jörmungandr

@shadowofthesnake

“Why are you carrying a jump rope? You don’t look like a body builder, you still have your shirt on.”

Without a second wasted Sanson swung his arm in an arc, hand in a gripping position,  as if wielding a sword in it. As his swing continued, his sword would materialize from mana into his grip, until the base of the T shape gripped the other from the back of his neck, with the rest of the blade pressing against his neck. A quick pull would be all it would take to remove the green haired villain’s head, as Sanson had done to many others before.

“I care not for your deceptions and lies. You are a disgrace to any world you exist in. You believe because you are not known in this world you can escape trial and judgement. is that it? At norm I would take you to be tried and sentenced, and though it pains me to forgo the decree of the scales, I will make an exception for you. There will be no jury, nor judge.”

Severing evil by means of evil. That was his purpose. There was no mistaking what this man was; he was darkness and poison, a snake in the form of man. And like God had done to the snake of the garden, Sanson would cast this one out.

“There is only myself, your executioner!”

“Oh?”

       However, soon as the man’s arm had begun to move had he already slithered away from the blade’s reach. Perhaps the fellow could see deeper through his facade than most, but that meant little when the green-haired fellow was always anticipating an individual’s next action. 

       A sly smirk was flashed the executioner’s way, and in a rare moment, his eyes opened from their ever-present squint. The glimmering yellow pupils seemed to study the fellow standing before him with little more than mild amusement.

“Would it not be boring if we all dressed in suits?”

If he had to describe the man, perhaps the best way was to compare him to a black market dealer. A shady looking individual who sought out good regardless of the source. A common occurrence for the delver, however a first here in the city.

“Is there something I could help you with?”

       Ah, now there was that response... The choice of words were not necessarily important--what was important was that sense of self within the man’s response. Yes, that affable exterior belying the immediate sense of being ‘unnatural’...

       He still lacked enough information to know for sure, but if he was correct, Hazama had just found something truly wonderful. 

  Quiet opened her eyes only when she heard a voice very clearly calling out to her. Gaze harsh and narrow at the stranger, she shifted so that she was sitting up on her elbows, one leg crossed over the other in a pose that managed to be both casual and threatening all at once. 

  Well… at least he was aware of how rude he was being in interrupting her. She sighed inaudibly, then sat up fully, palms pressed back on the ground as she looked up at the man. One moved to the pouch on her hip, taking the phone she’d recently acquired and started to learn how to use, typing out a message for him. {Resting. Sunlight is one of two things I need. Like humans need food and water.} Quiet stood with a soft grunt, brushing dirt from her thighs and behind before holding the screen up to the man to read as his own pace. Once he looked to be about finished, she added: {Do you always bother people who are minding their own business?}

       The stranger relying on a phone to print out their reply was just a bit curious. As, of course, was their choice of words. ‘Like humans’? What, was she ‘inhuman’, then? She certainly didn’t give off that sort of presence. 

“I should assume that’s the reason for the choice of wardrobe, then?” After leaning forward slightly with eyes (presumably) squinted, he could only rub the back of his neck sheepishly, smiling with equal measure. “--Ah, of course, where are my manners? I’m Hazama Honoka, but please, call me Hazama.”

“Setting up leadership, hm? Anyone mind telling me if the populace has a plan to decide who takes that role, or if people are just sharing wishful thinking?”

Normally, his Executioner skill was what tipped him off to evil in one’s heart. Without it, it was up to his own sense of deduction to understand those who desired to do good, and those who incite chaos. Yet he needed not even that with this man. The stench of evil was almost pungent off of him. Was it simply his time in an era of destruction that made him see it, or were those around him just stupid?

“I doubt I need answer that. That you reacted such is proof enough. Do you even have a heart to hold such darkness in, or are you simply corruption incarnate?”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa there! Aren’t we jumping the gun a little? We’ve hardly just met!” 

          Oh? The finely-dressed Intelligence captain’s outward reaction portrayed a man genuinely concerned with a stranger’s ‘misunderstanding’, but internally, one could almost imagine him cupping his chin in amused thought. Could this man truly see so clearly a person’s intentions merely by standing near them? Certainly, he’d met individuals whose intuition warned them against associating with him, but for this man to be so bold? He was either an outspoken fool or was absolutely sure in his observations.

          He continued to play his part, his meek tone mixed with a correction made in ‘good humor’.

       The best description he could offer of the figure he’d encountered this time was that he was ‘peculiar’, and given what Hazama was familiar with, that was quite the accomplishment. The mask was an troublesome touch, as it prevented him from being able to read the fellow’s facial expressions. And yet, for some odd reason, there was something about the fellow’s mannerisms that seemed almost... nostalgic. 

       Perhaps a little needling would help him understand that strange familiarity.

       The mostly-vacant church was an interesting sight to the artificial human. Not necessarily because he held any religious views of any sort, but rather because other people did. Back in his own home world, he could recall various religions spread throughout the Hierarchical Cities. Even then, he was quite fascinated by the idea that a people could so fervently worship something that either didn’t exist, hated them with all its being, or simply felt nothing towards them. 

       Though to be fair, none had been a vessel for a mad god, so perhaps he had some perspective others didn’t. 

       Hm, now this was curious. Up until now, the green-haired man had managed to avoid any sort of bizarre looks and suspicious gazes. (Well, beyond anything at the surface level.) And yet, for some unknown reason to him, this stranger was giving him a vicious side-eye. 

       Well, he may as well see what exactly the problem is.

ROAD TO EL DORADO SENTENCE STARTER PACK!

SEND ☭ FOR A VS. BATTLE QUOTE TO YOUR MUSE

Battle Theme: Persona 3 ~ Master of Shadows

Battle intro: “Ooh, drawing the swords, now? Did I touch a nerve?”

Victory: “’Persona’, hm...? I may have to thank you, young man. You’ve shown me something quite interesting.”

Defeat: “Aha... I see...”

Assist: “Oh, now don’t give me that scowl.”

Taunt: “Seems I’m the star of the ‘Sho’ here, hm?”

Reacting to Taunt: “Oh my, do you intend to back up those words?”

Flee: “Oho? What an interesting power... You’ve provided me with some interesting knowledge. Until we meet again, my young friend!”

Reacting to Flee: “Is it really wise to go around and pick fights, knowing you’ll just have to run from them?”

Tie: “Oh...?”

Perfect Victory: “As an officer of the--well, former officer of the law... Isn’t it rather late for children to be wandering the streets, picking fights? I might just have to call your parents, young man.”

Finish Move: 

ROAD TO EL DORADO SENTENCE STARTER PACK!

“That would seem to be mutual…”