Digmata

Eidolon: Conspiracy Theory

"It's Herrera." Ashley corrected as she pushed back the drink, not trusting it or feeling thirsty at the moment. She focused on the guy across the table, Jeese. If she is being honest, he looked unimpressive.

Or is he a she? It is a little bit hard to figure out.

Hey eyebrows raised when Jeese mentioned the so called gas leak at Mario's. She could at least call the guy through or at least the type to keep an eye to his friends.

"It was a really weird incident, we left as soon as we could when we heard the gas leak." she answered with a nonchalant tone.

"Regardless I don't I'm someone worth being tabs on by a stranger." she remarked looking if it would bait Jeese to show what that mind of his knew.

Eidolon: Conspiracy Theory

I'll take note, Eliza is just a background prop that I used to give Ashley a reason to be nervous.

Feel free to do anything on her.

Eidolon: Conspiracy Theory

Ashley could nothing but watch Luka act like he owned everything (which might actually be the case here to be honest). It seems that she had made a mistake and not realize that Luka is far more ridiculous than she initially thought.

Although that act of his, can she call it one of generosity? expediency? Or of vanity? She doesn't know the answer and not like it mattered for her.

"Wait no need to..." she tried to speak to Luka but her pleas aren't heard as she heard the DJ and be put on the spotlight. Ashley desperately wishes that this won't reach the ears of her classmates.

Her eyes momentary met one of the guest, it was Eliza the class representative and the source of gossip of the entire class. She was sporting a surprised expression than slowly morphed into amusement.

She's so fucking dead.

But it seems Eliza was content on letting her be for now, as she returned to chatting other guests as Luka finished setting the party's mood.

"Okay..." Ashley's voice was softer than normal as she let Luka handle the reins. It seems she felt more out of place in this party than the time she forced a stalemate with a government agency.

Eidolon: Conspiracy Theory

"Despite how overwhelmingly powerful this may initially seem, there are limits to what I can do now." Luka continued with this reminder on his mind. "My powers allow me to bend reality however I want... Only however I want. It will never give me what I need. If I create food or drink, it will taste delicious. But it will do nothing to sate my hunger or quench my thirst. If I will a crowd of two hundred worshipful hangers-on into existence so that they may prostrate themselves at my feet, it will serve as proof that I am lord and master. But a legion of faceless sycophants will come nowhere near the feeling of even a single real person's true loyalty. If I command a battle to be won, the battle will indeed be won. But the war will be no closer to ending. In this, the scales are balanced... Though it seems there are some who would disagree on that last bit."

Ashley didn't speak for a moment, pondering on what Luka had told him. She needs to say something but what could say?

When she gave it some thought and she doesn't really feel pity for him, he is basically the poster child of guy born with a golden spoon in his mouth and granted as he says the ability to get what he wants. If he needed something, she could throw money for it. And yet despite that, the way he spoke about his powers...

"That actually felt a bit sad. I don't know what I should do though" she admitted, she cannot give him her loyalty especially now that they just recently met. She won't call him a friend, more like an acquaintance in her eyes.

But she can always give her honestly, like she always do.

"We have arrived, young master." Montague spoke up then, the limo coming to a stop in front of the city's most notable party venues a moment later.

"Then let's not keep the guests waiting." Luka declared as the door closest to him swung open by itself. Luka stepped out onto the sidewalk before turning back around and offering his hand to help Ashley alight from the vehicle. "Shall we?"

Ashley looked at the venue, this is her first time entering a party as brief as she planned it to be.

"I think we are the guest Luka." Ashley spoke as she took his hand.

"But whatever, let's get this thing done." she spoke as she followed his lead.

Eidolon: Conspiracy Theory

"Well, I would rather not rock your boat right now maybe later when there is an actual tangible gain." Ashley decided as she let out a sigh. She do agree with opinion of the gun, not on the likelihood they won't need fo kill though.

You just never know these days.

"I would rather not answer that." Ashley spoke to Luca. "It's like on how you haven't told me what exactly you can."

"And before you speak, no we're not doing an exchange."

Eidolon: Conspiracy Theory

"Wonderful! Come on in! Come on in!" Luka exclaimed as the limo door nearest to Ashley swung open on its own. "I can assure you this will only go well. You'll see. Even if Jesse cannot solve your problem completely, they can at the very least make significant progress." Luka smiled as Ashley chose to take a seat next to him, but arched a curious eyebrow when he noticed a glint of brass beneath her books.

@rush99999

Ashley didn't believe him, not because he doubts the pull of this guy's friend but because she knew why the process was stalled, namely her father and his stubborn determination to bring her 'home'. It didn't matter that she rejected him, it didn't matter when it is slowly turning into a scandal or when for his own actual family actually sided with her rather than him. He would admire his determination if not for the fact that it is bothering her.

Can't he just see the writing on the wall and yield?

"Perish the thought!" Luka laughingly reassured Ashley, amused by her audacity. "As I said when we first met, I am not one of those fraternity savages. I prefer my partners going into business with me smiling rather than struggling. I'll give you no trouble... Drive on, Montague."

"At once, young master." Came Montague's reply.

"So! If I recall correctly, you were the one who made off with The Crow's loot last night. Yes?" Luka said as the Limo began to move again. "Did you manage to pry any interesting secrets out of that phone?"

@rush99999

"I suppose, you deserve to know what I learned." Ashley spoke as she recalled the countless timelines she gazed through.

"I didn't get much information in the organization's inner structure, the phone is as empty as it gets." she recalled with a little disappointment.

"But I knew two more agents in the organization, one named Kofi Bull who is his partner, female, nearly same age and thinks she's a minder of Ray. The other one is the one they both answer to, one they called Sevara I wasn't sure if she's using an actual nor if she's actually a she. Her tone is smooth but has a no-nonsense approach, didn't try to speak with me and either set Bull or the entire agency to us." she speak letting her legs stretch out for her comfort.

"I still have the badge and the phone on my bag, I buried the gun because it too much risk for a bothersome benefit." she added before speaking her suggestion. "Do you think your friend would recognize the badge?"

Eidolon: Conspiracy Theory

"Fine, I'll at least see how this goes." Ashley relented as she looked at the limousine, she never saw one in person and she never thought that she is about to write one. When you're in close proximity of a reality warper and had the ability to see the future yourself, it would feel a little underwhelming though.

She entered the limousine and sat beside Luka who would see a pieces of metal on Ashley's small fingers and hidden by the book. It looked like a comically oversized ring but a moment of Ashley's fist clenching made it clear what they actually are.

"Hope you don't mind, I would preemptively crush any funny business." Ashley's orange eyes stared at Luka as the book covered the brass knuckle in her right hand.

Eidolon: Conspiracy Theory

The orange haired teen looked at the limo with what she sees as reasonable suspicion for a brief moment she considered the logistics of throwing her books on her and running away.

No the library fees would be too expensive and she needed to be able to get back there.

"How much of this is planned? How much of this is a whim?" she asked before the man as her eyes narrow.

"Changing names is a long process even without my father intervening, he sure made it look easy though." she told Luka before adding.

"So I don't think you have an acquaintance that could pull it off, this isn't a thing you could throw money at."

Not like she wants his help in the first place.

Noble Arms: The ASEAN War - Thread Three, the Darkest Hour

Cristina Bernardino

---

"I hope you and your sister won't need to cross blades due to this, it is the worst feeling." Cristina answered to the prince as she watched the running guard going towards them. She wasn't sure why she said that, knowing that her situation and the prince is entirely different.

Regardless she followed the prince to the tent and put up her guard, she needs to compensate for Nil's lack of one after all.

She raised her eyes at the 'gift' they received, it is right to be suspicious and vigilant.

She waited with bated breath for any signs of deceit or a trap only to get a message from the prince.

A chance to save her...

She didn't get anytime to think harder at those words as she heard gunshots, it wasn't directed to them but she knew where it is coming from.

"The Refugee camp!" she yelled to the prince and Nil as she grabbed them. "Hold still."

Prince Shinyahito and Nil will find themselves blinking from place to place as Cristina uses her Noble Arm to continuous blink around. She cannot make her way in one blink but a series would be enough for her to reach the destination.

When she arrived the battle is on a temporary halt and her eyes meets her sister's.

"I guess it's finally time, I've been waiting for long for this moment." she spoke as drew her Sinagtala before her.

Then she disappeared along with the silver haired woman.

Basilia would find herself in an endless expanse of space where there is nothing.

Nothing aside from her little sister.

"We don't need to do this." she pleaded to her sister even though she knew it would fall under the deaf ears.

She knew she would have to fight her who was once and is the biggest person in her world and that it might be the only way they could interact...

This is the worst feeling.

Eidolon: Conspiracy Theory

I won't mind the Downtime Scene.