tampered | Log; Complete

Log; Complete

When; July 10th. Right now.
Rating; PG-13 for language.
Characters; Jr. [

kendogrl], Albedo [

fallen667], and anyone else near the carousel. Feel free to join in.
Summary; Jr. and Motoko first interact in this thread, only to later agree to meet in this thread. Their walk back is interrupted by Albedo.
Log;

Motoko stood in the light of the mysterious carousel, staring at it, trying to discover its mysteries. She had been warned not to touch it, which only intrigued her more. A cool breeze whipped at her flowing black hair and loose training gear. Maybe this new town wouldn't be so bad after all.

Rubedo was in too much of a hurry to bother changing clothes, so he ran out the door in a black and white suit that was still wrinkled from his earlier nap, the red tie crooked. Really, he wasn't thinking of this as an 'official' date, or he would have paid more attention to his appearance.

But even though that chat with Faye had lifted his spirits a bit, he was still feeling pretty down from the earlier dating disaster. Jr. didn't handle rejection well... Especially on a day like today.

He was sure to re-holster his pistols out of habit before heading out the door at a run. A girl like that on her own in the City on a day like today... DEFINITELY not a good image in his head. When he finally reached the carousel, he was relieved to find she was in one piece. At least he thought that was her... She looked Japanese.

Walking up to her, he cleared his throat and waved a hand. "Motoko?"

Motoko glanced towards the voice, saw his hand, and looked down. The figure stood a whole foot shorter than her, which caught her off guard, but not many people in town knew her name yet, so logically the boy had to be him. "You must be Jr. It is a pleasure to finally meet you." She bowed low. He had offered quite a bit of hospitality, and in as strange a city as they were in, she was not going to take it for granted.

With a laugh, Rubedo waved his hand yet again, though this time more dismissively. She was so polite, it was so damn hard to be pissed around her! "Hey hey, none of that! It's great to meet you, too. I can't think of anything better than escorting a pretty girl to a meal to cheer me up right now."

Turning away, he motioned with his hand for her to follow. At least his raging hormones seemed to be subsiding. ...A little. He was still checking her out, but he was damn sure she was under age. Just his luck. Oh well, he didn't want her to go and commit 'seppuku' or whatever if he made a move on her.

"So then you're new here? So am I! Just showed up yesterday. Fortunately I had someone to give me a run down of the city, though I don't know where he's at now. Probably knocking up some chick."

"I apologize, as I said before I was raised to be very traditional. I just wanted to express my gratitude for your kindness. Everyone else in this town seems to be wrecking the place. To answer your question, yes, I've only managed to get myself lost and fall under the powers of that curse so far."

She took a quizzical glance at his back. He seemed to be mature for his age, but she felt it would be disrespectful to question such things. Instead she merely followed, pleased to finally leave the ominous contraption in the square.

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"Eh, don't apologize. And really I'm not being kind. But ya know, thing about this place I've noticed is that this crazy ticking going on while I'm alone. It's crazy, ya know? So having company is nice." It was true, too. Rubedo wasn't that selfless. Yeah he liked to help people, but he also wanted company while Gaignun was out...doing whatever it was he was doing. Or whoever. Lucky bastard.

Her comment about the destruction made him snort and push his hands into his pockets as he strolled at a leisurely pace, making a point not to look around at anyone. Too many people were making out or...more. Or fighting. Insanity. "Hey, destruction can be soothing. Why that Italian restaurant right over there, I... Uh... Let's go this way." After thinking about it, he didn't want her to know that he'd riddled a building full of bullet holes just because his date had gone badly.

"Certainly, wherever you'd like to go." Her distant behavior was ever starting to bother her, but she couldn't help it. Attacking those defenseless people just because they couldn't control their own urges was very dishonorable. But if what everybody had said about this curse was true, there was nothing she could do about it.

Now that he mentioned it, she did recall a sort of ticking while she had stood by the carousel. But it was gone now. Maybe his explanation was true, that it was only heard while alone. If that was the case, she was going to have to make sure not to distance herself from the world as she usually did. Deciding to break the silence, she asked, "how did you end up in this city? I'm sure not everybody was led here through their dreams."

Rubedo couldn't really afford to take her anywhere, since Gaignun had disappeared with his wallet. He considered using the mindlink to contact him, but he wasn't that desparate. Showing off on a date was almost tiring, especially after all the stress of worrying about the others and getting used to this place...

"Eh? Honestly, I have no clue. See, my crew and I had just completed a sort of...mission, you could call it, and I honestly thought we were about to die, but then I just woke up here. I woke up on this lab table with this psycho about to cut into me with a scalpel. It wasn't pretty. Fortunately I found my brother here, so he explained some shit to you. I'll tell you what I know once we get back to my place."

Tossing a glance over his shoulder, he tried not to be too open about checking her out. She wasn't exactly wearing a revealing outfit, but he found it kinda cute. "So what are you in the mood to eat? I have no clue what Gaignun has in his fridge."

"You don't have to let me choose. You're already being kind enough offering me food. I'll...have whatever you like best." Come to think of it, it had been a while since she had a good meal. Urashima and Naru-sempai had gone on their honeymoon and Shinobu had gone back home to study for her exams, leaving no good cooks at the Hinata Inn. Anything would be better than another one of Su's country's specialties. They left the mouth feeling as if it was literally on fire. She phased out as she thought of home. She never thought she'd miss the inn this much, but with her quick departure she couldn't even say good-bye. She brushed up alongside Jr. in her daze, which quickly returned her to reality. She looked down, blushing slightly.

He didn't really pay that much attention to it, but it did cause him to glance up to make sure she was alright. When he saw the blush on her face, he cleared his throat and quickly looked back ahead of them. He really...shouldn't...be having those thoughts... What was he, a manwhore? He'd already had a date today!

Yeah, he supposed he was a manwhore, because he was slipping an arm around her waist as if it was nothing, and praying she didn't send him face first in the dirt for it. Still, it seemed like Rubedo would only ever have a chance of scoring with jailbait, and he did NOT want that to really be his goal.

Of course, she wasn't underage, but he didn't know that. "Well, I'll eat just about anything. I like curry, though I don't think I can make it. I'll just make us sandwiches or something, how 'bout that?"

In his wanderings Albedo had encountered a fine array of people who appeared either terribly violent or completely horny beyond self-control. The two extremes seemed to be the most pronounced among the locals he had thus far encountered, which was oddly unlike most place he had come across before.

And he found this utterly amusing. Along with the giant carousel that seemed to be in the centre of the city.

But he was not particularly interested in the structure, and more focus was invested on the tug on his mind. That pull, that link, that feeling that never ceased in presence only made itself more known as he drew closer. The feeling of his other half...

In spite of the general meaning lovers used, it was quite literal in Albedo's case. Though, he found the dual meaning rather funny.

After all, Rubedo was not his wife.

Funny image, that.

Rounding a corner he spotted Rubedo with a girl who was much taller than him, arm around her waist as they apparently strolled. "Whatever happened to Ma Peche?" He breathed, tilting his head slightly. Rubedo had invested so much attention on that doll...

"Why if it isn't Rubedo. I didn't know you liked them taller and younger." Albedo cast, folding his arms and smirking.

Something had been nagging at him for awhile now, but he had merely blamed it on the City. After all, it had been making him act so strange all day that it was only natural for him to assume such.

It was when he heard the voice that the close presence made chills crawl up his spine, and his arm dropped from around Motoko's waist so that he could spin around. Spotting Albedo there made his throat close. He... WHAT? Last Rubedo remembered, Albedo had been...

"Albedo?! I thought you... You opened the path, and then you..." His trembling hand lifted to cover the right side of his chest. He was obviously more than a little startled to spot his other brother here. He had thought Albedo was gone for good? Should he be glad?

....HELL no!

Both hands slipped into his blazer, and there were a couple clicks as two pistols were cocked and aimed right at the taller man, his face contorted in a snarl. "I should have known you weren't gone for good! Motoko, get out of here!" He didn't need an innocent bystander getting caught up in this.

Motoko turned and stared down the newcomer. "It would not be right to abandon an ally." She quickly drew her shirasaya and held it out in front of her. She stood just behind Rubedo, ready to back him up if it became necessary. She was still blushing, startled after he had grabbed her waist. His touch made her feel surprizingly safe. How could this be? Men...love...it only caused weakness. They're what stole away her sister, so how could anything good come from them. On the other hand, Naru-sempai seemed to glow whenever she was around Urashima. Her sister did too when she got married. She shook off her wandering mind and continued to size up her possible opponent.

"What a warm reception." Albedo was once more amused, trying to look hurt by the response issued by his twin. The people in this city and even Rubedo-and that silly girl behind him-all either violent or lust-mad or both. How very quiant it was. Not that either of them could deal more than a glancing blow.

Well, Rubedo could do far more but he'd risk that girl he'd been flirting with.

Which brought up an interesting point.

"First Sakura, then that imitation. And now..?" He indicated the girl with a wave, well-known smirk once more returning to his features. "How fickle, Rubedo."

Albedo's words made him right bristle. Of all of the days, Albedo just had to show up....today?!

With an audible growl, he pointed one gun right at Albedo's forehead, squeezing off two rounds before he could stop himself. Whether he dodged or not, he knew the man would regenerate within seconds, anyway. "You shit head! Watch what the fuck you say! This girl isn't... And don't you DARE talk about Sakura or MOMO!"

Turning, he eyed the weapon Motoko now brandished. Oh yeah. Now she really reminded him of Jin. But even so... He shook his head and wrapped his fingers around her blade to halt any attack she might try. His voice was heavy with intensity as he hissed at her. "Get out of here. You don't want to get caught up in this. You don't know what this bastard is capable of. Get LOST. NOW!" he roared, giving a rough shove, and ignoring that doing so caused the blade to cut into his hand.

Turning back to Albedo, he aimed again. "Today is the WRONG day to pick a fight with me, mother fucker!"

Motoko looked at Rubedo and nodded. "I..I understand." She sheathed her blade and continued in the direction they had been walking for a ways, then stopped and turned, taking shelter behind a building. This was his fight, not hers, and she could respect that, but she was not going to abandon him completely. Her hand fell down to her hilt and she grabbed it tightly, just in case.

Albedo didn't bother as bullets hit him, hand merely reaching out at his side and waiting, fingers curled shut. After a few moments his hand opened and the bullets fell from it, clattering to the pavement as the holes in his body healed.

"I don't recall slapping you with a glove at all today." He stated, not at all concerned by the reaction. It was to be expected. That was how Rubedo was.

Not that he didn't lend to it of course.

"As for being a bastard, I'm not the only one. And since we shared a heart, I'd imagine there's only as much shit in my head as there is in yours." Albedo would talk about Peche and Sakura as much as he liked, and that was a given.

Narrowing his eyes, Rubedo spat off to the side in obvious disgust. "No need to remind me. Albedo, why the HELL are you here? Don't tell me you just happened to come here like me..."

Suddenly, a realization hit him, and he felt sick to his stomach. Both pistols began to glow a deep crimson as something dangerous flickered in his eyes. "You... Are MOMO and the others here?! Have you done anything to them?!"

If he found out that the reason he hadn't been able to find them was because Albedo was keeping them captive somewhere, well... He would be sure to make the fucker pay.

Albedo outright laughed. Of course he was capable. Certainly of the three he was brightest-if in the most diabolical way-and not everyone could outsmart people so thoroughly that in the end they always did what he'd wanted.

"Supposing I knew, what makes you think I'd be forthcoming?" Indeed he'd seen none of Rubedo's playmates, but when could he ever resist antagonizing his twin?

Never, of course. He liked the attention far too much.

Shit! This wasn't getting him anywhere! If Albedo had done something, he wouldn't tell Rubedo unless he had a reason... But acting like that almost was like saying he had them!

Damnit. Gaignun, where are you? It was no use. He couldn't feel the mind-link with Gaignun, either. Had Albedo done something with HIM? That startled him. Usually Albedo never paid much attention to Gaignun...at least not to Rubedo's knowledge. With a shake of his head, he growled and pulled both triggers rapidly.

With the deep glow emanating from his weapons, it was only natural that the bullets would carry it as well. He knew it wouldn't even come close to killing Albedo, but Rubedo usually got a superficial satisfaction out of blowing a limb or two off of Albedo. He had done it so much by now...

"I've worn you down before, and I sure as FUCK can do it again!"

Albedo only found the vain attack amusing, if not something he enjoyed. First there was the fact that he had undivided attention from the older twin-which from a young age had been rather coveted by him-and then of course he was a masochist.

How could he not find pain anything but pleasant? It proved he was and rooted him to reality. Much of that was lost on someone that couldn't die.

Pain meant reality.

"And what good will it do you?" He asked at length, wounds closing almost the instant Rubedo made them. And his supply wouldn't last much longer at this rate.

For a few moments in the neat future, he knew his capacity would lag. But it depended on whether those bullets were well-stocked or not.

Albedo, sadly, had a point. Rubedo usually had the others with him in a fight... He rarely got chances to battle alone anymore. Still, while their extra firepower helped wear Albedo down more quickly, it also meant that Rubedo usually had to hold back his power.

With a wicked smirk, he aimed and shot again. The gunshots didn't stop sounding off until he was clean out... And since Rubedo hadn't gone out preparing to battle he hadn't brought extra ammo with him. But that was fine.

Letting the empty clips drop to the ground with a clatter, he shoved the pistols back into their holsters. "Albedo, haven't you noticed something odd about this city? People are acting strange. Not holding back and shit..."

He sneered, his fingers twitching as the glow that had emanated off of the guns began to cover him. "I'll tear you apart so bad there'll be nothing left to regenerate."

By reflex rather than will, Albedo had already summoned like energy, though it was an electric violet. The color made his eyes light up strangely, reflecting the power that flowed around him.

This wasn't exactly the intention. He'd have preferred just having a bit of fun. But really, there was precedent.

Indeed there was, though his brother's temper was disconcertingly shorter than usual. Before...well, Rubedo threatened idly but hadn't truly wished his death. Albedo knew that much. However, now was different.

And all over a hypothetical crime.

Alas, his life seemed to be full of such things. At least it wasn't boring.

"Another life on your hands, Rubedo? What would that make, a minimum six hundred and sixty five? And those are just your brothers." Albedo did not fear death, in fact he sought it. That or live forever. And so he didn't care if it was now or later that it happened, and he wasn't going to watch his mouth.

There was nothing Albedo feared... Save one thing.

Rubedo's eyes flashed, and his power dissipated as the very memory sent him staggering. One hand shot up to clutch at the side of his head as he doubled over, trying to shake it off. "No! I had no choice!"

With another shake of his head, as if that would shake off the very memory, he looked up with narrowed eyes. "I had to do it or the entire PLANET would have..." He trailed off. Albedo had no business knowing what it is that Rubedo had seen. He just had so much trouble reigning in his actions today, AND his words.

"What do you want? Take me to them!"

At the very least, Albedo's taunt had held back Rubedo's powers. True, he didn't want to kill ANOTHER brother of his. Especially his twin, despite how much he ranted about it.

Well, that garnered a more Rubedo-like response. He didn't know what exactly his twin had meant about everyone acting as they were. Perhaps then, it was not normal. Much as Rubedo truly desiring his death was.

Albedo shrugged slightly, discarding more of the bullets he'd lagged in losing. That onslaught as indeed more than the usual. And it had slowed him. A real battle would not have ended well for him.

Not that he cared for his own safety at all.

"I've sensed you and Nigredo and you're the only one I've seen." He supplied, sounding almost bored with his own admission. "And what would I accomplish even if they were here?"

Violet eyes showed slight humor, power dying down instantly since there was no need for it. "Consider that I do things with objectives in mind, Rubedo."

There was a soft growl in his voice, but he didn't lower his voice. It was getting late, though, and he had heard these curse things only lasted a day... Perhaps this curse was fading, because it was getting easier to hold his tongue.

...A little.

"Yeah, I sure as hell know that. So if it's only me and Gaignun here like what you've sensed, and that's all I've discovered too, then why are you here? There's nothing for you here, Albedo." He paused, then smirked.

"Unless you were brought here against your will, too? Awww, did something not go according to plan?"

"Don't get ahead of yourself." Albedo's voice was flat, even. If not bearing soem mark of annoyance. Yes, much more like the Rubedo he knew, if not a bit more snarky.

Or perhaps he'd not been on the offensive enough? He tended to keep Rubedo too angry for a reversal to occur.

But it meant nothing. "And what happens if my plans are still being carried out without you to intervene, Rubedo?"

Considering what Albedo was capable of, it was far from improbable. In fact it was altogether likely that whatever he'd set to do was in motion regardless of his presence.

Taunt that, Rubedo.

Albedo's plan worked like a dream. Rubedo caught the bait, and his eyes lit up once again, his shoulders hunching from the tension again.

"I may not be around out there, but that means neither are you! Whatever plans you've set in motion, I know the others can handle it! So long as you're HERE and out of their way, well, you're not even fucking important!" Ah, that thought did comfort him again. He actually...almost calmed down.

True, Albedo had a point. Whatever was going on out there, Rubedo couldn't help from here. The others were strong fighters, but he didn't like not knowing what was going on. Still... Albedo was here. Not there. He couldn't directly hurt them.

"Here, you're nothing but a nuisance. At least knowing you're out of their hair, I can concentrate on escaping. See ya." For once, he turned his back on Albedo and...walked off. Well, it was really more like stalking, but either way he could take Motoko and go.

"Or so you claim. You've got no idea what I can really do..." Albedo cast, though masking some disappointment. Rubedo was running. At least that's how he interpreted it. The other had never done that before.

Still...there were quite a few things he could and had done, in spite of being where he was now. Plenty of plans were in motion and would not require him.

And aside that, his capacity wasn't even something Rubedo fully understood. After linking with U-DO that time...

Well, no matter. "Have fun with your replacement. Should I see Ma Peche I'll be sure to inform her." He toyed, about-facing and heading off himself. Getting his bearings was more pressing a matter at present.

Motoko stood watching the argument, thoughts turning to her own sister as the fight continued. Why would he want his own brother dead so much? And his brother had called him...older? There seemed to be a lot more to her new friend, but this didn't seem liked a good time to ask him. The best thing for him right now would probably be to just keep him company. Both the anger of facing his brother and the ticking of being alone would be a feeling she wouldn't wish upon anybody. As he approached she opened her mouth, trying to find the right words to say, but none came.

Rubedo glanced up at her when he finally got near, but he said nothing. Instead he just kept walking, expecting her to follow. His exhuberant nature seemed to have dimmed quite a bit, his energy drained both literally and figuratively. His hands rested in his pockets as he walked and thought.

How had Albedo gotten brought here? How had he gotten brought here? What was the nature of the City, and why did it pull people from their dimensions? Was there a danger that it would pull MOMO and the others, too? That would be bad news. Oh sure it would pull them out of inter-galactic war, but if they weren't there to help fight that war, then who knew what would become of the universe.

MOMO... Albedo's jab had really gotten to him, even if he had made a point not to turn back around and glare. It wasn't like...she was his GIRLFRIEND or anything. She was Sakura's sister. But...their relationship was complicated enough that Rubedo didn't want to complicate it more.

He would just take Motoko to his place, make her some sandwiches, and let her sleep in the bed if she needed. Rubedo didn't want to sleep. He wanted to do some research, and there was still one more nagging question in the back of his mind.

Why hadn't he been able to contact Gaignun?

For some reason the words never came. The entire night she remained silent, speaking only rarely to thank him again for all of his hospitality. "I'm heading out for tea, if you'd like to join me you can, I will be over at Shizune's apartment...but if you wish not to I can understand. I wish there was something I could do to help you..." She bowed once more and left, hoping that the two of them might have a second chance to get to know each other, without any intrusions.

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