#cinder 01

   now this was different. upon their last interaction, cinder looked....nothing like she does currently. hair is no longer cropped, both of her arms still remain....as if she never entered the battle of beacon. as if that event had not come to pass for the fall maiden at all. it was certainly strange and unexpected-- and it hints that maybe, more powerful forces are at play here. there is a long list of possibilities for this situation and even more guesses as to what it was. but rather than do just that or come up with hypothetical and wrong answers, she chooses to remain unfazed-- as usual. no outward inclination that cinder’s appearance surprised her or the state she was in. nothing to show that the gears were already fast turning in her head.

       “ I must say, I was not expecting to find one of my people among those here.” and least of all, her. but out of those among her inner circle, cinder was far more...tolerable than tyrian at the least. 

              “ Tell me-- how long have you been here, Cinder? “

     While Babbage had little reputation within this city-- something which bothered him slightly, having grown a mild disgust at how little people knew of his Difference and Analytical Engines-- the man within the armor would often proclaim his endeavors to those whom were interested in his appearance. Yes, after all, despite his monstrous, possibly ugly form to some, it was one he was quite proud of. It was the crystallization of his dream, after all.

And a man who wasn’t proud of his dreams was hardly a man at all, was he?

But still, he had some reputation because of this. And the exploits of one person always had a way of making it to the ears of others if announced often and loudly enough. He had never been personally hunted down before, however. That is to say... not until today.

Perusing the smog-filled Sector oo3 with interest (particularly at those nuclear reactors he had heard about), Caster had felt for some time that he was being watched.

It wasn’t a servant. And he doubted it was a thug, either-- seeing how a shank to his armor wouldn’t quite work, even if it was weakened slightly since his summoning here.

But whoever this mysterious person was, he didn’t regard them.

... That is to say, he didn’t regard them until they finally approached him.

“... Finally,” Babbage exclaimed. “I’d been wondering when you’d come forth.”

“You certainly took your sweet time.”

     Steam vented through his suit as he turned to the dark haired woman with interest.