[h2][u][color=39b54a]Castor Kerberos[/color][/u][/h2]

==~==

Castor ground his teeth as the meeting proceeded, in the expected fashion. To be honest, he didn't even know why he was here.

[color=8dc73f]"Honestly, Tenebrae, I don't know why you saw fit to come here,"[/color] whispered the specter of Lady Anri at his side. Castor almost chuckled at the irony of her statement, following so soon after he'd thought the very same thing.

[color=39b54a]"It would look worse if I hadn't, My Lady. I don't want to give the Beacon any more reason to hate us than necessary."[/color] Not that giving provoking the Beacon was that difficult of a prospect, looking the way he did. Anri scoffed, apparently agreeing.

[color=8dc73f]"Do they not already hate, Tenebrae, because of my mark upon you? Do they not see the shape of a predator and assume you have fallen to this... 'inner darkness,' as they so deem it to be? What utter rubbish. Your shape would have been ordained as holy, were you raised to your station in Elswyr. You would be seen for the Champion you are, instead of the monster they pretend you to be. Even more ordinary followers of mine would, on occasion, begin bearing noble forms like unto my Champions. It was seen as a gift, a sign of my favor. Their disregard of your heritage is... offensive."[/color] 

Castor was inclined to agree. He'd been nothing but helpful to Penrose since his ascension almost a year ago. He'd never hurt an innocent or a fellow Magical Being, despite many of them seemingly trying to provoke him to do so, as though to validate their own prejudice. Some even had forgone the usual song and dance and outright tried to assault or even kill him, accepting no explanations except that, somehow, he was "evil," and must be "purified."

The Beacon certainly had colorful ways of describing, "trying to off you like a backstreet mugger." 

Castor shrugged, trying to ignore the itch he felt in his teeth, nails, and scalp. Being in a "human" shape for too long always chafed terribly, and he was looking forward to getting back to Holt's place and shedding this facade. [i]"Please don't transform,"[/i] they said. The nerve of them. Even worse when one of the Beacon sycophants decided to step up and try to insinuate that they were the ones needing protection from people like him.

That, of course, really was the breaking point. He stepped forward, Anri's shadowy form rippling in discomfort.

[color=8dc73f]"Have a care, Tenebrae. They may be outnumbered here, but that has not stopped their members before."[/color]

[color=39b54a]"I'll take that into consideration. Don't worry, My Lady- if they're thin-skinned enough to attack me over mere words, then their distaste for me won't mean anything. I'll have all the backup I need after that."[/color] He walked ahead further, still keeping his beastly form in check. Let them see he was willing to follow their rules.

[color=39b54a]"'Incentive?'"[/color] he barked mockingly at the Beacon representative. [color=39b54a]"You want to talk 'incentive?' Let's talk. Let's start with the fact that on an almost-weekly basis, I'm attacked or accosted by your representatives, some of which have even tried to kill me for no good reason except that I have... extra parts. Let's start with the fact that you vilify us for circumstances beyond our control or comprehension, then condescend to us about our, 'inner darkness.' The nerve of you. The [i]arrogance.[/i]"[/color]

He turned to the rest of the assembled Mahou. [color=39b54a]"If you don't recognize me, allow me to introduce myself. I am Castor Kerberos, also known as Verdant Champion: Tenebrae, Bearer of the Spirit of the Wolf. Since I was chosen by my patron almost a year ago, I have done nothing but try and help and support my fellow Magical Beings in hunting down dangers to the city. Despite this, the Beacon would tar me with the same black brush that they use to paint all of my kind with. I admit that there are some of us who are dangerous- people who chose this path for power or opportunity. But I ask of you, how many of us here [i]aren't[/i] dangerous in one way or another? Before I was chosen as a Champion, do you know what happened? I was almost killed in the crossfire of a magical battle, and by ordinary Mahou, no less! Condemning me for crimes that I haven't committed, that some of you yourselves are guilty of, is hypocrisy of the highest order."[/color]

He folded his arms, letting his shape drift back to bestial, but only slightly- just enough to give his eyes an unnatural intensity. He spoke, slowly and clearly, seething with quiet anger.

[color=39b54a]"You want 'incentive,' little girl? Well, so do I. I'll help all of you, because it's my goddess-damned job as a Champion to keep this city safe. But I want guarantees- from the Beacon, and from anyone assembled here that's still harboring ideas of 'putting me in my place,' or 'purifying' me. If I'm helping you, I want guarantees that no one's gonna put a knife in my back for some nebulous 'greater good.' Those are my terms. Take them or leave them. I'll do my job regardless of your approval."[/color]

[@Western Robot][@Flamelord]