn’t going to give up on provoking him so easily. it’s his turn to roll his eyes at the question -- or rather, the jab he isn’t quite sure how to take, not that it really matters.

          ❝ my lot ? you mean humans, right ? there’s a lot of us around here, so you might wanna start gettin’ used to it. just some friendly advice. ❞

   he rolls his shoulders in a lazy shrug, carelessly brushing some dirt off his clothes in a gesture of nonchalance, && peers off to the side, pointedly avoiding the others gaze to express his lack of interest in the conversation -- && adam in general.

          ❛ ughh , the clown fish.  I want to eat [ sashimi ] , but I guess I can go [ elsewhere ].  let’s pretend I never saw [ that ]. ❜    temperament goes immediately downhill  ,  visage  twisting  as though aware something distasteful lay ahead.  exchanging blows  &  engaging with  bullies  wasn’t the RYUSETAI approach;   opting coward’s path  ( sidestepping contention unless another required assistance ).  hero pantomimist through and through !!  which is why  ,  here and now  ,  rendezvous could be averted;  at least  ,  it’s what he’d counted on.  challenger emerging from booth  ,  eyes locking  ( expression STILL communicating revulsion )  before sideways glance crosses mind.  eeh  ~  he’s leaving  so it doesn’t matter if  THAT THING  saw him.

          ❛ elsewhere , elsewhere  .  .  . ♪  hungry. ❜ 

@sembless ♡’d

    HE HAD COME TO THIS ESTABLISHMENT for one purpose and one purpose only -- to eat an omelet. Simple enough. He had expected the meal to pass by smoothly, without any disturbances, when a familiar blue head of hair walked in. He doesn’t know what his name is, doesn’t care -- all he knows is that the first and last time they spoke, he had been utterly disrespected. The memory is enough to cause his teeth to grit, food forgotten in favor of standing from his booth, and following his retreating form.

    He could just let it go, allow bygones to be bygones. The thought of being the ‘bigger person’ and going on about his business crosses his mind -- more so out of indifference towards the boys existence than anything else, the knowledge that he’s just some stupid kid, a meaningless person who he was obviously leagues above. He doesn’t need to PROVE anything, but he can’t tolerate that look of disgust the other had shot him.

   He can already imagine the look on her face when he presents it to her, deadpan slowly giving way to irritation as he explains his reason behind it. The thought alone is enough to cause him to snicker as he approaches with a crack of his knuckles and a roll of his shoulders. A kid stands off to the side, and whether she intends to win the same prize herself, or is simply there to watch matters little to him. All that matters is winning.

   It’s an easy feat. The games are rigged from the start, so it’s only fair that he cheats. The second after he sends the ball flying, he aids it with a gust of air from his legs when the concessionaire turns their back. The pyramid falls with little resistance, cans bouncing off the walls before dropping to the floor --all except for one, which ends up hitting the girl beside him square in the forehead.

        ❝ Whoops. My bad, kid. You should’ve dodged. ❞

   For the first time in his life, he’s been handed an excuse to dress up -- and he wouldn’t exactly call him a friend ( more like an annoyance, ) but he does conveniently have someone to take along with him to a certain section of the city. Not out of a sense of companionship, but for the laughs, because he’s lived with him long enough to know that he’s very easily scared. 

   What better place to take him than the haunted houses in Hall-o-Ween ? Better yet, the scariest one they have. Of course, he doesn’t know that’s where they’re going.

    He’s been leading them to the section under the false pretense that they’re going to check out the various stalls, but as they get closer, he suddenly grabs his roommate by the arm in an iron grip and drags him off to the side, ignoring his protests with an amused smirk on his lips.

         ❝ Quit complaining already -- we’re just taking a little detour before we check out the stalls. This haunted house is supposed to be real scary, so I wanna check it out. 

        You’re okay with that, right ? Great. Then, keep moving. ❞

   Which brings him to now. He isn’t dressed too differently than his normal outfit -- except for the leather pants. He recalls watching a movie once where all the guys dressed the same way, slicked their hair back, and acted like they were the coolest things around. It’s a simple costume, but he wasn’t about to dress up as something ridiculous. This way, even if he runs into someone he knows, he can say it was a fashion choice, rather than for the holiday.

    He wonders if he can manage to sneak into Spooktoberfest dressed like this, a place he had heard only allowed those twenty or older. He isn’t interested in the drinks in the slightest for many reasons, merely the satisfaction he’ll feel upon infiltrating a forbidden area, and the thought of stealing some money off of those who have had a few too many while they were too intoxicated to do anything about it. All he needs is someone willing to distract the police posted outside who he will inevitably push the blame onto if he’s caught.

          ❝ Hey, be a pal, would ya ? Keep those guys busy while I head inside, yeah ? I’ll.. bring you back something if you do. ❞ he won’t. ❝ Whaddya say ? ❞

    In other words, this was all a big waste of his time -- a temporary stay, temporary peace, that would benefit him in no way. IT’S INFURIATING. He’s being used for a cause he surely couldn’t care less about, a pointless plan that won’t serve him in the slightest. A voice had rung out in his head several times, each more annoying to him than the last, all belonging to the Mayor. Words of reassurance had been uttered, the promise that everything would be okay, that she wasn’t an enemy, but she IS -- to him, at least. There’s also the matter of the OTHER voice that had spoken, angrier, uglier -- and now nothing makes sense. Not that it did to begin with. Not this place.

    It would be a stretch to say he had warmed up to the city, but he had gotten used to it. His daily life wasn’t the worst it could be. It was just mundane, UNCOMFORTABLE, but not terrible. But things had rapidly changed in the small course of time that had passed since he arrived. He’s more on edge than ever, distrusting, doubtful of the city and its intentions. Nothing can be done for it, he knows, but he HATES it. He resents being here now more than ever, this city full of secrets, of floating islands with rampant soldiers and fallen royalty kept preserved in time.

    And worst of all, of TAUNTING items that heighten his frustration rather than quell it. Otherwise known as the bracelet he’s received. A bracelet with the ability to send him home, apparently -- not that he has any reason to go back for a mere twenty-four hours. It might as well be TRASH. He was tempted to throw it away upon receiving the explanation for it, but he’s held onto it for.. some reason. He isn’t sure why, and doesn’t want to think about it. It sits on a dresser in his room, waiting to be used, but he has no plans to. There’s no one he wants to go home to see, no reason to go back. If he attempted to, he’s sure he’d be killed by Salem or her lackeys for abandoning her cause. He would rather not take that chance.

yo yo yo i’m super hyped for the halloween event so here’s a starter call for a greaser mercury!

The thought of being trapped here in Koi for what seems to be an indefinite amount of time doesn’t exactly thrill the blonde, but if he doesn’t have a choice, then what’s the point of moping about it? While he’s here, he may as well use the most of his time, whether that be meeting new people, uniting with old friends, or training, despite the fact that his sword was taken away from upon arrival. He certainly feels lesser without Crocea Mors, but it’s not to say he’s completely helpless without it. For the past several months, he’s been working on building at least a little bit of muscles, and improving his hand to hand combat. Considering the circumstances, it certainly doesn’t hurt to be up to date.

Deciding to just take a breather for the day, maybe walk around the city a little bit more to a little more familiar with his surroundings, one of the first places he stumbles upon in his mini journey so to speak, is a small arcade. He takes a moment, pondering if playing video games right now would really be a good idea when he’s supposed to be familiarizing himself with the city. Technically playing these arcade games would be familiarizing himself with something, but he decides to push that thought aside for now. As he’s about to walk away, he quickly finds himself being approached by a young man with gray hair, and it only takes him a second to recognize him. One of Cinder’s goons.

In the past, Jaune would be quick to anger, but he takes a deep breath, and blinks a few times before looking directly into the eyes of the familiar face. 

“It’s Jaune, actually.” he begins, standing up right, beaming with confidence, ignoring his snarky remarks about being plain. Jaune never particularly gives too much of a thought about standing out, feeling it’s unnecessary. “And you’re…Mercury was it? You’re one of Cinder’s goons, am I right? Gotta say, it’s kind of refreshing seeing you on your own this time.”

           ❝ I don’t actually care what your name is, but thanks for letting me know, Jeff. ❞ 

    HE ROLLS HIS EYES AT THE CORRECTION, purposefully neglecting to address him by his actual name out of complete indifference towards it. He’s disappointed by his boring reaction, having expected more than a lackluster, calm reply from someone he vividly remembers being quicker to anger while in the mere presence of those he dislikes. He prefers the version of the blond from Haven to the one standing before him now, insulting him with an unbefitting confidence  --  as if someone so weak had any right to disrespect him.

          ❝ And I’m not one of her ‘goons,’ blondie. Let’s think of it as more of like.. a volunteer. ❞ 

    A willing participant in her plans, picked out for his skills as an assassin. A required asset for strengthening her ranks. Calling him a ‘goon’ was too demeaning, too brazen for someone of this guy’s status and capabilities to be calling him. It’s irritating.

          ❝ Looks like you’re on your own too, though. Where are your little friends ? Did they realize how useless a guy like you is and decide to leave you behind ? ❞ 

    A hand rests on his hip, lips curving in a taunting smirk as he utters his next words, gaze pointedly dropping to the armor melded into his shield.

@sembless

   “–Did your ‘leader’ abandon you?”

   Adam sneers, eyeing the boy with nothing less than malice. It wasn’t difficult to recognize him–one of the two children Cinder had twisted around her fingers; that horrid witch of a woman who weaseled her way into the Fang’s workings and brought along her Human crew. 

   Yet now, she was no where to be found. Had she truly abandoned her aid? Or perhaps, she had failed entirely–…the thought alone brings a smirk upon the Faunus’ features, and his tone filters out with a smooth, yet taunting coo.

   “Or did she fail? Leading to her demise?” 

            ❝ Who knows ? Do I look like her babysitter or something to you ? ❞

     COOL INDIFFERENCE && A SHARP TONGUE mask an otherwise stupefied state of mind, unable to even BEGIN to imagine how Adam Taurus of all people came to be in this city. For starters, who in their right mind would let him in ? Was there no criteria one had to meet in order to live here ? He supposes he of all people shouldn’t be asking that. If there were standards, he wouldn’t have been let in either.

             ❝ On second thought, you probably can’t see much out of that one eye, can you ? Sorry about that -- was I being insensitive ? ❞

      He returns the others smirk with one of his own, effortlessly dodging his question regarding Cinder in favor of WELL-DESERVED snark -- payback for even thinking that he could get the best of him with his cheap taunts. Two can play this game, and if Adam is still as volatile as Mercury remembers him being ( more so than himself; a truly remarkable feat, ) then it’ll hardly be a challenge to rile him up. All in good fun, of course.

          “ well, looks like you and i are roomies, huh? ” ; the spoken words had been innocent and friendly, kaito making an effort from the get - go to get along with this person that he’ll be living with while in this strange city. okay, well, maybe nothing’s too much different than how kaito greets other people ─ he’s never been shy in the face of strangers. even in such strange circumstances ( though, this situation seems much more tame than where he came from. still confusing, but tame ), he has absolutely no qualms with an appointed roommate. 

the feeling is  NOT  mutual.

right off the back, kaito is reminded of the few he already knows who are antisocial and would prefer solitude. but that didn’t stop kaito before and it sure as hell didn’t stop him from disregarding the sharp glare( reminiscent of the look he’s seen in a certain someone’s eyes when incredibly worked up ) he received ‘pon entering their now - shared space and greeting his new ‘ companion ’ with vigor. it backfires, though. before kaito can even properly introduce his name and status, he finds himself facing the floor, knees slightly bent and hands instinctively grabbing the arm locked around his neck.

 well, this was the last thing he expected. kaito quickly finds he can’t move. seriously, what the heck is with this guy? he’s fast and clearly works out. there’s few other people he knows who has the same sort of power … but he doesn’t have time to think about them now. first thing’s first ; he’s gotta get this guy to chill out! 

“ h-hey! wait a sec! ” he sputters, trying to get over the initial shock and processing the other’s words. threat? “ the hell is your problem? this is no way to introduce yourself! ” okay, probably not the best choice of words given his position, but he doesn’t have much time to think! “ even if i was gonna move out, i don’t think the people in charge would like that! otherwise, they wouldn’t have assigned us a place to live in the first place! ” he barks, knowing all too well the kind of power it takes to set something up like this. of course, being trapped in an entire city is leagues different from a small academy, but … if someone wants to keep them here, they’re going to do just that. 

“ you want first dibs on a room, or somethin’? well go right ahead, i haven’t even unpacked yet! what’s the big deal, anyway? ”

       AN EYEBROW ARCHES AT HIS CAPTIVES scolding of his less than hospitable way of greeting him, slightly taken aback by his attitude. well, he’s got guts -- mercury will give him that much. it wasn’t everyday he met someone brave enough to backtalk  while in what he would consider a compromised position. the assassin hums, pretending to mull over his words as he nonchalantly tightens his grip around his neck, careless for the hands that grasp at his arm. 

            ❝ i’ll have to keep that in mind the next time i have a guest over. thanks for the advice. ❞

he’s ready to knock him unconscious, to throw his body out onto whatever unfortunate passerby happened to be beneath their -- his -- window, when the other continues speaking. his eyes narrow at the mention of the people in charge, body tensing under the weight of his words. mercury isn’t AFRAID of whoever runs this city, but he’s extremely cautious of them. it was no easy feat to gather as many people as they had -- strong ones such as himself included -- in one place. to be able to accomplish that, they had to have some kind of power. he would rather not experience what it is firsthand.

he hates to admit it, but his new roomie has a point. those in charge probably wouldn’t be happy if he kicked him out. not that he was actually going to say so. it was difficult enough to admit when someone with some sense was right -- let alone this guy, who just assumed mercury’s biggest problem with their predicament was that he wanted a specific room.

he’s beginning to wonder if this guy is brave, or just stupid. both, probably.

❝ the big deal is that i don’t want to be be stuck in a room with some idiot who doesn’t know how to keep his mouth shut. ❞

he glances towards the window, half-tempted to follow through with his threat regardless of the consequences, then growls in frustration and relinquishes his grip. it’s a bad idea, no matter how he spins it. he isn’t eager to invoke the wrath of whoever brought him here.

❝ no memories of my time here? then what the hell is the point of all this?!