[centre][h2]The Zenith - Xoxi’s Repurposed Meeting Room[/h2] [h1]Above Boston[/h1] [sub]21st January, 2011[/sub][/centre] The girl’s eyes lit up with a flash of fire. “Competitive, are we? Good. My brother was such a pushover at these things.” A shift in mood came over the room, turning the atmosphere from friendly banter to something more of a rivalry. Marwa and Aedan both looked at one another and almost reluctantly picked up a controller and chose a character. Trying to soften the edge, the Ward leader asked Kairi a question. “Hey, where is Nola off to?” Kairi, barely taking her eyes off the screen, shrugged. “No idea. She didn’t tell me anything - I had no idea she even had plans.” “Fair enough,” the older girl said. “You two are usually inseparable, thought she might have mentioned something.” [@Gardevoiran] [hr] [centre][h2]The Circus Maximus[/h2] [h1]Victory Road[/h1] [sub]21st January, 2011[/sub][/centre] On the way out of the arena, Sickle crumpled up his betting form and tossed it up to Vegas. “Do me a favour, cash that in.” “Why? Where are you off to?” the girl asked, with a suspicious gaze. He merely laughed. “I’ve got a date. Won’t be long.” Vegas watched as he wandered off down the path and out of site. She had no idea what the two in the arena had said, and she wasn’t sure she wanted to. Underneath the red jacket, the pain was faint but definitely there. Something wasn’t quite right. Usually Whetstone provided a healer for the event, but for whatever reason she wasn’t available this time. The only other alternative was Planck, and he always felt uneasy around the young girl. In fact, it spread out across pretty much every parahuman girl under the age of 16. He’d faced down some pretty terrifying things in his time, but the worst by far was Septima. She’d used her power on him once. And if she ever did again, it would be too soon. As he entered the area outside the Circus, he caught sight of Automaton. Taking out a switchblade, he began rhythmically clicking it in and out, in and out - the rasp of metal ever so faint. Coming to a stop about 5 metres away, he stared a hole straight through her. [i]Why?[/i] he thought. [i]What does she have to gain from this?[/i]? [i]Who cares?[/i] came the reply. [i]She obviously wants to see you go all-out. And we both know you’ve been dying to since that hero this morning.[/i] He closed his eyes. [i]Not true. I pitied her. Although that should hardly be a surprise.[/i] Rasping, harsh chuckles. [i]Don’t bullshit me. You wanted to tear her apart, precisely because she reminds you of yourself. No-one hates you more than you.[/i] Another chuckle. [i]I’m proof of that.[/i] [i]You aren’t real.[/i] [i]Fuck you too, buddy.[/i] Sickle tightened the closure of his eyes, and prayed he wouldn’t regret this. [i]Fine. Do it.[/i] Opening his eyes, he saw the world in an entirely different light. Before him wasn’t a girl. She wasn’t a parahuman, or a cyborg, or a tinker or whatever she was. She was simply standing in his way. Prey. He smirked. “So. You wanted me? You’ve got me. But the question is,” he said, moving backwards with a bow and flashing the switchblade behind him. “Can you handle me?” “A ‘cyborg’. That’s cute. Do you still bleed? I wanna see,” he asked, not even considering how bad the fight might go if that answer was no. He didn’t even slow for a response. “If you’re all metal, does that include your insides? Do your intestines glint when the light hits them? Surely you can survive if we take them out. Oh! I have an idea.” “I came out here to kill you, but you’re in luck. I’ve thought of something far more entertaining. I’m going to take you apart, piece by piece, and see if you can put yourself back together! Or, maybe I’ll just rip out those metal guts of yours and use them to tie you to that lamppost over there. Then we can see, together, just how long it takes you to beg.” He laughed, cruelly and sadistically. “But not matter what, you don’t need to worry.” “I’m not going to [i]kill[/i] you.” [@Migyudon][@Duoya][@Lasrever][@Old Amsterdam][@SkinnyTy][@PlatinumSkink]