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    The MEETING Team (PLOT)

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    Post by Ardos Mon Feb 29, 2016 10:17 am

    The MEETING Team (PLOT) - Page 4 Ardos_zpsapzgw97d
    Citadark Isle | Night
    20


    "Oh, you mean I'm not going to have my stripper robe anymore?"

    Ardos could barely suppress the snort of laughter that threatened to erupt from his twin's casual remark about the size of the robe, covering his mouth quickly and coughing to feign the action into a temporary breathing issue. And also to hide the smile behind his hand. "Darn. I was getting a show all ready and everything." Shaking his head and quietly chuckling the blue haired male left his twin to his new clothing, all but shoving the other two out of the room and closing the door behind him. Sending them on their way gave Ardos a moment to himself to revel in the small hilarity his brother had beset him with, still trying to force himself to stop laughing at the absurdity of the comment. Eldes was definitely feeling better.

    It didn't take long for the ginger to walk back out, seeing as how the clothing was incredibly basic, but at least he seemed happy to be in clean clothes. "We should hurry-- I don't want that woman any more tempted to incinerate them on 'accident' than she already is." Puzzled by his brother's singular focus on something as rudimentary as clothing Ardos stared for a moment before his brain caught up to the rest of the conversation. "There is no need," he replied, pushing away from the wall he had been leaning on to greet his twin properly. "Elma has assured me they will be delivered to your room in the morning. For now, it is nearing midnight and you must be exhausted. I'll show you to your room."

    He escorted Eldes back out of the hospital wing and into the maze of corridors once more, keeping a close pace to his other half so he would get lost. Even though it was near mid evening the halls were still alive with workers moving to and from their stations, the night crew having taken over near two hours prior. Citadark was a twenty-four hour a day operation and needed three shifts to keep it at full functionality, which was one of the major contributions to Ardos never getting any sleep. He had to oversee so much of the facility personally, despite his Admins, that sleep was almost impossible at times. In fact, after he settled his twin down for the night, he was going to need to go to his office and work for several more hours before his morning nap. But that was no reason Eldes shouldn't get a good night's rest.

    The walk towards the dormitories was uneventful, thankfully, with those who were milling about quickly scattering at the sight of the Grand Master and getting back indoors or to their stations to avoid a scolding. They eventually came to a more private hall, with much fewer doors, and Eldes stopped at one with a small golden design on the entryway, a lined silhouette of a Flygon curling into its tail. He turned and smiled at Eldes, the relief in his eyes thankfully covered by his dark shades as he made a silent gratitude to whatever fate or deity had brought his twin home, before stepping aside. "Your room, brother."
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    The MEETING Team (PLOT) - Page 4 Empty Re: The MEETING Team (PLOT)

    Post by Silverishness Mon Feb 29, 2016 11:05 am

    Post 21

    The MEETING Team (PLOT) - Page 4 VgK7FE3

    Citadark Isle||Midnight


    "There is no need," Ardos informed, his tone still light from his near break of character earlier. He pushed himself off the wall that he'd been leaning against to return to Eldes' side. "Elma has assured me they will be delivered to your room in the morning. For now, it is nearing midnight and you must be exhausted. I'll show you to your room."

    Though Eldes had an issue with leaving all his personal items, especially his weapons, with strangers, he had to remind himself that there was nothing he could do without arousing suspicion from his brother. The badge quickly came to mind again and his heart raced at the thought of Ardos coming across it without Eldes being able to properly explain himself. Again, however, there wasn't anything Eldes could do but wait. He easily fell in step behind his twin, eyes roaming over their surroundings with care. He wasn't sure what exactly he was watching for, but... he just couldn't relax. Not when he knew what was quickly drawing near.

    As they walked, Eldes couldn't help but notice a familiar face. Granted, it was bandaged, but Eldes had memorized Dylan's face in Gateon Port. The man was... much less enthusiastic now, to say the least. He looked almost sedated, his head tilted to one side as he was wheeled out by a nurse in a wheelchair, one leg in a cast and an arm completely missing. Fear gripped his very soul again as Eldes' first chilling worry was that Ardos would do the same to him once he found that badge. Needless to say, the ginger wasted no time in keeping up with his twin, as if he were briskly walking away from the grim possibility itself.

    Too soon, Ardos stopped in a wing Eldes no longer recognized. It looked newer; maybe this was one of the dormitories that Ardos mentioned having to build. It would have been nice if Eldes weren't nearly consumed with worry over his brother's reaction to the badge. He glanced at the room in front of which they had stopped, eyes widening and jaw slacking a little. A small, ornate golden flygon almost guarded the doorway, its posture looking like it was curled to sleep. The emotional stab caused Eldes' breath to hitch; had Ardos made this room just in case Eldes came back? Had he held onto that hope this entire time, even after what happened the last time they spoke? "Your room, brother," Ardos offered gently. Swallowing hard, Eldes pushed the door open to see what lie in wait for him.

    The spaciousness of the room was what hit him first. It was nearly a suite, save a tad smaller, with the bed tucked away from the door, where Eldes had always preferred it. The colors were warm golds and browns, reminiscent of their Orre nationality, and fed into the dim, gentle light that bathed the room. There weren't many decorations, as their life had always been pragmatic and minimalistic, but what few stood were flygon oriented. A small painting of the Lati twins -pokemon Eldes had offhandedly mentioned to Ardos in their similarity to themselves- hung above the bed. On the nightstand was a small Trapinch paperweight that sat on neatly stacked blank note paper, accompanied by a pen. There was a set of drawers opposite and a door that likely led to a private bathroom. The sheets on the bed were a dull maroon; a gentle color that added to the golds of the room. Whoever decorated this did it with love and care... and that made Eldes feel even worse.

    After all this time, Eldes had only grown more and more angry and bitter at his twin. He had worked himself into the ground to try and topple him, hunt him down, even. He'd convinced himself that they were enemies... for YEARS. But Ardos...

    Oh, Ardos...

    He hadn't been aware he'd started crying until he felt the liquid drop from his face. A hand immediately shot up to his cheek, wiping away the moisture as he turned back to his brother. What was he going to do? How could... Oh God, what could he even say at this point? "Ardos, I..." For a moment, he wanted to tell him everything. Spill his guts, explain where he'd been for the past few years and what he'd tried to do. How wrong it felt, how torn it'd made him, how... empty. He wanted to apologize, to dismiss everything he'd done as he looked at his sad, worn twin. He didn't deserve this kind of treatment. Not when he'd betrayed Ardos so much. Did he even know? Did Ardos know how carefully and intensely Eldes had worked to destroy what little of Cipher remained after their father's death? But... He couldn't. Tongue-tied, Eldes knew that even if he poured his heart out to his twin, his morals would still be the same. No matter what, he knew that what Cipher had done was wrong. And... he had to stand  by that.

    He swallowed again, wiping the rest of the tears away with a small, light chuckle. "It's... stunning. I didn't expect this. I... I'm overwhelmed again." Unable to think of anything else to do, Eldes closed the gap between them and once more embraced his brother. He knew, sadly, that it would likely be the last one they would share. "Thank you," he muttered into Ardos' robe, his voice nearly cracking. His emotions swelled again and he gripped his brother tighter, his earnestness and honesty breaking through. "...I missed you." I'm so sorry...


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    The MEETING Team (PLOT) - Page 4 Empty Re: The MEETING Team (PLOT)

    Post by Ardos Thu Mar 03, 2016 2:26 pm

    The MEETING Team (PLOT) - Page 4 Ardos_zpsapzgw97d
    Citadark Isle | Night
    21


    The feeling of Eldes wrapped around him nearly sent the blue haired male's mind into total shut down. His arms twitched at his sides for a second before snapping up and nearly crushing his brother to him, his aching soul practically screeching at him for denying the contact for so long. All his tension, all his fears, they melted away in his twin's embrace, leaving Ardos feeling lighter than he had in years. Eldes's face was tucked into his shoulder and Ardos leaned his cheek against the soft tuft of freshly washed red hair, briefly inhaling the scent of soap and water emanating from the still damp strands as they stuck to his cheek. "...I missed you."

    Ardos was practically clutching at his brother when he heard that, fingers twisted painfully into the white fabric of his shirt and turning pale from the strain. "I missed you too..." he murmured in reply, voice catching in his throat as he tried to fight back the waves of emotion threatening to spill over. The Grand Master, no, Ardos himself, would not succumb to this. He would not belittle himself or his beliefs by giving in to the the very emotions he struggled to eradicate. The world was destroyed by the petty emotions of man, and it was his duty to usher in the new world. He could not give in to them.

    But maybe, just for a moment, he could indulge in them.
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    The MEETING Team (PLOT) - Page 4 Empty Re: The MEETING Team (PLOT)

    Post by Silverishness Thu Mar 03, 2016 9:22 pm

    Post 22

    The MEETING Team (PLOT) - Page 4 VgK7FE3

    Citadark Isle||Midnight


    "I missed you too..."

    Eldes' hands and arms tightened around his brother, the simple words threatening to put the ginger twin over the edge. He'd wandered for so long, his imagination putting Ardos further and further from his grasp. Even when the world wasn't in the middle of ending, Eldes never dared to dream that he would ever be with Ardos like this again... and while Eldes knew it was only a matter of time until he was found out one way or another, a small glimmer of hope rested in his soul that the badge had been lost somehow and he could keep living in this dream. That he wouldn't have to say goodbye to his brother again. That he could finally come home...

    Home...

    Emerald eyes shut tightly against the world as bitter, horrid memories bombarded his mind's inner eye at the word, most of the images and sounds little less that torture. But with Ardos... it had always been better. They'd each acted as a buffer to Father's wrath for the other. His hands wrung the cloth over Ardos' back as his very soul felt like it was about to burst. He didn't want to let his brother go. He didn't want this moment to end, this one moment where he could finally allow himself some happiness that he'd found the last of his family in the world.

    He didn't know how long he held his brother and he certainly didn't want to know. He would have been content to be lost in that moment forever. But eventually, his arms slackened and he allowed the embrace to naturally end. His eyes remained low, puffy with tears, as he couldn't stand to look up into his brother's face. But as a thought crossed his mind, he frowned and gathered himself enough to lift his reddened eyes to his twin. He sniffled before speaking. "...Where are you going to be...?"


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    Post by Ardos Fri Mar 04, 2016 8:43 am

    The MEETING Team (PLOT) - Page 4 Ardos_zpsapzgw97d
    Citadark Isle | Night
    22


    When his twin's arms tightened around him even more Ardos felt the world simply melt away. Nothing else existed but them. He could feel Eldes's heartbeat through his robe, the red head was pressed so close, and as if knowing that his other half was there his own heart slowed to match its beat. This was their world, the place they were meant to be, nothing could touch them here. His soul was filled to bursting with the comfort of being near its other half, clawing its way through his body to reach him, and the only way to appease it was to clutch Eldes tighter to him and bury his face in the still damp hair.

    Time didn't exist anymore for them, in that moment. They could have been standing there for minutes, hours, it didn't matter. All that mattered was them. For the first time in years Ardos felt completely at peace, his heart and mind unburdened by the heavy shadows that had weighed upon them for the last several years. To him, right now, everything was perfect. But, like all perfection, it was soon shattered as the harsh reality of truth came rushing back. His brother's arms slackened and for a second Ardos tightened his grip, as though silently pleading for him not to let go, but once the dam had been broken eventually the waters had to recede.

    He peered down at his brother's reddened face, feeling the dampness upon his robe from the tears Eldes had shed, and felt the familiar stab of longing wrench into his heart. As his twin looked up at him, eyes red and swollen from crying, the aqua haired male once again felt blessed that he insisted on hiding his own behind his glasses. He was on the verge of a breakdown looking into those emerald depths, the only eyes in the world that matched his own. "...Where are you going to be...?" Ardos gave him a sad smile and raised one hand to gently brush his thumb against Eldes's cheek, wiping away a drying trail of tears before cupping his hand to cradle his face. "I have some work to finish," he confessed, his heart breaking that he couldn't stay. "I had to push most of my schedule back today and there are reports I need to go over before I can retire. Rest, brother. I will be here in the morning."

    "I promise."
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    Post by Silverishness Fri Mar 04, 2016 9:27 am

    Post 23

    The MEETING Team (PLOT) - Page 4 VgK7FE3

    Citadark Isle||Midnight


    Eldes didn't flinch as Ardos gently cupped his cheek and moved a thumb to caress the skin beneath it. He even found himself lightly leaning into the embrace, trying to keep contact with his brother for as long as possible. "I have some work to finish," was Ardos' reply. Though Eldes wasn't surprised, nor did he actually expect any other answer, his heart ached at the words. It only made the final eventuality more possible. More real. "I had to push most of my schedule back today and there are reports I need to go over before I can retire. Rest, brother. I will be here in the morning." Eldes's eyes brimmed again with moisture, his very soul shattering at the tender, gentle tone of his brother's voice. How much longer would that be there?

    "I promise." Eldes had to look away as he nodded his acknowledgement, more tears falling thanks to the movement and gravity. That's what terrifies me... he mourned, his face scrunching as he fought the urge to succumb to his emotions and just start openly weeping. He couldn't break down, not anymore than he already had. Ardos might start asking questions and... he couldn't answer. Not here. Not now, while they were standing in what likely served as Ardos' memorial shrine to him. He took in a long, steadying breath before sniffling and looked back up to Ardos. "All right, then," he replied, his voice strained from the tears. He flashed a small smile to reassure Ardos that he'd be ok, despite knowing the opposite, and gave his brother one last quick hug. One last moment of strength and self-control and then he could dissolve into a puddle of anxious, terrified, conflicted self-loathing. "I'll... see you in the morning, then. Goodnight," he bade, stepping away from his twin, pausing as a thought came to him at the last moment.

    "Ardos..." Eldes' face settled into one of love, of concern and light-hearted humor. An expression he hoped Ardos would remember when he found the badge. "Please get some sleep? You look like shit." His tone was gentle, joking as he watched his brother leave. He tapped the side of his own face, indicating Ardos' glasses. "Those don't hide anything from me."


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    Post by Ardos Mon Mar 07, 2016 9:23 am

    The MEETING Team (PLOT) - Page 4 Ardos_zpsapzgw97d
    Citadark Isle | Night
    23


    "All right, then." Ardos felt a stab of pain in his chest at the pitiful tone in his brother's voice, his thumb once again tracing a gentle path across Eldes's cheek to try and offer some kind of comfort. The red head gave him a small smile and pulled him in quickly for another brief hug, to which Ardos happily complied, and it ended just as quickly as it began. "I'll... see you in the morning, then. Goodnight," Ardos offered a smile to his retreating brother as he replied, "Goodnight."

    As he turned to leave he heard the soft voice of his twin calling his name, the blue haired male pausing at the doorway to look back at him. "Please get some sleep? You look like shit." Ardos chuckled softly and gave him a small shrug in response, knowing that Eldes was right but not openly admitting anything. Eldes didn't buy it. "Those don't hide anything from me," he said knowingly, tapping the side of his own face to indicate the glasses Ardos always wore. Ardos grimaced in shame, raising one hand to grip at his arm as he turned his head away. "I- I know," he finally replied. "I can't promise I will get much tonight, there is a lot I still have to do, but I will try." He looked back at Eldes and gave him a sad smile, bringing his his arms back down to rest as he stepped back out of the door. "Goodnight, brother," he said quietly as the door closed behind him.

    ____________________________

    The walk back to his office was the longest walk of his entire life, or at least it seemed that way to the emotionally and physically exhausted man. He had started the day with only a couple of hours of sleep thanks to his binge drinking the night before, then the emotional roller-coaster with his brother returning, now he had to finish the day's reports before retiring. While he couldn't be happier to know that just on the other side of the complex Eldes was asleep in his own bed, in his own room, alive, it was still the longest day the Cipher head had seen in quite some time.

    As he came to the checkpoint that served as the barrier between his office and the rest of the entire complex Ardos gave a polite nod to a silver haired young man addressing one of the guards. He briefly checked his pocket watch and realized that it was already time for the third shift rotation, which would explain why his Security Admin was currently handing out orders, and grimaced as he realized he wasn't going to get any of that sleep he promised Eldes he would try for. But such was the way of things when you ran a fully independent, functional facility housing nearly two thousand people. He moved past his Admin and the new guard shift and made his way into his office, closing the door and all but falling into the chair behind his desk.

    He sat there for several minutes, lolled back in his chair like a rag doll as he contemplated the actual need for any of those reports, before finally sighing and sitting up proper to look at the pile of data pads and folders stacked neatly on the corner of his desk. This was going to take a while. Reaching out and pulling the first stack to the center he began reading through each one and marking them with either a red or green pen depending on the notes he needed to make, sighing in frustration whenever a report became decorated in red. "This must be how school teachers feel during test week," he grumbled to himself, throwing a particularly poor report to one side. The duct and ventilation maintenance staff was getting sloppy in there reports, which meant their Leads were not reviewing them correctly, which meant very likely there was slacking in the actual maintenance itself. Those vents filtered air in and out of the underground portions of the facility and if those failed life support down there would fail and people could suffocate. Slacking off in that department was not going to be tolerated. He made a quick note on his computer and sent a message to Venus to have the ventilation crew brought in for inspection.

    It took a few hours but he finally reached the bottom of the last stack, putting it off to the side with the others and making his last notes on his computer before leaning back with a groan. His back was extremely sore from his rigid posture as he poured over reports and his mind was shutting down. Reaching down to his bottom drawer he pulled out the bottle of amber liquid he had been drawing from this morning and poured himself a hefty portion in the crystal glass he kept with it. Nursing on it slowly he allowed his mind to wander back to Eldes, smiling softly to himself as he pictured the red head peacefully slumbering away. He was home. He felt a warmth blossom in his chest that had nothing to do with the smooth liquor he was imbibing and his smile became even more peaceful. Thinking towards their reunion in the morning Ardos realized that it would be best if his clothing was waiting for him when he awoke, so Eldes didn't have to wear the white ones around anymore, and made a quick call to the laundry staff to have it delivered while his brother slept. It would probably surprise him to find the bundled, fresh clothing waiting inside his door when he awoke but he had been so concerned about Elma burning everything.

    Ardos's tired mind became locked around his brother, replaying each moment from the day as well as the two rather sharp flashbacks that had him nursing from his glass once more. He thought back to how distraught Eldes seemed when he went to bed, as though he feared he would wake up and find the entire day a dream, and admitted he himself had the same fear nearly the entire day. He needed to do something nice for his brother, to welcome him home. Thinking back he realized that Eldes's belonging were still confiscated and in lock up with security, his pokemon included. Reaching over to the intercom he called down to the security office and was greeted by the voice of his Security Admin. "Please have all items belonging to Eldes upon his capture brought to my office, I will be returning them to my brother personally." At the quick affirmative Ardos relaxed back into his chair and took a few more sips of his drink while he waited, his mind wandering once more to his brother.

    What kind of person was he like out there?

    That question, above all others, spoke the loudest. Eldes had been in the wind after getting out of prison, the blue haired twin unable to track him down back when he still wanted Eldes to pay for betraying them to that snot faced brat. But as the years passed he knew that his anger towards his brother was misdirected, unable to blame the red head for falling under the influence of the devil child. It was Michael who needed to suffer, to pay for what he did. Countless hours of Ardos's time had been dedicated to thinking of ways to make the child suffer, to drive him to the point of death but never letting him fall over the edge. Perpetual purgatory. Just the thought of it had Ardos smiling around the rim of his glass, utterly pleased with many of his creative methods to torture "the savior."

    A knock at his door broke him out of his reverie and he called out for them to enter, a single security grunt carrying a large duffel and a clear bag with various colored pokeballs inside. He ordered the grunt to leave the items on his desk and dismissed him, the grunt bowing respectfully and heading back to his post, and Ardos sealed the door behind him. All of his questions about Eldes could be answered by what lay within the contents of those bags. He could finally understand his brother and why he spent so long away from home, how he was able to survive in the outside world, maybe even find something to give him some idea as to what he could do to make other half happy. Every question could be answered with just one bag, and it was conveniently sitting on his desk just waiting to be opened.
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    Post by Silverishness Mon Mar 07, 2016 10:57 am

    Post 24

    The MEETING Team (PLOT) - Page 4 VgK7FE3

    Citadark Isle||Midnight


    "I- I know," Ardos finally replied, looking sheepish. It was strange to see such a reaction on his stony brother, even when he wasn't running a cult. It brought back memories of better days. "I can't promise I will get much tonight, there is a lot I still have to do, but I will try." Well, it was... something, at least. Not like Eldes could make sure of it or anything. His mind wandered to whether or not he could simply knock Ardos out and maybe get the badge on his own, but... there were a thousand reasons that wouldn't work. He'd just have to wait for it. "Goodnight, brother."

    And with that, he was gone.

    Eldes let out a shaking, terrified sigh as he nearly crumpled then and there onto the carpet. How was he going to get any rest tonight? He paced and paced, walking in circles around the small suite, trying to keep himself together. He could feel the love and care put into this room, this shrine, and it was choking him. The guilt welled up in his chest like a tumor, pressing against his lungs and heart to make it difficult to breathe. Tears streamed anew, unable to keep his emotions in check for what felt like the thousandth time. What was he going to do?

    What was he going to do?

    The image of Ardos' tall, thin frame accentuated by faceless Cipher grunts flashed in his mind, their guns pointed at him with cold, dead stares, only moving at the snap of their master's fingers. It chilled Eldes to the core, freezing him in his tracks as the image felt more of a vision than anything. His breath hitched and he had to reach out to a wall for support; this was it.

    Upon finding that badge, Ardos would be able to piece everything together. Where his contacts had gone, his suppliers, his former grunts that had fled. His admins. His scientists. Eldes had done everything in his power to bring the former Cipher to justice; he'd been the shark prowling the waters of their old home and Ardos would soon know it all. And what kind of stoic, cold-blooded Grand Master would let that kind of security risk go? What kind of leader would leave that kind of traitor with his life?

    The answer was simple:

    He wouldn't.

    This was... his last night on Earth.

    The epiphany settled in Eldes' frayed, frantic mind like a heavy blanket. His breathing slowed and he subconsciously moved to sit in one of the chairs against the wall. This was it. A choked sob cut itself out of his lungs, but he barely registered the noise. All of that effort of staying alive... to die here, by his brother's hand. As his mind grew to accept the inevitable, it seemed more fitting. Citadark had always felt more like a tomb. Poetic justice, perhaps.

    He closed his eyes and thought to his pokemon. Would they be slaughtered too or put into those awful Battle-Cages to die? Would Ardos turn them into Infected? The thought of them as mindless, raging monsters was another knife in his soul. But he couldn't get them now. He couldn't be with them, on his last night. He could only hope that Ardos would be merciful and shoot them as he'd likely shoot him.

    For hours, Eldes wept. For himself, for the brother he so utterly betrayed, for the father that betrayed them both, for the Pokemon he was abandoning with his death. For his friends, few and far between that were likely dead by now anyway. For the life he so rarely got to live. He mourned them all, grieved them with every last ounce of energy in his body and soul and only hoped that maybe his pokemon would understand. That he didn't mean to trap them here to die. They'd survived so much only to be killed because of his own mistakes... It was exhausting, fueling that emotion for so long, but Eldes barely felt it. Twice he drank more water, only to cry it right back out.

    Eventually, he hollowly stared at the never-used plush bed his brother had reserved for him. Did he deserve the last comfort of that bed? The last time he'd feel his brother's warmth and love? It felt wrong to even touch it; though he knew bringing Cipher to justice was right, he couldn't dismiss the betrayal he'd continuously made in cutting deeper and deeper into the destroyed organization. He'd hacked it apart. And with each step closer to Ardos, the worse and better he'd felt. Now... facing Ardos again... Seeing the excitement and love... It hurt too much. Ardos was rarely naive, and he'd allowed himself to be just that around the person who'd nearly single-handedly destroyed everything Ardos had worked so hard to build.

    Eldes swallowed against the hard lump in his throat as he decided that after so long of sleeping on hard floors and ground, he wouldn't find sleep in that bed anyway, even if the burden of his guilt wasn't already crushing him. He lay a hand on it, however, willing his sorrow and love for his brother into it before sitting next to it on the floor. He removed a small decorative pillow and scooted half beneath the bed, his torso lying out as he situated himself on his stomach. The carpet was surprisingly not as scratchy as he'd anticipated, which he supposed was a good thing.

    He took one last look around the room, his eyes going over every detail they could before he closed them and imagined each of his pokemon. Atticus, the small Growlithe that had been assigned to him when he'd been accepted into the Police Academy. Even with his past, Atticus had never wavered in his loyalty. He was calm, gentle, loving. A sweet pokemon and a better friend. Banny, the plucky Azumarill. He'd been a joke gift as a Marill, but Eldes couldn't tear himself away from the mouse's upbeat attitude. Patience, the Torterra he'd rescued from being a drug mule. She was old and slow, but she was as warm and loving as the rest of his pokemon. Piers, the Aurorus, had been the wise-cracker, keeping heavy situations light with his easy words and happiness, despite nearly getting butchered for his sails. Koikoi, his little deskmate that, at another detective's suggestion, had turned into one of the most reliable battlers he'd ever trained. Mischievous, a prankster, he'd waste no opportunity to get in a small laugh here and there. The tiny fish had grown so much in Eldes' care, only to be slaughtered like he soon would be too. And finally, Oasis, his longest friend. Her small voice, her gentle personality, the way her little antennae would twitch at strange noises. The way her beautiful scales shimmered in the light. The haunting, soothing songs she could sing with her wings alone. He held onto them as long as he could, tears once more flowing down his face as he bid them goodbye in his mind.

    "I'm so sorry..." his voice croaked and cracked, the sound half-smothered by the pillow. "Please... Please forgive me..." And as he eventually drifted, he imagined himself holding each of them close, embracing them a final time. The weight of their limbs or heads embracing him, their scents and the feel of their fur or hide or scales were cherished memories. He felt their warmth again, comforting him as he slowly fell into slumber. His only friends, soon accompanied by his partner, Looker. The man he'd failed to avenge. Eldes remembered the feel of his signature coat, the gentle timbre of his voice. He clung to him, knowing now that Looker's death would simply remain as a casualty of the old world's slaughter, a number. The wrongness of it was too much to bear and he wept even in his mind in his grief.

    Michael, the boy who freed him. The boy that had done everything in his power to allow Eldes to live the way he saw fit, away from the tyranny of his family and the chains that so cruelly bound him to a life of crime. He owed his life to him, and he'd never even managed to try and see if he had survived the Epidemic. To see what kind of man he'd grown into. If Eldes had ever had a son... he would have been proud if he'd turned out half the man Michael was.

    Finally, Ardos. His mirror. The one he'd hated, spited, betrayed and loathed. The one that had done nothing but love him and their father too much. The image of his soon-to-be executioner nearly ripped him from his half-dreams, but there was too much sorrow, too much care. His love overpowering his fear, Eldes reached out, holding his brother once more as his mind finally found sleep.

    I'm so sorry...


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    The MEETING Team (PLOT) - Page 4 Empty Re: The MEETING Team (PLOT)

    Post by Ardos Thu Mar 10, 2016 2:33 pm

    The MEETING Team (PLOT) - Page 4 Ardos_zpsapzgw97d
    Citadark Isle | Late Night
    24


    Ardos lingered at the door for reasons unknown to him, a strangely giddy sensation swirling in his stomach making him hesitant to cross the expanse of his office to where the duffel bag sat temptingly on his desk. The feeling, if he had ever known it before, could have been described as a one a child would get sneaking downstairs early Christmas morning to investigate presents he was not to open yet. His brother’s belongings were personal, yet they could tell him so much about the quiet, nervous man he had become. The Eldes he remembered was confidant and calm, sure of his purpose even when he didn’t understand their Father’s orders. This new Eldes was such a mystery…

    One he needed to solve.

    Finally coming to his decision, Ardos moved swiftly across the large office floor and found himself once again behind his desk, sinking into his familiar chair into a firmly nestled spot his body had over the years made comfortable for him, and stared at the only thing on the entire island that was unfamiliar. Eldes’s bag. Taking in a deep breath the blue haired male reached out to grab the bulky, brown linen when the shimmering capsules to its side caught his eye. The bag of pokeballs taken off of his brother when he was seized sat carelessly off to the side of the bag and his hand moved to retrieve them first, instead. He drew the plastic bag close and peered inside at the multi-colored shells before reaching in and taking out a very specific ball, and the only one in the bag he recognized.

    He turned the scuffed and slightly worn ball around in his hands, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth as he envisioned the Pokemon inside. He knew it was a Flygon, Eldes’s Flygon. The very one that, as a Trapinch, Ardos himself had saved from their Father’s wrath as he executed each of his twin’s Pokemon to teach the rebellious youth a lesson. The method had been extremely harsh, but effective, as afterward Eldes finally started to follow the Grand Master’s path to glory. Side by side with Ardos, as they were always meant to be. His smile faltered slightly as another memory washed over him, making him cringe and clutch the ball tightly in his hand as the unwelcome visions assaulted his mind.

    ***
    A gunshot rings into the empty air, a child crying as a sliding thud follows the sound.
    He begs, pleading on deaf ears as yet another shot pierces through his sorrows. Another thud.
    Creeping, quiet, don’t want to be caught. I sneak silently behind him to a tray of red and white, plucking one when he isn’t looking. Neither sees.
    Another final shot, the crying stops, he looks numb. I only wanted to help…Forgive me…

    ***

    The older male sniffles, wiping away the tears he wasn’t even aware were falling, and puts the Flygon’s pokeball back down in the bag with the others. Ever since Eldes’s return he had been plagued with memories of their childhood, memories he was sure had been soundly forgotten after so long, but for some reason were now surfacing anew. But that was a mystery for another night. Right now was for discovering his brother once more, to feel as close to him as he did in years past. Standing up he leaned over the large duffel and pulled at the zip, dragging it slowly down the length of the cloth carrier as though something inside would suddenly awaken and give away his intrusion to his twin’s personal effects.

    As the contents finally lay bare for him to see Ardos began to systematically pull them all out, one by one, and examine them. At first it was just normal travel items, logical things to take with you when you were always on the run. A sleeping roll, water casks, dried food rations, a small first aid kit, matches (always useful, very good brother mine), but then he started finding stranger objects. A dead satellite phone, a Poke Comm, and zip ties. The zip ties were particularly puzzling and had Ardos sitting there for several minutes trying to devise scenarios in which the small plastic devices would actually be useful for something other than tying a make-shift tent up. Though, perhaps, given his limited other accessories that was indeed what they were used for. But as he reached for the next item a small glint of metal caught his attention, nestled into the pillowcase he had yet to pill out.

    Curious about the hint of gold teasing its way out of the pillow casing he reached for it, fingers clasping around cold metal shielded by leather, and pulled it out to get a better look. What he saw turned his inquisitive smile into a dark frown, shadows falling over his eyes as his head ducked down in rage, hand clenching around the foreign object until his knuckles went white and his vision went red. A badge. Not just any badge, oh no, a fucking International Police Force badge. Detective rank. Balling up his fist as tightly as he could Ardos brought his arm back and threw the blasphemous chunk of tin against the wall with an exclamation of rage, not fully satisfied when it merely bounced off and slid on to the floor. He began throwing everything in sight in the same general direction, each smack against the wall just amplifying his fury until his hand clasped around a pokeball.

    Time froze in that moment as his fingers felt the smooth, round surface of the ball. He looked down to see his brother’s Flygon nestled in his palm, and for a brief second it was if he could see the tiny creature safely housed within. Her master had betrayed him, but the Flygon had never done anything to him. She had been his brother’s companion when he could not be there, she had protected him all this time he was alone…except he hadn’t been alone. He’d been with them. His grip began to tighten once again, the pokeball groaning from the strain, and he considered shattering the ball as his Father had planned to do so long ago. But even as he drew his arm back he felt himself slow to a stop, bringing his arm back and looking at the old pokeball once more and setting her down on the desk with the others. She didn’t deserve his anger, but he would have to see about what to do with her once he disposed of Eldes. She would be master-less, alone, and likely very upset. But Eldes deserved a traitor’s fate for he not only once, but twice put himself before Cipher and turned his back on his home.

    How long had working under them? The last mention he had of Eldes before the Epidemic had the red-head in prison, but even that was several years beforehand. He had assumed that, like Father, his twin had perished in the prison system and his records left buried in bureaucracy. But it seemed he not only got out, but put himself on the opposite side of the justice system. For how long? With his knowledge of Cipher he could have easily torn down what little remained, he could have…. No….

    Ardos’s mind suddenly filled with files and reports from the early reclamation attempts of Cipher. Contacts gone silent, supply chains severed, old Admin’s hunted down, grunts and lieutenants brought in for questioning and arrested. Every foul-up and failed attempt to bring back Cipher hadn’t been mere chance, it hadn’t been the failure of Father’s system, it had been Eldes. Eldes had been feeding them information all this time, undermining everything he had ever known and the foundation that love him. Cipher was his family and he repaid that by betraying them not only to the little shit of a ginger brat but to the actual police force as well. He joined them.

    The fury that overtook him threatened to stop Ardos’s heart cold, forcing him to pace around his office in a stiff march with his hands clasped behind his back. What was he going to do about Eldes? Every logical solution was to simply kill him and move on, which he would easily do if it were anyone else. But this was his Eldes, his twin, his soulmate. He had already spent several years thinking the red head was dead and gone so when he caught sight of the only eyes that could mirror his own standing there on the shore of Citadark he allowed his emotions to cloud every rational thought. He assumed Eldes was home, when in reality he was here to infiltrate, to spy, and Ardos was going to have to deal with it. Would he really have the heart to kill his own brother?

    Eldes has made it seem so easy to let their Father crash and burn, to watch him surrender to the police and rot in prison until he died, but Ardos couldn’t. Their Father was weak, but he was right. This was their destiny, their legacy would reshape the world, and Eldes spat on that when he bedded down with the wrong side. His angry pacing was beginning to tire him yet his anger was not swayed, if anything it was amplifying the more he pondered over the traitorous wretch. Stalking back to his desk he roughly pulled out his large chair and dropped himself in it heavily, ripping open his bottom drawer and grabbing the crystal decanter once again, forgoing the glass this time and tipping the entire bottle into his mouth after removing the stopper.

    After several large pulls of the amber liquid, his belly burning from the rapid assault of alcohol, he slammed the thick crystal down onto the desk, the remaining liquid inside sloshing violently. Ardos was practically seething as he struggled to process his emotions, his mind tearing through a thousand possibilities but all of them ending in Eldes’s death. He’d have to interrogate the man to find the proper course of action, but what the hell did you say to the person who ripped out your heart and burned it right in front of you? Twice?

    “You tell him the truth,” a voice called out to him from the shadows near his bookcase.
    “Oh?” He answered sarcastically. “And what truth is that?”
    “That he should have picked you.”
    “I should think that was obvious. I’m his twin. No one knows more about him than I, we’re one person inhabiting two forms. He belongs with me.”
    “But he doesn’t seem to think so.”
    “What the hell do you know?!”

    The shadowed figure stepped out from his hiding place and into the soft light filling the center of Ardos’s office, the unmistakable red hair and soft green eyes making his breath catch in his throat. “E-Eldes?” The mirror of his twin stood before him looking as he had when he first stepped off of the boat, laughing softly and tilting his head to give Ardos a small shrug before he began to play with one of the curtain ties. “What’s the matter Ardos? I thought you wanted to speak to me.” The blue haired twin growled angrily and pushed himself up and out of his chair, slamming his hands on his desk. “Get out.” The Eldes laughed again. “So soon? But you were so looking forward to see me again.” Ardos grabbed the crystal decanter from his desk and hurled it at the apparition, who easily moved out of the way of the clumsy throw and let the crystal shatter on the side of a bookcase instead, the amber liquid running down and pooling onto the floor. “Tsk tsk, that temper of yours was always a problem, wasn’t it.”

    “Shut up.”
    “Come on now. You have something to say to me, so say it.”
    “I have nothing to say to spirits. Now get out of my office.”
    “And if I really am a ghost, what point is it to tell me to leave? I’m a ghost. I can do whatever I want. And right now, I want to talk.”
    “Well I don’t.”
    “Liar.”
    “Fuck you.”
    “Well, you’ve always wanted to.”

    Ardos froze for a minute at the blatant remark, eyes going wide at the accusation before narrowing dangerously. “Don’t presume to know me, spirit.”
    “Oh Ardos. Ardos, Ardos, Ardos, you just don’t seem to quite understand. I’m simply a projection of your subconscious. I only speak the truths that you are afraid to face. The reason you can’t seem to resolve your feelings of anger, mistrust, betrayal, and fear, is because you are in love with me. You want me. Always have.”
    “Stop talking.”
    “But you know it’s true, I couldn’t say it if it wasn’t.”
    “I don’t know what you are but I will not let you toy with me. Leave. Me. Alone.”
    “Make me.”

    In response to the taunting devil the Cipher head stepped out from behind his desk and roughly grabbed the shirt of his tormentor, dragging him up close and sneering in his face. “With pleasure,” he growled throwing the red head into the wall behind him and repeatedly cracking his head on the firm surface while the other Eldes simply laughed the entire time. He waited until Ardos’s energy was spent, the thinner male finally dropping his shirt and bending down, panting heavily as the effort of fighting a man who couldn’t be injured took its toll. “See? You can’t hurt me. You’re only hurting yourself when you hurt me, even you should be able to see that.” Ardos let his weakened legs bend as he sunk down to his knees, his body now too physically weak to resist the hurricane of emotions trying to escape. He couldn’t stop the frustrated tears from finally breaking free and running in rivers down his cheeks, instead ducking his head and letting his glasses clatter noisily to the ground, revealing his puffy green eyes as he wept. “Eldes….” He choked out through a sob, not even bothering to cover his face as snot and tears began to stain his robe. “Why? *hiccup* Why did you betray me?”

    The other Eldes looked down on him in pity. “What better offer did I have?”
    “You could *hiccup*have had *hiccup* me…”
    “No, I couldn’t. You branded me a traitor the moment I begged Father to surrender. You never forgave me for that that I knew of. Why would I have come back here? For all I knew, this life was lost to me forever. I had to make a new one.”
    “I was *hiccup* angry… But…*hiccup* I would have *hiccup* forgiven *hiccup*you.”
    “You say that, but would you have? You wanted the version of me you thought I was under Father, not the version I showed you I was when Michael stopped him. You would have forgiven the lie, not the reality.”
    “No….”
    “It’s true. As alike as we are, we are also vastly different. You should know. You were always the smarter one of us.”
    “Because *hiccup* I *hiccup* had *hiccup* our mind…”
    “And I had our heart. You used to say that a lot when we were kids. Do you still believe that?”
    “Of course *hiccup* I do.”
    “Then prove it. Prove it to me, prove it to yourself. When morning comes, you’ll know what to do.”

    Ardos sobbed loudly and finally covered his face in shame, wailing in sorrow as the other Eldes faded away into nothing. He curled up tightly into himself and began to rock back and forth on the floor, throat aching and burning for the relief only alcohol could bring. But the only precious liquid left in the room was soiled on the floor, surrounded by shards of broken crystal, and he couldn’t help but think that that is how he felt. His world was shattered just like that glass, and the filthy truth of his existence spilled out for the world to see, with no one there to pick up the pieces. He reached out and picked up one of the shards carefully and held it in his hand as stared at it, but was soon overcome with renewed grief and curled into a ball once more, not even noticing when the shard began to pierce his hand and let blood trickle down to mix with his tears as he covered his eyes.
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    The MEETING Team (PLOT) - Page 4 Empty Re: The MEETING Team (PLOT)

    Post by Silverishness Thu Mar 10, 2016 7:40 pm

    Post 25

    The MEETING Team (PLOT) - Page 4 VgK7FE3

    Citadark Isle||Morning


    Eldes woke from a dreamless sleep still in the position he'd passed out in, blinking against the warm light of the room. It looked like he'd forgotten to turn off the lights. Oops. But of course, with the light being exactly the same as when he'd passed out, he had no idea of how much time had actually passed. He wasn't entirely sure if that was a good or a bad thing, really, but... did it matter at this point?

    His entire body felt sore, worn and heavy as he stared at the walls for a long while before shifting. The pillow he'd used was dented and still a little moist from his long fit of crying however many hours ago it was and he pushed it gently away as he pulled himself out from under the bed. It took more and more strength to inch out from the small space the bed provided, his energy quickly waning as the weight from his earlier revelation came back to him full force. This was his last day. These were his last moments and this is how he was spending it... crawling out from beneath a bed. Unable to keep the tears back, all Eldes could do was lay on the carpet and cry.

    Again, time escaped Eldes once more as he wept out his last reservoir of agony. He didn't bother getting up for a while until his bladder spoke to him. That was certainly one thing that wouldn't wait for him to gather his wits about him. Groaning, miserable, Eldes pulled himself off the floor and staggered to the pristine bathroom. After finishing, he trudged back out to see a pile of familiar colors near the door, folded neatly in a pile. Mildly confused and too exhausted to be scared, Eldes continued forward to see his jacket and turtleneck, as well as fresh pants, shoes, socks and under garments. What small, shattered pieces of his heart managed to break further; Ardos had sent him his clothes. The redhead took the turtleneck into his hands and rubbed a thumb over the now startlingly soft fabric.

    Well... there was only one thing left to do, really...

    Reaching deep inside of himself, Eldes sought out the last string of courage he had. The nerve he'd clung to when he was interrogated, sentenced, and horrifically tortured in prison. Closing his eyes, he felt a wave of calm fill the void exhaustion had left him. This was it. He opened his eyes once more and heaved out a long, tired sigh, taking the rest of the clothes and slowly dressed himself. As he folded his jacket over his arm -since it was just too warm to keep it on- he heard a knock at the door.

    Figuring he had absolutely nothing to lose by answering, Eldes slowly made his way to the door, where he found a man waiting there to greet him. Eldes blinked at the man's premature silver hair and attire that didn't match the uniform of the rest of Cipher. This must have been one of Ardos' new admins. Eldes glanced to the grunts standing just beyond the threshold, awaiting a command from their superior. "....Yes?"

    "The Grand Master requests your presence. Come with me." He turned on his heel as two grunts snatched Eldes' arms, nearly dragging him along. His legs simply weren't ready to march at that speed or vigor, and thus the grunts ended up half-dragging Eldes the entire length of the compound to their father's old chambers. The redhead hadn't the heart or strength to fight back; hell, he barely had the strength to keep his legs moving. All too soon, however, they stopped at the doors behind the admin. He turned a moment to regard Eldes before knocking. "Grand Master, Virgil reporting. I have him and the tapes you requested."


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    The MEETING Team (PLOT) - Page 4 Empty Re: The MEETING Team (PLOT)

    Post by Ardos Mon Mar 14, 2016 9:15 am

    The MEETING Team (PLOT) - Page 4 Ardos_zpsapzgw97d
    Citadark Isle | Morning
    25


    Ardos winced in pain as he gently lowered himself down into his chair, his aching body in revolt for having spent the entire night in a huddled mess on the floor sobbing like an infant. He hissed as his cut hand bore too much weight on the arm of his chair, lifting it up reflexively which caused him to lose his steady descent and crash the rest of the way into the armchair. After uttering a few mild curses he switched on his computer, sending a quick email to his Security Admin to have him pick up Eldes from his room and bring him to the office for questioning. He did remember, as an afterthought, to add that Eldes shouldn't be harmed prior to being delivered. Though he was sorely tempted to edit it out before clicking 'send'. The older male realized he needed to confront Eldes about what he had done, hear the confession from his own traitorous lips, before deciding his punishment. Though he knew what the outcome would be.

    The only fate that could befall a traitor...death.

    It was still very early when he sent the missive, so it would be at least a couple of hours before Eldes was brought to him as he specifically requested the man be allowed to sleep. But it brought to mind the security features in place around and in his room that his Admin would need to check to verify Eldes had awoken. Which gave him another idea. Quickly sending another message he asked that his Admin call up to the office for a special request, waiting patiently for the small chirp of his intercom to alert him to an incoming call. He smiled at the prompt reply, a mere three minutes after the request was sent and he was already getting called. He pressed a small button on the speaker built into the desk and spoke carefully, trying to hide the hoarse strain in his throat from crying. "Speak."

    "You asked for me, Grand Master?" Ardos couldn't not be happier that the intercom was voice only, he was sure his appearance would have raised an eyebrow in the silver-headed male. "Yes, Virgil. I have a job for you in correlation to the request I made earlier this morning. I need all security footage inside and out of Eldes's room, from the time Eldes and I arrived until he wakes. Bring them to me when you have my brother brought in. Understood?" There was no hesitation on the other end of the line, just a resounding click as the speaker clicked on and Virgil gave his acknowledgment. "Understood Sir." Good help was so hard to find, even before the Epidemic, but Virgil was a prize to be sure. Ardos knew he had made the right choice giving Virgil command of his security team, the man was incredibly bright and knew how to follow orders. And his skill as a leader was something to be admired, inspiring complete loyalty in his men and giving Ardos great faith in those Virgil selected for the duty. His security team was one of the highest ranked positions on the entire island and Virgil was the only reason it remained that way.

    _________________

    A little over two hours went by since he spoke to Virgil, and he had spent his time lost inside his own mind. More than a few times he came back out of a bad memory with a start, searching for anything nearby to drink and wipe his memory clear, but each time his eyes had to fall back to the shattered decanter in the corner with dismay. It had been over eight hours since he last had a drink and his body was beginning to shake, his mouth going dry, his head pounding, and his skin feeling like he could itch it off of his very body. This interrogation with his brother was not going to go well if he couldn't stop the withdrawal symptoms so he quickly made his way to the adjacent bathroom of his office, looking for an old stash he had forgotten last night in his delusions.

    At least, that's what Ardos kept telling himself they were. He refused to accept the lies that the apparition kept spewing about his desire for his twin. Ardos wanted no one, never had and never will. His body had never once responded to any kind of intimate inclination and he was more than happy to keep it that way. Physical desires were a weakness that needed to be purged for the new world, and he was the perfect candidate to teach them how. It was true that he wanted his brother at his side, however. He and Eldes were born of the same soul, split apart in the womb and forced to live outside each other for the rest of their days. Being close to Eldes was the only time he felt whole. That didn't mean he was in love with his twin. It didn't.

    Triumphantly Ardos managed to find a silver flask tucked behind a cabinet, unscrewing the cap rapidly and downing the entire contents without bothering to even check what he was drinking. It burned like hellfire and he grimaced for a moment as the cheap whiskey went down his throat like razor blades, but the warmth hit his stomach and soon a pleasant buzzing sensation replaced the momentary pain of consumption. His mind and his body tingled with pleasure as the alcohol began to work through his nutrition starved body in rapid time, not even caring that it meant he hadn't eaten for over a day. All he needed had been in that little, shining vessel. He smiled to himself and looked up into the mirror hanging over his wash basin, the smile dropping when he saw his tear stained cheeks and swollen eyes bloodshot from exertion and the lack of sleep.

    He washed his face quickly and made a vain attempt to clean up his robes before he heard a knock at the door, Virgil's smooth and authoritative voice filtering through the thick metal casing. "Grand Master, Virgil reporting. I have him and the tapes you requested." Ardos rushed back to his desk and sat down too quickly, biting back a gasp of pain as his hand once again caught the armrest. "Enter," he commanded, voice carrying more confidence than he felt as he quickly placed his discarded glasses back over his face to hide it. This was it. He was finally going to confront Eldes about everything and finally get some straight answers.
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    The MEETING Team (PLOT) - Page 4 Empty Re: The MEETING Team (PLOT)

    Post by Silverishness Mon Mar 14, 2016 10:20 am

    Post 26

    The MEETING Team (PLOT) - Page 4 VgK7FE3

    Citadark Isle||Morning


    "Enter."

    Eldes flinched at the tone of his brother's voice, having to suppress the urge to dig in his heels as he was dragged into the large, familiar office once the admin at their formation's head opened the doors and led the way in. The grunts holding his arms pulled him a few feet in, stopping midway to Ardos' desk, their commander striding the rest of the way easily, something shiny in his hands. He placed the things down -two CD cases- on the desk and a brief flash of their covers revealed that each case had a word inscribed on it in black marker: "INTERIOR" and "EXTERIOR". Security tapes, then? It was very likely; Ardos had to do damage control, after all.

    They spoke for a moment, which Eldes' mind took to wander to the office around him. It had been Father's, of course. Always prim and clean, even at the last of old Cipher's days when he was preparing for the worst. But now... things were scattered all over the floor, as if a tornado had rampaged through just minutes prior to their arrival. It took a moment for his harried mind to realize that the things on the floor were actually his: zip ties were everywhere, his medical kit was against the wall, cracked, his water pouches on opposite sides of the room and... Eldes' puffy eyes paused as they caught the light, innocent glint of gold in the corner of his vision. His badge. He was mildly surprised that it was still intact or not charred. There was also a shattered mound of glass, its original shape and use unknown. Eldes frowned a little at the visible wet spot beneath it, as well as what looked like a trail of old moisture staining the books down to the floor. It wouldn't have been like Ardos to keep a vase without flowers, but-- a quick sniff of the air told Eldes the rest. The light stinging, strong smell was almost immediately recognizable: alcohol.

    Movement caught the detective's gaze away from the shattered glass container as the admin strode back toward him, nodding to the two grunts that had remained vigilant at Eldes' side. They soon marched out, the admin bringing up the rear, only to reform their ranks just outside of the door. Eldes watched as the silver-haired man closed the heavy doors behind him, leaving Eldes to the mercy of his brother.

    He swallowed hard, his words immediately failing him. What in hell could he say? His eyes went to his brother, just then spotting his pokeballs delicately placed on the desk with Oasis' ball perched on top. His face faltered a bit, but... he knew the best option was for them to die with him. He couldn't plead for their case, nor could he ask any questions. It would all come off as desperate, coy or something else Eldes didn't want to convey. He withered slightly beneath his fuming brother's glare, and found that once again, honesty was the only route he had. "I didn't..." He cleared his voice, his throat already cracking from the strain it had endured from last night's and this morning's fits. "I wanted to tell you myself... when we were alone," he quietly spoke. "So that this..." He gestured to the room, "...wouldn't happen."


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    Post by Ardos Tue Mar 15, 2016 1:34 pm

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    As Virgil marched his brother into the office Ardos struggled to retain his composure, eyes tracking every step Eldes took as he walked into the lion's den. His emotions were wound so tight that he felt like his spine was ready to snap, keeping a rigid posture with his back perfectly straight in his chair as he folded his hands over his desk. He gave a silent nod to the silver haired Admin as he left two conspicuous disks on the desk for him, clearly labeled and in visual range of Eldes, whom Ardos merely stared at. The red head was taking in the damage to the office, which easily gave away the actual mood of the cold man sitting behind the imposingly large desk.

    While his twin was distracted Ardos summoned Virgil to him with a curled finger, pleased in the quick response of his Admin as he bent to hear his Master's whisper. "Wait outside until called, this discussion is to remain private. Understood?" Words were not needed, as Virgil simply nodded and marched his men outside the door, taking one last glance inside before sealing the exit behind him. Ardos returned his bitter gaze to his brother and watched as he squirmed, mouth gaping open and closing a few times as he struggled to find the words that would somehow placate the blue haired male. There were none.

    "I didn't..." he croaked out, coughing and trying to clear his voice of the prepubescent tremor it had acquired. "I wanted to tell you myself... when we were alone." Ardos didn't move, he merely arched an eyebrow inquisitively at the beginnings of his brother's ramblings, eager to see where his excuses would take him. "So that this...wouldn't happen." Ardos let out a mock gasp and placed a hand on his chest, turning his head in feigned horror. "I see! How cruel of me. And when, brother mine, during the several times we were unattended yesterday did you think that we were not alone enough?" His false dramatic flare morphed into a sour scowl as he turned his head back to Eldes, his eyes becoming sharp and dangerous. "Exactly how alone did you need us to be?"
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    Post by Silverishness Tue Mar 15, 2016 7:09 pm

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    The sarcasm dripping from Ardos' words should have been expected, but Eldes hadn't heard Ardos speak to him... since they last saw each other. He flinched slightly at the mocking tone and scathing voice, never immune to it coming from his brother. "I see! How cruel of me. And when, brother mine, during the several times we were unattended yesterday did you think that we were not alone enough?" The insulting mockery was gone in a flash, replaced with the low and vicious expression he had envisioned in his nightmares. "Exactly how alone did you need us to be?"

    Eldes shook his head. "Your personal guard were always within earshot, Ardos. Wherever we went, if it wasn't them, it was someone else always around. And it's not something I could have brought up with them around, exactly. Besides, I..." His form decompressed a little, his shoulders sagging with the confession. "I was... just so happy to see you. I didn't want to start a fight so quickly."


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    Post by Ardos Thu Mar 17, 2016 8:31 am

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    "Your personal guard were always within earshot, Ardos. Wherever we went, if it wasn't them, it was someone else always around. And it's not something I could have brought up with them around, exactly. Besides, I..." Ardos's scoffed at Eldes's excuses, noting how even the man himself seemed to tire of his drivel after a few moments. "I was... just so happy to see you. I didn't want to start a fight so quickly." His frown pulled back tightly, creasing the early wrinkles around his mouth into sharp points. "You mean you instead thought it would be better for me to go on blindly to your true intentions, and allow you to spy on the inner workings of my sanctuary before finally getting caught. Isn't that right?"

    He leaned back in his chair and rest his elbows on the armrests, bringing his hands in front of his chest with interlaced his fingers, eyeing his brother carefully. "You say we were never truly alone, but that too is a lie, just like everything you have said and done since you set foot on my island. I admit partial responsibility, for becoming so blinded by my enthusiasm to find you alive, but it is you who slithered your way through the shadows of truth and traipsed along the razor's edge of deceit. So I ask you again, when did you plan on telling me Eldes?"
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    Post by Silverishness Thu Mar 17, 2016 11:44 am

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    Of course Ardos didn't let up. The pain on Eldes' face was evident as his brother continued to spit venom. "You mean you instead thought it would be better for me to go on blindly to your true intentions, and allow you to spy on the inner workings of my sanctuary before finally getting caught. Isn't that right?"

    Eldes gave a strained, desperate sigh as Ardos leaned back, steepling his hands into a point on his torso. Something he'd picked up from Father, when he knew he had his prey in a corner. Comforting. "Ardos, no--" "You say we were never truly alone, but that too is a lie, just like everything you have said and done since you set foot on my island. I admit partial responsibility, for becoming so blinded by my enthusiasm to find you alive, but it is you who slithered your way through the shadows of truth and traipsed along the razor's edge of deceit. So I ask you again, when did you plan on telling me Eldes?"

    "Stop that! I didn't fucking slither, I didn't infiltrate, I was captured! By your men, if you'll recall." he retorted, his frustrations with his brother beginning to win over the panic sending his heart into a mad dash. "I haven't lied about a single thing! I told you-- I wanted to tell you as soon as we were alone, but your guard was near or the nurses or..." He ran a hand through his hair, a classic sign of stress. "At my room, I lost my nerve. You'd... put so much care into it, Ardos. I couldn't tell you there. We hadn't seen each other in what, a decade? I just... wanted to be happy with you again, Ardos. Like I used to be able to." He lowered his head as the tears began again and cursed them; he'd always cried too easily for his tastes. "Besides, I don't even know why you think me such a threat. Where would I even report? There's nothing out there-- something you should know fairly well."


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    Post by Ardos Mon Mar 21, 2016 10:56 am

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    "Stop that! I didn't fucking slither, I didn't infiltrate, I was captured! By your men, if you'll recall. I haven't lied about a single thing! I told you-- I wanted to tell you as soon as we were alone, but your guard was near or the nurses or..." Eldes seemed almost offended by his brother's words, but yet did not deny actually spying on Ardos. He just denied hiding it. Ardos's facial expression remained impassive as his twin stressed, watching as the red head struggled to find his next excuse. "At my room, I lost my nerve. You'd... put so much care into it, Ardos. I couldn't tell you there. We hadn't seen each other in what, a decade? I just... wanted to be happy with you again, Ardos. Like I used to be able to."

    His face pulled back into a sneer as Eldes began with the crocodile tears, hanging his head and pretending like he actually felt guilty for his actions. Ardos was not going to buy it. He had already fallen for the prodigal son returns act, and now he just wanted the truth out of his twin. "Besides, I don't even know why you think me such a threat. Where would I even report? There's nothing out there-- something you should know fairly well." That was the last lie Ardos was willing to tolerate from his brother, feeling the sting of each word in his soul like a hot needle threading it's way into his heart. "Enough!" he growled out through gritted teeth, face still held in a firm sneer. "I am tired of your pathetic attempts to play me like this is a game. Your half truths are still just lies to me Eldes, and I am not the fool you believe me to be. Do you really think that just because I am isolated on this island that I do not know what goes on in the world?"

    He stood up from his desk and clasped his hands behind his back, stalking around to his brother. "I know. I know of your pathetic Resistances, your shelters, and the attempts the few humans left in that world are trying to make to stop their own self destruction. But thus far I have left you alone because none of you have the power to do anything, much less bring myself or my Cipher down with you." He stopped inches from his brother, leaning in close until they were nearly nose to nose as he challenged the red head. "So go ahead, brother mine, regale me once again about the 'nothing' that is out there."
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    Post by Silverishness Mon Mar 21, 2016 11:14 am

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    "Enough!" Eldes flinched at his brother's snap, his hands beginning to shake. Oh God, pull yourself together, man... "I am tired of your pathetic attempts to play me like this is a game. Your half truths are still just lies to me Eldes, and I am not the fool you believe me to be. Do you really think that just because I am isolated on this island that I do not know what goes on in the world?"

    Eldes blinked as Ardos stood, his perpetual terror paused for the confusion that was quickly taking its place. The blue-haired twin made his way to Eldes, circling the latter like an anorexic vulture. "I know. I know of your pathetic Resistances, your shelters, and the attempts the few humans left in that world are trying to make to stop their own self destruction. But thus far I have left you alone because none of you have the power to do anything, much less bring myself or my Cipher down with you." The fear was almost completely gone now, replaced by alarmed confusion. There... There were people out there? Organized people? Civilization was still around?! "So go ahead, brother mine, regale me once again about the 'nothing' that is out there."

    He doubted Ardos would believe him if he said he outright didn't know about these... people, whoever they were, despite it being the truth. Everything else was the truth, but he'd completely dismissed it all anyway. Eldes stared straight into Ardos' eyes, searching the veiled orbs for answers, as if they were capable of it. "...Where are they...?" In all of his travels, he hadn't seen or heard hide nor hair of any sort of coalition. Was it a bluff? Bad intel? The latter was... very unlikely. But in all of his wanderings, if they really did exist, how had he not found them...? "What 'Resistance'...?"


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    Post by Ardos Fri Mar 25, 2016 9:58 am

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    "...Where are they...?"

    Ardos startled at the raw honesty in Eldes's voice, the shaking strain of emotion warbling his words as his mind reeled at the lankier brother's revelation. He leaned back, blinking hidden behind dark frames as he tried to put together the confusion in his brother's mind. "What 'Resistance'...?" He truly didn't know. Ardos grit his teeth and stood at his full height, crossing his arms behind him once more as he slipped his emotionless mask back on. It took him a few moments, staring his brother down before finally making his way back around the desk and sitting down quietly.

    He waved one hand for Eldes to join him in the opposite chair, crossing his hands on his desk as he waited patiently for his brother to comply. It would seem in his anger he had come to another snap decision about his twin, much like the one where he assumed the red head was coming home. Now it was time to finally hear the truth. "Tell me why you are here, Eldes." His voice was neutral, calm, a stark difference from the enmity that had been boiling beneath the surface only moments before. He would need his head clear if he was to determine the true nature of his brother, and the only way to do that was to do what he had been taught to do since birth. He stopped feeling.
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    Post by Silverishness Fri Mar 25, 2016 10:21 am

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    A tense silence stretched between them as Ardos backed off slightly, if only to better examine Eldes' expression. Eldes spotted the slight flex of his twin's jaw as Ardos clenched his teeth together, likely because he was trying to decide what he should do or say next. Eldes' eyes didn't -couldn't- leave his brother, silently begging for more information about the "Resistance" Ardos knew. More silence blanketed the room before Ardos turned to go to his desk, leaving Eldes to stand there dumbly in the wake of the revelation. Even if he was given more information, it wasn't like it would matter, in the end...

    The grim reminder weighed too heavily on the former detective to keep his head up, and so his gaze slowly went to the floor. Though he was content to stand until Ardos sentenced him, movement caught his eye, pulling his gaze to his once-more sitting twin, who was quietly gesturing for Eldes to join him. Instinctively and obediently, Eldes took the offer, sitting in the only other chair in the room and sadly watched his brother's face revert back into its cold, emotionless mask. Leader Mode.

    "Tell me why you are here, Eldes." Though the anger was gone in Ardos' soft voice, so was everything else. Eldes couldn't help the agonized frown on his face deepen because of the thorough and intentional lack of emotion in the other man. At least it would be easier to answer, now. He had nothing to lose by telling the truth, and it seemed that Ardos would listen to him first before outright deciding whether or not Eldes was lying.

    "...A number of reasons..." he began softly, his eyes down on the familiar desk. He took in the details he'd memorized as a child and young man, tracing a finger on one of the only blemishes the desk sported on its ridge. He looked back up to his brother, unsure of how to continue. "I... didn't know if you were even still alive. I needed closure with you, whatever the answer was for that. With the headquarters I worked at destroyed and the region thrown into chaos, I didn't know where else I could go. But most of all..." His expression hardened with anger but also pain as he stared straight into Ardos' inky shades. "...I needed to confront you. Or whoever was running Citadark, I wasn't sure. But now that I know it's you running the place and not some other asshole that stole Cipher resources..." He swallowed hard and shook his head.

    "Why, Ardos? Why did you do this? Why did you destroy everything?!"


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    Post by Ardos Fri Mar 25, 2016 10:36 am

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    "...A number of reasons..." He waited patiently for Eldes to gather himself, noting the forlorn look upon his twin's face as he took in the familiar room for the second time since being dragged in. Ardos's eyes followed the finger that began trailing across the polished desk, pausing to circle a small imperfection that marred the otherwise flawless wooden construct. He was stalling, but not out of pettiness, he simply didn't know what to say. When his green eyes finally lifted to meet Ardos's own the haggard man merely nodded for him to continue at his own pace. He would hear everything before bringing down a sentence on his other half.

    "I... didn't know if you were even still alive. I needed closure with you, whatever the answer was for that. With the headquarters I worked at destroyed and the region thrown into chaos, I didn't know where else I could go. But most of all..." At first it seemed as though his twin was trying to come to terms with his feelings, a number of them dancing behind his eyes with each confession until they went suddenly cold. Ardos hissed slightly as he drew in a sharp breath, not used to seeing such an expression on the normally reserved red head. "...I needed to confront you. Or whoever was running Citadark, I wasn't sure. But now that I know it's you running the place and not some other asshole that stole Cipher resources...Why, Ardos? Why did you do this? Why did you destroy everything?!" His face remained relatively impassive, although one eyebrow drew up at the implication that the other man had come to actually face him. However when Eldes finally blurted out his accusation all Ardos could do was shake his head.

    "Because I didn't."
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    Post by Silverishness Fri Mar 25, 2016 10:57 am

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    "Because I didn't."

    "Excuse me?" Eldes snapped back, his anger rising more and more by each second he stared into Ardos' passive face. The only other reaction in his blue-haired counterpart was a simply inclination of an eyebrow, a common gesture he knew in his brother. It could have meant any number of things, however, and didn't help Eldes' rage. "I investigated you. I cut off your contacts and supplies and hunted down the remnants of your flock. I did everything in my power to shut you and the rest of Father's tyranny down." The fury continued to build, as well as the pain, and it contorted his face as he spoke. Flashes of Looker's face, the snippets of their last argument before he disappeared bombarded his inner eye relentlessly.

    "You may not have known it was me then, but we nearly tracked you down, my partner and I. I saw the storm clouds over Citadark again, and I knew you, or the asshole that killed you, was preparing something bad. So we chased you and my partner found you, and you killed him." Unbridled fury ran through him, tears for his fallen friend slipping out of his eyes, but Eldes failed to notice, his hateful stare focused on his twin. "Not a week later, a Honchkrow appears. And what does it do, Ardos? It uses Shadow Sky!" It was his turn to slam his fist on the desk, glare never wavering from his brother. "I don't know how, I don't know why, but I know that at the very base of it is Citadark. The Shadow Honchkrow destroyed the International Police Headquarters, and with it came the epidemic. Who else could it have been but you?!"


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    Post by Ardos Fri Mar 25, 2016 12:38 pm

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    "Excuse me?"

    Ardos tried to keep the look of shock off of his face at Eldes's outburst, leaning back a little harder in his chair and grinding his teeth to keep his expression neutral. "I investigated you. I cut off your contacts and supplies and hunted down the remnants of your flock. I did everything in my power to shut you and the rest of Father's tyranny down." It failed after that, his mouth curling down into a frown as his eyes narrowed behind his glasses, closing briefly as he tried to quell the outrage that spawned from his suspicions proving true. He glanced back up at his fuming twin and from deep behind his mental barriers could feel that spark of anger trying to reignite, but he would not allow it. The traitor's actions would not break him, and so he waited for the man to finish his ranting.

    "You may not have known it was me then, but we nearly tracked you down, my partner and I. I saw the storm clouds over Citadark again, and I knew you, or the asshole that killed you, was preparing something bad. So we chased you and my partner found you, and you killed him." He watched the tears start to flow. "Not a week later, a Honchkrow appears. And what does it do, Ardos? It uses Shadow Sky!" Fists pounding on hardened wood left him unflinching, staring into the void of his brother's ire with nary a trace of care. "I don't know how, I don't know why, but I know that at the very base of it is Citadark. The Shadow Honchkrow destroyed the International Police Headquarters, and with it came the epidemic. Who else could it have been but you?!" He was panting now, likely exhausted from his own emotional outburst, and while Ardos felt sympathy for his twin he would not bow to such unbridled falsehoods. Eldes would learn.

    "Are you quite finished?" he asked coldly, having waited a moment to see if the red head was merely catching his breath before another rant. "And while you may not like them, I can answer some of your rather insulting grievances. Firstly," he pushed his chair out and brought one long leg above the desk to rest his heel on the edge as he prepared to rattle off a list in answer to the previous ravings. "I knew someone was responsible for those deals being cut off and my contacts arrested, but until I saw your badge last night I had no suspect that it was you. Before you came in, however, I was sure it was. Second," He brought his other leg up to cross over the first, not breaking his sight line on Eldes. "I killed a lot of people in the past, but I did not kill this partner you keep mentioning. No one has set foot on my island from the mainland that was not already part of Cipher since the deal was struck, a great deal of time before the Epidemic mind you, and I have not left it. So whoever he 'tracked down', it wasn't me whom he found."

    He unfolded his hands and laid his arms to rest on the arms of the chair, only a knowing smile turning up the corners of his mouth as he relaxed into the chair. "And this is the first I've heard of a Shadow Honchkrow. Destroyed IP Headquarters, did it? Interesting. You know I always wondered where everything started. You may very well have witnessed humanity's downfall." He smirked wickedly.

    "I'm jealous."
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    Post by Silverishness Fri Mar 25, 2016 1:13 pm

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    "Are you quite finished?" Ardos' smug, cold tone of voice only sent Eldes' rage further, the pain for his murdered friend beginning to override his logic. He hated how carefully Ardos could control his reactions like that, how he could simply shut down and be a speaking, stupid mannequin whenever he wished. And though he was retaining an emotionless mask, Eldes didn't miss the note of condescension that tinted his twin's words."And while you may not like them, I can answer some of your rather insulting grievances. Firstly," Eldes watched with his glare still intact as Ardos pushed out his chair slightly, but not to stand. Mildly surprised at the unfamiliar body language, Ardos placed a foot on the desk. Was he... actually-- "I knew someone was responsible for those deals being cut off and my contacts arrested, but until I saw your badge last night I had no suspect that it was you. Before you came in, however, I was sure it was. Second," he continued, bringing up the other leg to rest on the desk, the display of pure, callous dominance irking Eldes to a new level. "I killed a lot of people in the past, but I did not kill this partner you keep mentioning. No one has set foot on my island from the mainland that was not already part of Cipher since the deal was struck, a great deal of time before the Epidemic mind you, and I have not left it. So whoever he 'tracked down', it wasn't me whom he found."

    Confusion flashed on Eldes' face, mixing strangely with the fury he had sustained during Ardos' rant. Then one of his admins? His scouts? Someone connected to him-- maybe this was Ardos using technicalities again. But he mentioned a "deal". What deal? His twin allowed the separation of his hands to have them rest at his sides on the chair, an unbelievably self-assured expression on his gaunt face. How Eldes would have loved to punch it off of him. "And this is the first I've heard of a Shadow Honchkrow. Destroyed IP Headquarters, did it? Interesting. You know, I always wondered where everything started. You may very well have witnessed humanity's downfall."

    Though Eldes blinked at his brother's admission, his rage refused to subside. There was no way... no way that Ardos wasn't involved. Everything pointed to him. Everything. "I'm jealous."

    His voice was a low, dangerous snarl as he spoke, Ardos' confidence only succeeding in provoking Eldes' fury. "Don't play coy with me, Ardos," he snapped, the words spoken towards his brother more venomous than he would have ever imagined. "Fine, you may not have killed Looker personally, but your guard, one of your admins or grunts or partners-- someone did, someone tethered to you and this project. And it would have been reported. It would have gotten to you somehow, because no one kills an IP detective and doesn't fucking gloat about it!

    "But don't you fucking sit there, in your padded leather chair, and lie to me-- saying that you weren't involved with that Honchkrow!"
    He leaned forward, eyes blazing with hate and anger. "The Shadow Project was Father's greatest achievement aside from Cipher itself. There's no way someone could have stolen it from you-- I know how carefully we guarded that. Our knowledge, our science and people. There's no way that you would have let that of all things, slip out of here from under your nose!" Eldes was breathing hard again, the years of torture he'd sustained from his wanderings alone finally coming to a head.

    "So stop fucking around with me and speak frankly, Ardos. I'm going to die after this anyway, so just cut the crap and tell me the truth!"


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    The MEETING Team (PLOT) - Page 4 Empty Re: The MEETING Team (PLOT)

    Post by Ardos Fri Mar 25, 2016 1:28 pm

    The MEETING Team (PLOT) - Page 4 Ardos_zpsapzgw97d
    Citadark Isle | Morning
    32


    "Don't play coy with me, Ardos." The pure rage emanating from the ginger made Ardos's smirk even bigger. He had not only struck a nerve but had sent the man into a spiral of nonsensical ranting that had Ardos chuckling. "Fine, you may not have killed Looker personally, but your guard, one of your admins or grunts or partners-- someone did, someone tethered to you and this project. And it would have been reported. It would have gotten to you somehow, because no one kills an IP detective and doesn't fucking gloat about it!

    "But don't you fucking sit there, in your padded leather chair, and lie to me-- saying that you weren't involved with that Honchkrow!"
    "I'm not lying," he said casually, tone bordering on boredom and not really caring if Eldes heard him or not. "The Shadow Project was Father's greatest achievement aside from Cipher itself. There's no way someone could have stolen it from you-- I know how carefully we guarded that. Our knowledge, our science and people. There's no way that you would have let that of all things, slip out of here from under your nose!" His twin was leaning forward so far Ardos feared he might tip over, but instead he just stood there, shaking with unbridled fury. "So stop fucking around with me and speak frankly, Ardos. I'm going to die after this anyway, so just cut the crap and tell me the truth!" Ardos didn't just chuckle this time, he laughed. A cold, derisive sound that grated in his throat.

    "It would seem the tables have turned, would it not? It was just minutes ago that I was the screaming heathen and you were begging me to listen to reason, that your words were never lies. Well it would seem to be my turn then, wouldn't it?" He leaned down a bit and pulled open one of his top drawers, retrieving a slender blue folder from inside and laying it on the desk before him. "Not one thing I have said to you since your little tantrum has bore even an ounce of falsehood. You are right, that someone who had taken out an International Detective would have gloated, and none have. Whatever happened to your man did not come from myself or anyone under my domain." He pushed the file closer to Eldes's side of the desk and leaned back into his chair. "Yet unlike you, I bear proof of my claims. You, though at the time I did not know it to be you, left me no choice. I had to sell our greatest asset in order to bring back Father's vision. And the highest bidder was someone you are not going to like. Open it."


    Last edited by Ardos on Fri Mar 25, 2016 5:24 pm; edited 1 time in total

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    The MEETING Team (PLOT) - Page 4 Empty Re: The MEETING Team (PLOT)

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