Downfallen...Fallen...Falling...

[redlightgreenlight]

Characters: Valdis and Open (With some Specific Starters)
Date: Month of September
Location: Around Keeliai
Situation: Various
Warnings/Rating: Various


August had seen her mostly recovered from losing Anton, or at least, as recovered as she could be. Her Cultist task force hadn't been successful in taking down the group and she saw that as a bitter failure. The riot had undercut the KPD's reputation with the kedan. They had failed to prevent the attack and they had failed to contain the riot. But Valdis wasn't certain that it was possible to contain such a thing. Out of control emotions, especially those caused by a drug...how could her forces combat that?

Things were changing, perhaps too quickly. The Kedan were scrambling to catch up, they didn't seem to know how to rule themselves and while she couldn't blame them for that, something had to be done and soon. At least Tu Vishan had finally awakened. Wan would have been so happy. Finally, the foreigners hard work had paid off in a way that helped people. Valdis suspected that they would never be properly thanked for defeating Malicant, but at this point, as long as the demon stayed dead, she was certain that things would be ok.

As for her hunt, well, she had more plans to put into action, but she wasn't the only one, of that, she was certain.

Comments

Bakura | The Dojo | CW: ?

[redlightgreenlight]

The discussion with Solomon seemed so long ago, and in a way, it was. So much had happened since she had asked him about ka and how it worked. She had mostly dismissed the idea, hoping that she and Raine's pompus husband would be able to come up with a viable solution to her deal with the Void. Then the Void had taken over and Anton, it seemed, had become the solution. Then the Dreaming had taken Anton and the Void had broken it's promise. She supposed it had only been a matter of time, but it had taken weeks to regain control, and even then it wasn't complete...She had cleaned up blood again this morning.

Her life was tiring enough without having to stay on constant defense and hence her thinking had circled back to ka. Pepper used it. Bakura had taught her how, but Pepper didn't possess the same risks that she did. Only Bakura could judge if it was worth the risk, and he could only judge it if she asked.

Once again, she had brought breakfast from the Hotel. The new Hotel, since Klaus had gotten the place mostly running again. She started the coffee and went about warming up the scones, eggs and what passed for bacon, trying to be quiet so that Bakura could sleep. If he was sleeping.

[denyamenti]

Bakura was awake, although he hadn't risen for the day. He had nothing resembling a normal sleep schedule, and anyone was as likely to find him awake as not at any given hour. But upon hearing sound emanating from the kitchen, he shook himself more awake and made his way through the apartment to the kitchen adjoining the office. It wasn't particularly unusual to find Valdis or Gene in here in the mornings; the kitchen had become a sort of communal space for those who worked at the Dojo. For someone typically as private as the thief, one might find the fact that Bakura didn't seem to mind this a peculiarity, but he never made any indication that it wasn't all right.

The apparently full breakfast that Valdis was setting up was a bit new, however, and Bakura watched her prepare it for a moment, leaning against the doorframe, and knowing full well that she was aware of his presence.

"Worried you won't get all your vitamins in today?" he remarked lightly.

[redlightgreenlight]

Valdis didn't turn when she felt him approach, nor did she look at him when he spoke. She did, however, turn back to the coffee pot and pour the now steaming coffee into a mug, taking the time to consider her words.

"More like my tastes might have changed tomorrow, so I should eat what I like today."

She turned and held out the mug to him, "I can't remember how you like it, but there is some sort of cream on the table along with sugar."

[denyamenti]

He accepted the mug. "Black is fine," he answered, slim hands wrapping around the outside of it. "And that sounds like a refreshing selfish point of view. Selfishness is good for people, to a point. People just like to pretend otherwise."

[redlightgreenlight]

"Oh, right, black." She had known that, how could she have forgotten?

"What is that saying?" She continued, quickly covering her slip, as she released the mug to him, "Nothing in excess but everything in moderation?"

Adrien and Marinette | KPD headquarters | CW: None

[redlightgreenlight]

Valdis knew that secrecy was important to both Ladybug and Chat, but she couldn't exactly help that she could see and identify souls. She needed them, not as Chat and Ladybug, but as Adrien and Marinette. The cultists wouldn't see two children wandering the streets as unusual, but they would be looking out for the costumed heroes. That gave her an advantage.

She looked up at the sound of approaching footsteps.

"Come in," she said before whomever it was had the chance to knock.

[purrns]

Chat remained blissfully ignorant to what Valdis actually wanted of him and Ladybug. As far as he was concerned, it was just another job. Watch some people from some rooftops, maybe break up a fight or some weird science experiment if needed, go home for a victory cake.

So, he wandered in pretty smugly, and gave her a half-wave-half-salute.

"What's up, boss lady? You wanted to see us?"

[luckyspots]

Ladybug couldn't say she knew Valdis' character well, but she respected what she did here. She wasn't sure what to expect of the job-- only knew that she wanted to do as much as she was able to help. For once she's alright letting Chat do the talking; settling for standing back a foot, nodding her head curtly towards Valdis. Whatever it was, she was ready. Or at least that's what she thought.

[redlightgreenlight]

Valdis waiting until the two children had settled, her eyes on her paperwork, pretending to read reports as she contemplated how to address them.

"I have a request to make of the two of you," she said, gathering the spread papers into a pile and lifting them to tap them into a neat stack. "I need the two of you to to be my eyes and ears on the streets. Something that you can't do in costume."

Her eyes lifted to settle on Chat. "I know that your real identities are secret." Then her gaze shifted to Ladybug, "But not to me."

She set the papers to the side.

"The cultists believe that two costumed people are looking for them, the last thing they'd be on the lookout for is two children."

In theory at least.

[purrns]

Chat loved living in Keeliai, he truly did. It was the one place where he could, slowly but surely, learn to be more of himself. It was good. Freeing.

But then he remembered people had weirdass powers that could see though every single disguise ever. Solomon saw through it, too. He wondered, briefly, if Solomon was the one who gave him up, but no...that wasn't his style. Besides, he never met Marinette. He never knew her as Ladybug. Hell, even he didn't know who she was until recently.

"Okay. Wait, no. Back up a little," he waves his hands in the air, a little panicked. "How do you know that, and please don't tell me you can see into our souls because that's happening more than I like and I still think it's cheating."

Klaus | The Hotel | CW: None

[redlightgreenlight]

Klaus had done a good job with the dilapidated building that had once been Anton's Midnight Hotel, but Valdis had a hard time considering it home. Her room had been set up the same way, but it smelled wrong. The Remnants were gone, so it felt wrong. But mostly it was that Anton was no longer there. It was alright. It had to be alright. If not, she would make it alright.

Poor Klaus. She kept disappearing on him when what they needed was to talk. He had been close to Anton too and she had been ignoring that for far too long. She had taken the day off from the KPD, though she had to be at the Dojo later for classes, and had been sitting in the lobby, waiting to catch Klaus at a quiet moment. Hopefully he would have time.

[purered]

Klaus's quiet moments were few and far between but he'd just taken a break when he spotted Valdis in the lobby. Adding another cup to his tray, he stepped out of his office and approached.

"May I join you, Miss Valdis?"

[redlightgreenlight]

A brilliant smile lit up her fair features when she saw Klaus approaching. She bent one leg over the other, elbow on her knee and rested her chin in the palm of her hand.

"Klaus, just the person I wanted to see." She replied, gesturing with her free hand to the chair across from her.

[purered]

Klaus set the tray down and took a seat, folding his hands in his lap, his posture straight as ever.

"I am glad to hear it. My apologies for frightening you last time," he said. "Circumstances being what they were made things... tricky. Would you like some tea?"

Open | The Turtle's Head | CW: None?

[redlightgreenlight]

The edge of the shell, closest to the head of Tu Vishan, was peaceful, just as it had been before Malicant's fall. Valdis could feel the vibrance deep within the creature, too vast for her to grasp or understand. She sat cross-legged on the edge, Revelations laid across her lap, her hands, palm up, resting on her knees. Her eyes were closed as she meditated. The Void lay at the edge of her senses, sulking as she basked in the peace, sending her thanks to the great turtle.

It won't last forever. The Void hissed, sounding quite irate.

"Nothing ever does."

Then why do you keep fighting?

"Because I'm not alone."

The serpent grumbled something and shifted in the darkness.

"Are you cranky?" A small smirk lit up her features.

No.

"You sound cranky."

Do not taunt me, little angel. You are nothing without my power.

"And yet I have held you back. So whose power is it? Mine or yours?"

[shirley_templar]

Desmond had never really been the "meditation" type. It used to be that he just plain never saw the point. If you couldn't find inner peace in your everyday life, what made you think you were gonna find it by sitting like a retard and communing with nature?

Of course, that's how he used to think. Before Abstergo. Before the Animus. Now, he'll take peace and quiet wherever he can find it, whether at the bottom of a glass, or by the head of a giant world turtle. He walks up to Valdis from behind, but hesitates, not sure if he even belongs here, where for once the Bleeding Effect isn't lingering in the back of his mind.

"I'm not...uhh...interrupting anything, am I?"

[redlightgreenlight]

Valdis doesn't move, not even when she hears Desmond approach, because she knows his scent and the feeling of his soul is familiar. He isn't a threat.

"No," she replies, eyes still closed. "Just conversing with my demons."

A slight smile tugged at the corner of her mouth.

[shirley_templar]

Desmond smiles, and seats himself next to Valdis, looking out at the sky.

"Oh that thing. I remember that thing. It was like trying to wrestle a greased snake, if I remember right. Hard to believe you can be so calm when you've got that thing knocking around inside you."

As if he could talk, given the memories he had. Desmond takes a deep breath and holds it, relishing the...lightness he felt. If he wasn't so busy in the city, he'd move here for good.

"Not like I can talk, with all of these Assassins kicking around in my head."

[wrathfulkhan]

Gene had been spending quite a bit of time at the turtle's head as late; he'd missed the calming effect. And it helped to soothe his overburdened mind. He had too many thoughts on too many subjects - the government, the police, this Marie woman - and one specter that kept looming in the back of his mind.

Zhang.

Even now that his stepfather was banished physically into Yogthulu's realm, the mental ghosts weren't that easy to shake off. Especially not with the sinking feeling Gene felt in the pit of his stomach every time he thought about it, despite Tony and Pepper's assurances. There was still that darkness, that anger, that monstrousness inside him, and he was sure it would never go away. It had been planted in him like a seed when he was young, watered by hate and grandiosity, and now it was a weed that wouldn't stay plucked.

Mother, I'm sorry. I got vengeance and did worse than kill him, but it's solved nothing. It's made things worse.

Visiting the shrine in the backyard helped with that, sometimes. And when that wasn't enough, he came to the turtle's head, and stared out over the water.

As he approached, he felt the calm descend upon him, and he welcomed it. A silhouette on the shell's edge was familiar; Valdis. They hadn't spoken in a while, not aside from official business, anyway.

She probably didn't want to talk here, but it was nice to be near someone. He sat down, not too far away but enough to give her plenty of space, crossed his legs, and breathed.

[redlightgreenlight]

She felt his approach. Felt his worry, his fear, his anger and his calm. The Turtle's head could give peace, for a time, but even Tu Vishan's power couldn't banish the conflict entirely, it was too ingrained in their beings. Gene's soul was familiar now, not as familiar as Pepper's or Raine's, but familiar enough to be comforting.

"If you need to talk..." she trailed off, eyes still closed, still deep in thought despite her offer. But she could listen and offer advice without judgement if that was what he needed.

[wrathfulkhan]

Gene was a little startled when she spoke. He hadn't expected her to acknowledge him. Not with her sword on her lap, or her eyes closed like that.

"If you'd like to listen," he said. He knew she dealt with demons of her own. Literally. Hence the mauling a while ago.

Raine | Raine's Apartment | CW: None

[redlightgreenlight]

It had been another restless night, followed by another morning of cleaning up blood with supplies she had taken from the janitorial closet of the Hotel. Hopefully Klaus wouldn't notice the missing items and she would replace them when she had a moment, but for now she needed a distraction and she knew someone else who probably did too.

Hence she stood outside Raine's apartment door, holding a basket of ingredients in one arm and knocking softly with the other.

[ruinsprofessor]

Raine looked bemused, though not altogether surprised, when she opened the door. "Hello, Valdis," she said, head tilted slightly to the side. She took in Valdis' expression -- inscrutable -- and the basket of ingredients, and wasn't quite sure what to make of all of it.

Except, perhaps, that Valdis planned to cook. Raine sighed softly. "I don't know who's been telling you about my cooking," she said, making a logical leap and trying not to sound too affronted by it. "All the same, you're welcome to come in."

[redlightgreenlight]

"The sign that used to be in the Midnight Hotel," she replied, smiling, "It stank for days after that particular event too."

The issue with having Hound senses was that scents tended to linger longer.

"I brought supplies to make noodles and meat sauce," she paused, "You aren't a vegetarian, are you?"

It was slightly embarrassing to ask that when they'd known each other for almost three years now. Her smile didn't fade, however, and she slipped inside so that Raine could close the door.

[ruinsprofessor]

"Oh, honestly," Raine said with a sigh, pushing the door shut behind Valdis. "It wasn't that bad. Just because I'm experimental with cooking...!"

It was an old argument, and one she was no more likely to win with Valdis than she had been with any of her other friends. She was almost sure that had been a contributing factor to Solomon's learning to cook.

The hurt in thinking of that was a little duller, now. Raine led Valdis toward the kitchen. "Meat is fine. My only genuine objection is to mushrooms."