davefromdiscord

ArcRift

Yoshikage Kira

For the moment, Kira remained completely silent. Already he had scorned his judgment for landing him in so dire a situation, but the worst thing he could do would be to force prying eyes onto him. His group was large - large enough that he could disappear into the flock and operate safe and sound, under the assumption that he who remained silent and unseen would be spared the spotlight. Still, if he was forced to use Killer Queen to dispose of the gibbering lunatic that had brought them here, then so be it. He debated deploying Sheer Heart Attack beneath the table, but quickly decided against it, for the moment.

His compatriots were taking charge - that was good. Methodically, quietly, Kira pulled out his own chair and took a seat, careful to arouse as little attention as possible. Those of his cohort who fancied themselves diplomats could handle the situation and keep his own hands pristine, until the moment came where he would be forced to act. If the man in the hat was foolish enough to force his hand, then Killer Queen would soon show him the price of his hubris.

@Thatguyinastore @Kagebaka @Second2Last @Crow @TheElenaFisher @Attesa

ArcRift

As those who rushed into the building itself began to clear the various rooms out, they would find that progressively, things began to clear up more and more. The building was a lot longer than it looked, with a multitude of doors that Joel and the others were pushing through. With each passing room, the rubble seemed to begin clearing itself up more and more. The rooms progressively became nicer to look at as well. The fires were all gone, and the panicked civilians weren't anywhere in sight.



Eventually, the group reached one long, seemingly endless hallway. Joel stopped in place and began to look around, clearly confused by... whatever was going on.

"H'oookay..." Joel muttered to himself, before glancing back to the others. "Dunno about you guys, but this does not seem like a destroyed buildin' to me."

And then, before anyone could get a response in, manic laughter could be heard.

"Ohohohoho!!!"

"You're not in THAT place anymore! No no, it was such a bore, such a bore!"

Joel's grip on his gun tightened as he turned around, holding it out and aiming for wherever the voice came from. "Yeah? Well why don't ya tell us where the fuck we are, then!?" he shouted angrily. The voice only laughed again.

"Oh, why don't you come forth and see? I'm sure it'll fill you all with such glee..."

Grunting, Joel looked back to the others, before hesitantly beginning to make his way down the hall.

@Second2Last @Attesa @KageBaka

@Thatguyinastore

---

Yoshikage Kira

Eerily silent, Yoshikage Kira had come up behind the group, clearing his throat to make his presence known and jogging slightly to catch up to them. While he desired nothing less than to spend more time in their company, it was as airtight an alibi as any, and with three people to corroborate it, his hands would likely remain clean for the time being.

That being said, it appeared Kira had more pressing matters to dedicate thought to at the moment. Just as his compatriots did, Kira narrowed his eyes and turned toward the back end of the hallway, presumably finding it in condition as pristine as the infinity that stretched onward in front of the group. Clenching a fist and closing ranks with the rest of the group, Kira remained silent, merely watching on and waiting, Killer Queen waiting in the wings to dispatch the mewling freak show madman whose voice now rang in his ears like nails on a chalkboard.

And as Joel began the trek down the hallway, Yoshikage Kira had no choice but to follow him.

ArcRift

Kira would find that a blonde woman was in the fire escape, rushing out with what seemed to have been a purse strapped to her shoulder. Had Joel, Grey, or Sougo been here, they'd have recognized her as the woman they'd saved from the rubble earlier. She stopped in her tracks when facing Kira, appearing nervous, though also confused.

"Umm... sir? Can you please move?" She asked, before hurriedly trying to shove past him. This area remained largely untouched by the fire, but that could easily change at any moment.

@davefromdiscord

---

@Thatguyinastore

Yoshikage Kira

And yet, even as the fires of hell raged around him, still the fates found a way to shine a little light into Yoshikage Kira's life.



She had, quite literally, walked right into him. Kira almost couldn't believe his fortune, although he took a moment to ponder his options. This was the perfect cover for a little self-indulgence, and Kira was a firm believer in treating himself every once in a while - the stresses of the day often took their toll in full, and he deserved to have a load removed from his aching shoulders, didn't he? And she was just, so... drab. Most of her, that was.

Yoshikage Kira's decision was made the moment her hands met his chest.

Stepping back and blocking the doorway with his imposing height, Kira let out a smooth, low chuckle and shrugged his shoulders, blocking the woman's path like a basketball player guarding his net. "Well, now, what's all the hurry for? There's hardly any reason to rush. Wouldn't you care to make introductions?" Like a viper striking at prey, Kira's hand shot outward, grasping the woman's wrist and forcing her arm upward so that he could get a better look at the parts God blessed her with up close. Oh, she was beautiful. Scarlet nail polish that ran like blood, cracked in places - cleanliness was next to godliness, but Yoshikage Kira was never one to complain, he could always touch it up on his own terms later - pale complexion that the sun almost shone through altogether like worn paper, veins running up the backside of her supple skin and fading into her perfectly shaped fingers, each of them a host unto themselves, just aching for Kira's touch and so much more...

"You know, it's rather rude to put your hands on a stranger like that. You're lucky I like them a little... fiery." Kira's chest heaved as he spoke, his vice-grip on the woman's arm tightening like a bear trap by the second, sweat visibly beading on his brow, unsure of whether it stemmed from the fire. "Let's get introduced then, shall we? My name is... Yoshikage Kira. You don't need to tell me yours, sweetheart - you just let me do all the work..." he practically growled, less to the unfortunate woman in his clutches and more to himself.

And then, he yanked on her arm, dragging her outside and pinning her against the wall next to the dumpsters, both of his hands wound firmly around her throat.

---

Mere minutes later, Yoshikage Kira emerged from behind the fire escape, jacket tattered by dust and soot and coughing as if his life depended on it. Taking care not to arouse too much attention, Kira slipped back into the crowd, sweeping the excess soot from his jacket and ensuring that his new playmate's seat wasn't a tad too bumpy - she was fresh, and still a little warm, although the pocket of his jacket was firmly buttoned; he couldn't have her making a nuisance of herself so soon after they'd met. Not a trace of blood, either - Killer Queen had seen to that well enough.

Kira did not speak up - the less questions he was asked, the better. Instead, he watched and waited, awaiting the moment to slip his skills in with the pack as if nothing had ever transpired.

ArcRift

Yoshikage Kira

Scarcely had Yoshikage Kira polished off his drink before this 'Superman' made his presence flagrantly known to all involved, careening into a nearby building and bringing enough calamity for all to enjoy in his wake. Kira was relatively unperturbed, in comparison to all others involved; the battle was already lost if they could not keep their heads under pressure, and so, while the rest of them crammed themselves into the elevator like a horde of customers on Black Friday eagerly awaiting their next meaningless price gouge, Kira sidled over to the table and set down his glass, turning it in his hand so it best caught the evening light. Once that was finished, he proceeded to Mr. Luthor - a rapport was necessary, of course, if he was to avoid the watchful eyes of those who would disrupt his sleep. A reassuring hand on Mr. Luthor's shoulder and an encouraging word "I'm sure you're in capable hands, Mr. Luthor. You needn't worry." was all he could stomach before he felt bile rising in his throat and hurried toward the elevator.

Kira stepped outside the building later than most others, squinting and holding a sleeve up to his mouth to avoid inhaling any smoke. He would have to approach this carefully, if he was to come out alive - and if all of the others rushing toward the disaster were being honest with themselves, they would likely have approached the situation just the same. Still, there was no time to ruminate upon lost causes. Noticing that most of them were busy with the building's front, Kira instead turned to the back, walking around the building and to the fire escape. A firm tug on the handle showed that it was closed, shut tight, and so Kira willed Killer Queen into action. His Stand delivered one firm underarm strike to the door, center mass, and it flew off its hinges with a firm dent put in its red metal finish. As Killer Queen dematerialised, Kira peered into the now open doorway, squinting and scanning the hallway for any signs of life with a surgeon's precision.

ArcRift

Yoshikage Kira

As the rest of his compatriots went on, Kira focused only on his drink, one arm holding the glass and folded securely over the other. He had all the time in the world to observe his fellows through the glass, polished so expertly it may as well have been open air; and if he'd played his cards right, they would have no reason to try anything foolish. Still, he raised an eyebrow as three of the group took charge and began to divvy up their ensemble like a herd of schoolchildren. While the prospect irritated him, if he desired to remain on the pleasant side of their scrutiny, it would likely be his best bet to dance along with them for the moment, stomach the urge that lay innate in his heart until such a time that he could satisfy it - all the more satisfyingly, of course.

Still, that raised the question of where exactly Yoshikage Kira would fit into this jigsaw puzzle, disjointed and infantile as it was. The three men spoke of a team for tactica, one for reconnaissance, and one to form the hammer in contrast to the others' scalpel. His drink nearly depleted, Kira weighed up his options, carefully as he had always ensured he did - he would likely be of little use to the reconnaissance team, equally so with the team dedicated to tactica, although serving amongst them would do well to hide him from the prying eyes of his teammates. Still, if he was to be of service, Killer Queen's strength lay in raw, unmitigated power, be it via explosives, the brutalizing power of Sheer Heart Attack, or merely its striking power in close combat, although Kira always preferred to keep his fists clean. With those options considered, Kira knocked back the rest of his drink and proceeded to the clump of bodies that formed the Strike Team.

"I suppose I'll be of the most use to our cause here. Shall we proceed, then? I don't know about you gentlemen, but I'd like to return home at the earliest possible convenience."

ArcRift

=================================================================================================================================================================

Trevor nodded to the man, then made his way carefully to Kira, making sure as to not bump into anyone and cause anymore action that wouldn't be needed. He glanced to Jeff who seemed to grab a bottle without even asking for the man to move, however he looked to Kira directly "So terribly sorry to bother, but could you please move out of the way so I can grab myself a bottle as well? Or even maybe you'd like to have a drink with me while those more willing to start swinging in this fight each other to death or something?"

Interacting: @davefromdiscord

@Jeff Jones

---

Yoshikage Kira

In turn, Yoshikage Kira looked up at the man who had approached him. Truth be told, being approached at all was an antithesis to his plan for this place, that being to escape as quickly and quietly as possible, moving chess pieces on the board where it was necessary but never overplaying his hand, nor making a gesture so grandiose that the eye of the crowd fell upon him. To be spoken to by one of the crowd was, in that way, not an outright failure - but Kira took no pleasure in it all the same. Still, he could not betray it if he wished to maintain his charade, and so he nodded a curt, abrupt nod, lifting the bottle from the desk and setting another glass on the table.

"If it is to your liking, I would prefer to drink alone. I mean no offense - I'd just like to numb the sensation of all these voices rattling in my ears by my lonesome. By all means, though, allow me to pour you a drink."

With that, Kira topped up his own glass first, and then poured Trevor a drink of his own, sliding it by the rim across the table toward him and then standing from his seat, his own drink taken with him, exchanging yet another curt nod with Trevor on his way. "Enjoy," he said to him, and then said no more. With that out of the way, Kira proceeded to the window overlooking the vast skyline of Metropolis, paying attention to every word that was said and giving the room a sideways glance every one in a while, but focusing on, for the most part, the drink swirling in his glass and the world beyond that thin sheet of glass.

For the moment.

@Jeff Jones

ArcRift

Yoshikage Kira

Contrary to most of his fellow captives, Yoshikage Kira's focus was trained squarely on the woman who had invited them - or coaxed them, rather - from their cage, like mangy dogs being beckoned with a hunk of meat. As he laid eyes on her, he found his breathing catching in his throat, and he began to squeeze his hands into tight fists as if fearful of what would happen if he did not. He felt his nails, marching ever onward, growing and growing, limitless potential with nowhere for it to go. As she opened the cell door, where most would be met with relief, Kira was met with naught but tension, every fibre of his being craving naught more than to wind his hands around her divine throat, skin white as the driven snow and glistening as if laced with diamonds, and wring the life from her body with his own two hands. The first time he had taken a life was when he was just a boy, and yet, the high had never dwindled, the needle never dulled, the thrill never stopped. Only... grew...

But now was not the time to succumb to such base urges. Yoshikage Kira's art was one of discipline first and foremost, and discipline, he would have. He made to control his erratic breathing, calming his heart rate in turn and stowing his hands in his jacket pockets, vowing to keep them there until she was out of sight. A muse so great, to slip from his grasp... no greater tragedy was there, in this. No greater tragedy than the folly of Kira, a jester's mask forced onto his face that his heart would be hidden, locked away for none to see.

But they would see, sooner or later. If he was able, he would make a point of visiting her personally. Yoshikage Kira never forgot a pretty face, so was the duty of a gentleman.

Dead silent, Kira swept his eyes over the room, utterly disinterested and eyes hanging half-shut. In stark contrast to most, he appeared utterly unimpressed by his captor - so much so that, while others may have chastised Luthor or made grandiose gestures, Kira simply made his way to a luxurious seat and sat down, lifting a bottle from the table and pouring himself a drink. Wordlessly, he took a sip, leaned back in his seat, crossed a leg over the other and watched on, the sun shining through the liquid and staining his skin a warm amber.

"Much to go over, hmm?" Kira enunciated to no one in particular, swirling his drink in its glass. "We'd best get to it, then. No use in delaying, wouldn't you agree?"

ArcRift

Words from the other had made Lucifer look over at him, an amused look of his face. A short chuckle and a shake of his head, the devil didn't seem phased at all. More amused than anything. The man seemed to have an ego, easily twisting words. Though now Lucifer new a little more about his new buddy.

"Why take the risk at all if you don't have some fall back? I've dealt with too many humans, if this man doesn't have some way to keep us on the proverbial leash then I'd be throughly shocked."

Lucifer seemed to brush any possible threats aside, remaining calm. He had no reason to fear Kira so far, as far as he was aware he was just cocky. He had bigger things to worry about, fighting his fellow cagemates wasn't one of them. It was boring to have threats thrown at him, but he doesn't want to test the waters just yet. He stepped away from Kira a bit, looking around again but keeping an eye on the action.

"If you're so confident, maybe we should both play the peace keeper. The more hands working together the better, and after all we all want to go home. Less death the better- for now. I know I might either way, but if you're as strong as you claim I could use the help. Admittedly I don't have many powers that aren't good for non-humans. And as I've discovered- other angels from other places are much stronger than I am, so 9 times out of 10 I'll lose to another me. Absolutely dreadful if you ask me, partly why I hate the damn muktiverse. There's always a bigger fish in the sea!"

Turning back around and facing Kira, Lucifer looked him down once more. He looked rather frustrated, but his posture was still rather lax and calm. No huge worry clearly showing anywhere other than his face and the slight stress to his lean. Neither of them liked the situation or wanted to be here, they could work better together. Even if Lucifer takes a supportive role four hands are better than two, plus he has wings and an immunity to fire. Luci could be very helpful even if he doesn't have a ton of powers.

"So, what do you say? It's easier to take others down if you have a buddy! I'm not completely useless you know, even if we can both hold our own it's easier with a small team I've learned."

@davefromdiscord

@ratKing

---

Yoshikage Kira

Every bone in Yoshikage Kira's body begged him to turn back, to annul this pact and drop the handcuff that he was all but ready to affix to his wrist and to the wrist of his newfound friend. It was a venture built on risk, that much was undeniable - the more people watched over him, the less likely it would be that he could sneak off undisturbed and indulge himself in his deepest desires before it was too late. Already, his nails crawled steadily outward, his hands dreadfully inert, a paintbrush with neither paint nor palette to complement it. While the urge itself had not struck him, the realisation that all he had learned of Morioh would be useless here had, and that by its lonesome was enough to strike a twinge of fear into his heart.

Still, it was as he'd said. Knowledge was power, and the more people whose trust he garnered, the easier it would be to seat himself atop them and profess himself a saint. If worst came to worst, Killer Queen would dispose of them. Of that, Yoshikage Kira was more confident than ever.

He feigned a conflicted interest as these thoughts whirred through his head, stroking his chin as if mulling over the decision for a moment before letting loose a sigh and nodding, eyes shut. Truth be told, Kira had no intentions of playing the peacekeeper - if the ones on the other side of the cage desired to act like children, then he saw no reason to stop them. If they wished to play with fire, they would assuredly get burned; intervening now would be an unnecessary conflict in the broadest of terms.

And if they attempted to reveal his secret... their blood would just have to be on his hands. But, that was a thought for another time.

"Very well. I suppose four hands are better then two, although I'll have you know, I don't intend to herd those rabid dogs. If you wish to try, then be my guest. I would like no part of it."

Kira paused for a moment, before peering out of the cage's glass and continuing on.

"This isn't a time to make assumptions, anyway. I'd like to find out why we're here, before I go rushing to conclusions. Wouldn't you agree?"

@ratKing

ArcRift

A small moment of recognition, even if he wasn't Kiras devil there was knowledge of him there. That alone seemed to thrill Lucifer, not many knew who he was outside of his own world. How lovely, no need for explanations. This man was amusing, he got along all too well with him. Perhaps they could stick around each other, four eyes was much better than two.

"Keep in mind, this man seems to be like me- couldn't help but notice the feathers. So if he's an angel as well, I doubt it's it's anyone but himself. My siblings are all huge pains in the ass, but their ego is almost bigger than dear old dads! Luckily I'm not related to that man, but if he's anything like me- or stronger- I wouldn't tempt it."

He couldn't help but exhale heavily, staring down the fight with worry. He's horrible with his fellow angels, all his siblings hated him and as much of a smooth talker he is- clearly talking wasn't going to work. As curious as Lucifer is, Sephiroth is the last person he's going to talk to. Angelic status would probably mean nothing.

"Humans have never been the smartest I find... they will stare God in the face and threat him with a broomstick. The balls on them! I can't believe it sometimes, aren't they something? Maybe if we are lucky you can play dumb or useless and go home. I'd offer to help get you home, but I have a feeling my dimensional travel won't work here... it's happened before and I'd be surprised if it was that easy. Don't expect any of this to be a walk in the park, okay? Something fishy is going on and I don't trust any of this.."

@davefromdiscord

@ratKing

---

Yoshikage Kira

As Lucifer went on, Yoshikage Kira listened attentively, although his body language did not betray it. He gazed over at the One-Winged Angel and his gaggle of fools with a resigned, almost whimsical expression, eyelids hanging half-closed to demonstrate his disinterest. If the Devil himself claimed to fear the white-haired man, then Kira was of no mind to disagree, but his was a set of skills tailored to work in tandem with the attribute that he had built all his life on. If the whims of fate willed it and the two parties came to blows, Yoshikage Kira could very well die in the fray, of course. But he had in his possession a power unlike any that the One-Winged Angel or the Devil himself did, from the look of things. More than any companion, Kira could always turn to his fortune. If necessary, that was all he needed to rely on, for better or for worse.

A quiet smile crept onto his face for but the blink of an eye. No matter the odds, luck would always side with Yoshikage Kira.

"Of course," Kira began, accompanying the words with a resigned shrug. "Their battles are theirs alone, I would say. Just as your battles are yours to fight, and mine in turn. Although..." Kira swept his eyes along the One-Winged Angel's blade, mildly surprised at his capacity to keep it upright despite its frankly gratuitous size. "If I were to fight, I doubt I would lose to anyone."

As the conversation flowed further, Kira flowed with it, listening quietly and doing his best to keep the racket of the mewling reprobates on the other side of the cage out of his ears. No walk in the park, of course, but the measure of a man was the trail of adversity he left behind him, and Yoshikage Kira's trail was certainly long enough by its lonesome. He had overcome every obstacle set before him, and did not intend to stop on the account of another, no matter how grand he thought himself.

"Of course not," Kira agreed. "Although, I'm afraid I'm not a believer. I suppose I should change my ways, now that I've been offered proof?" Then, Kira hesitated, for just a moment. "No, I believe it's too late for my soul to be saved now. It's no matter - I never held the Lord in high esteem to begin with."

Almost on instinct, Kira's fists tightened, one balling tightly in his blazer pocket. "If there is one thing Yoshikage Kira is not, it is useless. I'll play along with our little game, for the moment. If nothing else, it stands to be entertaining. All of these fools in one place, who knows the destruction they could cause with nary an eyelid batted? Surely, our cause must be important if it's worth taking such a gratuitous risk..."

@ratKing

ArcRift

Lucifer glanced over at the stranger and raised an eyebrow before looking back at the crowd with a sigh. He couldn't help but chuckle to himself with a small nod. Yeah, this sure was a show, that one with the bat just can't catch a break. It's a little amusing to see him get his ass kicked, though he does feel terrible about it.

"It's definitely fun! Though I've been keeping an eye on the one with the long sword. Silver haired guy, seems... Interesting to say the least, I'd stay away from him at all costs. He seems a little aggressive, best not to poke at the lion if you get what I mean..."

The angel laughed to himself, crossing his arms with a huff and looking at Kira. Might as well introduce himself. If he's going to be stuck, he rather be stuck with someone he knows. They seemed plenty friendly, so no issue having a little chat.

"I'm Lucifer Morningstar, the devil- or a Devil if you have one back home... the multiverse is such a pain in the ass isn't it? Hopefully things aren't too bad, yeah?"

While not the best at comforting, Lucifer could only try to help even a little. If he knew what was going on he'd tell him, but even he is confused- and a little worried. Whoever Luther was he certainly had some fucked up tech, tech that had to be taken out. As long as he could hold them here he could bring others, who knows what power he can have by stringing powerful people to him. Bringing down not only Lucifer himself, but that other guy over there too.. Though the devil is more concerned about staying alive than anything else.

"From the looks of things, we might be cut down a few before we even meet this guy. Terrible, really..."

@davefromdiscord

@ratKing

---

Yoshikage Kira

Yoshikage Kira had wanted nothing more than to sit idle, stay put and wait for the situation to resolve itself. Every fingerprint he left, every trace of his existence, could serve to work against him in the future - and not to mention, he had been locked in a cage with rabid mongrels claiming to wear human skin. He had no doubt that, like starving dogs driven to the edge of madness by their malnutrition, his compatriots in captivity would rip each other apart long before this "Mister Luthor" got the chance to examine them. Thankfully, the man Kira had chosen to speak to appeared amicable. As much as the thought grated at him, the option with the highest odds of success - or, as close to it as his hands could reach - was to build rapport with whomsoever was willing. He would simply have to stifle his urges, for now. He would no doubt find his sleep disturbed, but as some of history's greatest minds always said:

"One must often lose the battle in order to win the war."

And so, Yoshikage Kira made an effort to force the stiffness from his shoulders and the irritation from his brow, his lips, and his eyes, slackening his posture and stowing a hand in his blazer's pocket.

"Indeed," Kira began, peering over at the silver-haired gentleman and narrowing his eyes. If Killer Queen was able to keep up with him, then neutralizing him would likely pose no issue, as long as he was taken by surprise. If worst came to worst, Sheer Heart Attack would likely finish the job, given time. "How... mortifying, this display must be for our dear captor. No doubt they'll have ripped each other to shreds within the day, although I find little humour in it. Even in a situation as tumultuous as this, they cannot bear to maintain their human decency. Even a simple facade would suffice."

As Lucifer's name left his lips, Kira's eyes widened nigh-imperceptibly for a moment, the slightest glint of recognition caught in the cell's artificial light before he passed it off with a chuckle, his shoulders jumping mere inches as the exclamation left him. "Of course," he uttered in reply, and then spoke no more of it. Folding his arms across his chest, Kira issued his retort.

"You can call me Yoshikage Kira. I can't claim to bear much knowledge of this "Multiverse", save for the simple fact that it does not please me. You see, I try my best lead a very quiet life. One where I make an effort not to trouble myself with life's hardships, notions like victory or defeat, or any enemies that would disturb my gentle sleep. All of this serves no purpose to me but to disturb my slumber further. Therefore, I would be inclined to relieve myself of it as quickly and quietly as possible. Surely, you understand?"

@ratKing