10 Posts
EP
EXP
Total
25 Years
Female
|
Post by Tsukiko Fujiwara on Dec 29, 2019 15:36:21 GMT -4
| 
| It all began with a letter. For those who had a certain degree of influence within this world, the alias Arachne Queen was borderline impossible to not learn about. An enigmatic woman who had such a degree of influence within the world that even infamous and dreaded villains like Thunder Shock treated her with courtesy way more than one would ever imagine possible of them. The reason behind this was simple: Despite the fact the woman prefered to remain a spectator, she undeniably had influence that went beyond the ordinary. From the authorities to politicians, even certain heroes, vigilantes and villains were on her payroll. She was a woman who had her fingers in the pockets of every important member of society, and opposing her without the sufficient power would spell a certain doom. After all, despite her known association with all factions, the police didn't dare to take her to court, nor did villains even try to assassinate her.
The reason was simple: Tsukiko Fujiwara was an information broker, the type of woman who somehow knew far more than one had taken for possible. It was also her business as a very efficient work broker that earned her a fair degree of respect in society, for she knew just the right people to call upon when a job needed an extra hand.
The young Ishtar, a rising star among the villains no doubt would learn today just how far the influence of this woman spread. The address she had received in the letter seemingly redirected her toward the outskirts of Tokyo, just around the area, the urban city started to give way, it was clear now where she was heading, in the distance the sign of a lake became visible and adjacent to it was a luxurious establishment, the type one might even label a vacation resort.
Upon her arrival at the parking lot near the entrance to the establishment, she would no doubt already start noticing the sheer difference in the atmosphere. Although there were only two security guards visible at the entrance, tuxedo-clad guards that clearly had a feeling of training different from the ordinary people you might find on a regular work market. No, just a glimpse at how they composed themselves showed the discipline of soldiers.
Even more, Sonya would possibly even have the feeling she was being watched, but nonetheless, whether she decided to approach or not, it seemed a familiar figure had just left the establishment, a young woman holding his arm and chatting casually with him. There was no mistaking him, a figure often shown on television and a man of reputable influence within Tokyo: The mayor himself.
Noticing her presence the security guard looked quietly at her, yet before even saying anything a finger reached for his ear, where one would likely if watchful enough would notice an earpiece of sorts covering his earlobe. It appeared that if Sonya wanted to enter, she would need to talk to those two guards first!
Hopefully, she didn't forget the sign of her invitation...
| Tag 500 Words |
|
|
506 Posts
3 EP
EXP
Total
25 Years
Female
"Ishtar"
Bandit-Rank Quirk:
|
Post by Sonya Chernova on Jan 1, 2020 6:40:59 GMT -4
All of it had been for moments like this. The systemic dismantling of smaller companies, cannibalizing them into one greater whole. They had been aimless before; imperfect, wretched. Yet in the wake of the dissolution of their former selves, they had become something more; something greater. ASTA Corporation was now many orders of magnitude greater than the sum of its parts, but that came not only from hard work and good business sense. It relied on the sheer force of will that its leader projected, it relied on the ultimate goal; the plan, the scheme, the steps along the path leading toward the many designs that Sonya Chernova set before her.
Yet there were still more layers beneath all that; something hidden deep; a dark secret behind the beautiful visage Sonya projected; the pleasant aura of a businesswoman and philanthropist. Sonya was nothing more than a mask for something that lingered just beneath the pearly white skin...
Ishtar crossed her legs in the back seat of the car, pink eyes glowing bright in the lack of sunlight. Threading her fingers together, Ishtar let them rest in her lap; her lips forming a thin line. This was what she had been waiting for. A true invitation from someone with the history and resources to take her to the next level. If she were to reach the next step in her ultimate design, her great aesthetic. She needed more than just the resources her own company could provide. She also needed to make friends, good friends, friends that could benefit from her as much as she benefitted from them. Mutual benefit spawned loyalty...permanence...reliability.
So it went without saying that she had accepted the invitation given to her, bringing the modified version of the Black Lotus mark with her and keeping it well hidden inside the envelope at her side. On her lapel; though, a small shiny black pin of a lotus rested in stark relief to her white clothes. For all the world it was a stylistic choice. But for the few in the know? It was the mark of the Fraternity of Japanese Villains. Ishtar had been invited in by her tutor in college. Now she was here. Finally here.
The car came to a quiet stop; the vehicle making a little sound as she slipped out. A vehicle designed for stealth then, interesting. She walked to the entrance, glancing up at the two guards that flanked the entrance. Her eyes darted this way and that; night time held no secrets to her with her powerful artificial eyes, but in the end, she saw nothing around her. Was she being watched? She paused when she heard a voice, she knew that voice too. She glanced back at the door and saw the Mayor himself leave. She'd just met with him a few days before. But he seemed different somehow. She couldn't place it.
Ishtar approached the guards, drawing out the card that had been sent to her from her pocket, including the modified mark of the fraternity. She handed it to the guards. "I have an appointment;" Sonya said, eager to meet this potential patron. | TAG WORDS NOTES
| | text text text | text text |
|
|
10 Posts
EP
EXP
Total
25 Years
Female
|
Post by Tsukiko Fujiwara on Feb 11, 2020 1:32:03 GMT -4
|
| The guard nodded his head curtly at Ishtar upon her arrival, taking a hold of the card she presented and flipped it around, the mark of the fraternity making him raise it slightly upwards and if Ishtar was attentive enough she would notice a faint red light shine from underneath the sunglasses that covered the guard's eyes. "You are expected on the upmost floor, take the elevator once you enter the lobby."
The man handed Ishtar the card back and proceeded to raise a hand to his ear, a move that seemingly meant something for the doors slid open in response. Once inside the lobby Ishtar would no doubt notice the extravagant nature of the establishment, whether it was the stylish layout of the lobby, the expensive furniture or the guests who most Ishtar might recognize as politicians, businessmen and here and there one might even find a judge or high ranked member of Tokyo's police force. Nonetheless, Ishtar had her instructions, and the grand elevator that slid open at the center of the lobby clearly was meant for her. Not just that, it seemed someone was waiting for her, for a young lady in a stylish tuxedo was standing at the lift controls.
A light bow was made by the stranger, an inviting sway of her hand to her side seemingly urging Ishtar to step beside her, and once inside the elevator the doors closed and a soft hum caused the elevator to start to rise. "Lady Arachne is awaiting your arrival Ishtar-san, if you would please be so kind to allow me to take care of your jacket until your departure?"
Whether she accepted the invitation or not, the doors finally slid open, inviting Ishtar onto the rooftop of the building where a penthouse of sorts was at the back of the roof, and in front of it was a table, seemingly already prepared for a dinner as there were two wine glasses at the table, and yet her host didn't seem to be anywh-
"A pleasure to finally meet you in person my dear~"
A soft voice called out from above the pair, and if they looked up they would spot quite a fascinating sight. Perched on top of a web that leaned against a satellite disk a woman was gazing calmly down at her. Although just calling her a woman seemed unbefitting, for her lower-body seemed to resemble that of an Arachnid, even if her upper-body had been that os a mesmerizing female human, the Arachne's gaze lingered on Ishtar as she turned her gaze back into the distance. "Tokyo~ The capital of Japan, such a massive place, and yet in the greater picture it seems so endearingly small~" She hummed softly as she crawled down from her web, landing softly on the rooftop and smiled at Ishtar. "And yet all stories, no matter how small or insignificant deserve to be told, for it is upon those tales, that the sagas of the great are build~" A hearty chuckle escaped her lips. "It's a saying I'm quite fond of~ Speaking of sagas, you have quite an interesting one in the works yourself, isn't that so Ishtar?"
| Tag 530 Words |
|
|
506 Posts
3 EP
EXP
Total
25 Years
Female
"Ishtar"
Bandit-Rank Quirk:
|
Post by Sonya Chernova on Feb 21, 2020 20:45:53 GMT -4
This was... new, different, Ishtar watched the man as he moved, taking in the various details and even spotting the faint red line of light that scanned the card. So that was how they were verifying whether or not the cards were real. Interesting. She glanced past him in time to see the door open only to glance in his direction and give him her best smile, throwing her hair back and striding in the indicated direction. As she entered the lobby she saw... so much. So very, very much. This was the world that she was working her way into. This was the edge of society as well as the core. This was the truth of things. She crossed her arms behind her back as she strode to the elevator; savoring the mutters and whispers. Good. Let them wonder.
She got into the elevator and glanced at the young woman that had invited her in giving her an equally pleasant smile, though her eyes were a lot less flat as when she had interacted with the guard. "Certainly," She said, removing her coat and folding it herself, placing it in the woman's arms. It was rare that she took off her coat when going anywhere and it left her feeling a little exposed. Her bare arms glittered a bit in the artificial light that beat down on her, charging her quirk. She adjusted her hair and glanced up at the numbers that were rising above the door out of the elevator. At last though, the doors stopped and she smiled at the woman. "Drink with me later," She said, giving her a wink and stepping away. Stopping before the view.
It took her breath away.
"Ara ara," She said whistfully, her eyes glowing for a moment. She looked down at the table. There was no-one there. She frowned, everything seemed in place except...
A voice.
She looked up and was transfixed. She took in every inch of the woman from afar. Her arachnid lower half was large and powerful and built to support her humanoid centaurine form. She could probably easily kill with those legs and she had clearly built that spider web herself. Her whole body screamed physical might while remaining elegant and beautiful. And that wasn't even mentioning her torso. The woman was... breathtaking, awe-inspiring. Ishtar paid little attention to how folk fawned over her own appearance, her beauty was a tool. Instead, she preferred to appreciate others. "You are magnificent," Ishtar said, reaching up and removing her rebreather.
She glanced to her right at the city skyline while the woman gave her little speech. Her smile turned thoughtful and she glanced back at the woman when she was done; "A saga you say?" She laughed, "You honor me with such flowery words, but I think of it as nothing more than a favor for a friend. Fuchu prison holds too many of us and the heroes have grown complacent, content, relaxed. So too have our peers; those of us who are left. They've slunk into the shadows and shied away from greater demonstrations. A point needs to be made, wouldn't you say?" | TAG WORDS NOTES
| | text text text | text text |
|
|
10 Posts
EP
EXP
Total
25 Years
Female
|
Post by Tsukiko Fujiwara on May 9, 2020 20:18:08 GMT -4
|
| There was clearly a difference in the overall atmosphere in this place compared to what one might had expected of the domain of one like the Arachne Queen. Perhaps it was for that reason that it was difficult for one to describe her as merely a villain, for the woman was so much more than just that. Fortunately Ishtar didn't need to wonder too much, for today was a day of answers and knowledge, waiting to be imparted onto her by one of her peers. Once she entered the elevator and it started to ascend to the woman's destination, indeed as Ishtar handed over her coat and smiled at the guard who had taken care of it, the playful compliment earned only a knowing smile from the young lady who bowed lightly in response.
The rooftop of the complex was truly prepared for this encounter, a stylish and pleasant dinner under the starlit night sky, truly the scenery of something which might had belonged to a novel. As the Arachne Queen descended from her web she was not oblivious to the wandering gaze of her guest, the words spoken by Ishtar earning a soft chuckle from the woman who mused softly in response. "I'm glad to hear that the looks of your hostess are to your liking~ I can say it is likewise for the guest she is receiving today~"
However, when their conversation turned more serious Tsukiko's gaze shifted to the city skyline. "And yet that little favor of yours will set into motion much greater things." The Arachne stepped over to the table, gesturing lightly at Ishtar to take a seat while she continued. "You are not wrong in your statement. Fuchu prison has been receiving quite a large assortment of guests, and yet one could argue it has done little. Society has grown complacent, they find comfort and are content in the perceived safety brought on by their heroes, and yet those labeled villains are satisfied to lurk in the shadows. Take our dear Thunder and his Kobayashi, they are satisfied ruling their little corner of Tokyo, when they could reach out for so much more. Meanwhile more and more younglings rise, but they are lost and without a purpose so far."
She raised her wine glass, which was filled with a red liquid, surely from the red wine bottle on the table and brought it to her lips.
"It is tragic, such a peace is debilitating, society doesn't grow and evolve during this stalemate, not to mention it is bad for business. But above all... It is boring~"
She smiled knowingly at Ishtar and mused softly. "That is why I have taken such interest in your 'demonstration', for the spectacle it will deliver, will force society to stir into motion once more. Emboldened by your actions, villains will start to act, heroes will be forced to adapt and grow should they hope to be the dam to prevent this tide of darkness to not consume society entirely. Technology, science, society as a whole will be nurtured by the conflicts brought forth by this demonstration."
She raised a hand to her cheek and mused softly. "It is a pity that one of those whose demonstration would excite me the most is still slumbering after all time changes a lot of things. Who knows~ Perhaps a charming lady like yourself will be able to stir her out of hiding... Then again, perhaps it is for the best... Unlike the darlings you been stirring so far, this one tends to consume everything, so her name is not misplaced~"
| Tag 530 Words |
|
|
506 Posts
3 EP
EXP
Total
25 Years
Female
"Ishtar"
Bandit-Rank Quirk:
|
Post by Sonya Chernova on May 16, 2020 16:39:28 GMT -4
Ishtar's lips curled into a smile and her eyebrows rose for a heartbeat. She crossed her hands behind her back and regarded the flirtatious woman. The moment only lasted an instant as the mysterious hostess turned her gaze to the city skyline. Ishtar's eyes drifted as well. She listened in silence, her glowing pink eyes taking in the view. The world was so... quiet, from the outside looking in. The world was a tomb, a dead place where the dead ambled about in their dessicated bodies and withered lives searching for something resembling meaning. Belief was such a difficult thing to truly hold on to; and it lead to people abandoning the greatness that they could achieve. Ishtar's eyes drifted to the left and she watched Arachne's face.
This, what she was saying, summing up everything that Ishtar had dedicated her life to doing in such a short amount of time. It made it all sound so simple. She gritted her teeth. She respected Thunder Shock, deeply, and took exception to people speaking ill of the man. Yet there was some merit to the argument that he was limiting himself. Ishtar was no one's servant, though, and she would not bend the knee to him to convince him to rise to the next stage of villainy. No. If you wanted something done right, you did it yourself. Lost purpose. For both veteran villains and the neophytes that are on the rise. Ishtar looked at the ground and took a breath; "Adrift without guidance," She muttered.
Ishtar chuckled a little at the spider queen's quip, suggesting that this society was boring. Ishtar sniffed and remained unmoved as the woman described the possibilities, the results, the way the world could change from just one act. One deadly, ruthless act of villainy. Ishtar looked down at the glass in her hand and sipped it, letting silver hair fall down her shoulders and the faint white glow to encapsulate the glass, chilling it slightly and causing a frost to wreath its way around it. She sipped the cold wine and looked back up at Arachne; "Then this lady should wait, and watch, because Fuchu is just the beginning," Ishtar said softly. She looked at the wine; "I didn't come here to beg for you to favor me, your Majesty. I do not want your patronage," Ishtar looked out at the city. "I am the Goddess of Victory, what need do I have of such things?" She sipped again, her fingers tight on the glass. Her heart was so still. The floor beneath her feet frosted a little as she walked toward the glass. The warm, passionate, luxurious tone that she had used earlier was gone.
Ishtar was so... cold.
She stood at the window and hesitated; "Consume all you like, the world is a big place..." She murmured; "...no I don't need patrons, I don't need your permission. A true villain, one that has embraced the word, does not ask, does not beg, does not bend the knee. The villain, the one that will play the role that will force the world to move forward. That Villain..." She turned back and regarded Arachne; "...that Villain has the freedom to do as they please. That villain will have allies, worshippers, fanatics," She smiled and sipped her wine one more time; "But she will not have a master," She said softly and looked back out the window, admiring the world outside. One day, she would be the symbol of villainy, the symbol of terror, of victory, of progress, of fear. It all started here. No one had ever heard her true goal, not until now. | TAG WORDS NOTES
| | text text text | text text |
|
|
10 Posts
EP
EXP
Total
25 Years
Female
|
Post by Tsukiko Fujiwara on May 16, 2020 17:14:39 GMT -4
|
| The Arachne Queen couldn't help but let out a soft laugh at Ishtar's words. "I wasn't referring to myself my dear Ishtar~" She smiled briefly and leaned back a little, raising her glass to her lips and savoring another sip before she continued. "I am but a simple spectator, after all, I am not one of the actors of this play. However, your words intrigue me~"
She turned her gaze at Ishtar, the earlier remark about her being a goddess of victory making her ponder for a moment. There were plenty of myths and stories about so-called slayers of the divine, indeed some even were made to believe the gods were far from immortal like the stories claimed.
"Even deities can be consumed, after all, every story has a beginning, and an ending~ Part of why it is important for you to never forget that, then again, you seem to have been doing your healthy share of investing in your own legacy~"
She raised her hand to her cheek, tapping it idly and then spoke, her voice softening and losing somewhat of its flirty nature. "Consider it advise from your 'Senpai' Ishtar~ It is as you said: We do not beg, we do not plea nor do we ask for permission, we do whatever our heart desires~ And yet..."
She paused for a moment, closing her eyes and chuckling softly. "I heard the selfsame words spoken by one of your peers in the past, and yet she is no longer among us, in fact, she believed herself capable of controlling the threat I mentioned, in the end, she lost everything in the process. Her power, her subordinates, even her Quirk, till at long last she lost even her life."
She tilted her head slightly, gazing past Ishtar and soon the fledgling goddess would notice that a small arachnid had climbed onto the edge of the table, dropping what appeared to be a USB stick at Ishtar's side.
"Consider the data on that stick a gift, and a warning~ After all, Divinity does not mean immortality, and in terms of the gift..."
She grinned sheepishly at Ishtar. "This person I mentioned? It might be slumbering, but you're not the first to hear about it~ Although the Plutocracy has been smart enough to avoid stirring it too much. Nonetheless, perhaps one like yourself might be able to turn a threat into an asset."
She lowered her glass onto the table and declared with a smile. "At the very least, if you are to become the Queen of Villains, you need to have a treasure that all would envy~ Hopefully not just 'One' Piece."
A soft laugh escaped her lips and then she turned her gaze at the window. "I'd be quite interested to see such a thing unfold, I'm afraid that she is too unpredictable to my liking and too dangerous~ Call it the Arachnid inside me, but I like holding a certain sense of 'control'." And with those words she waited to see what Ishtar would say.
| Tag +500 Words |
|
|
506 Posts
3 EP
EXP
Total
25 Years
Female
"Ishtar"
Bandit-Rank Quirk:
|
Post by Sonya Chernova on Jun 1, 2020 14:09:45 GMT -4
Ishtar looked away, a tense smile on her face. Primula. So this woman knew, of course she did, Sonya didn't exactly make any efforts keeping her family ties a secret. She pursed her lips and listened, she didn't close her eyes; she looked back into that eerie gaze and heard every word. Someone in the past had walked down the same road as her; walked the same path, and had failed. Ishtar wondered at who that might be, not out of some reverent fascination. No, Ishtar wanted to learn from the mistakes of the one who came before.
She looked at Arachne with a level expression; "I accept your gift," she murmured, slipping the item into her pocket. She smiled a bit ruefully; of course there were others who knew about this looming threat. No, not thread, potential asset. Everything that exists has a hidden potential, everything can be turned into an asset, used, and nurtured to be used again. Even the Plutocracy had its uses. She turned away, feeling a warmth rise to her face and dabbed her eye. Odd. She took a breath and walked to the window; looking out over the skyline again.
"A treasure that all would envy, unpredictable, control," She murmured to herself, the words spoken more as memnonic devices than to actually raise any points. She stared at her own reflection and tried not to wince at what was dripping from her right eye. Liquid Mercury dripped onto the floor with slow, quiet, pat, pat, pats, like from that of an open wound. She crossed her arms behind her back; "I think I understand where you and I differ, Arachne. But that is what I am coming to admire about you. You are strong, even as you hold such strict control..." She said, her voice like velvet soaked in sweet wine and dipped in poison. It was different from how she usually spoke as Ishtar, or as Sonya. This came from a deeper place, a darker place.
"...I will have those who follow me come willingly. They will smile when I ask them to die, and they will do it from the bottom of their hearts;" She turned her head back, finally revealing the liquid metal streaking across her features; "I take no joy in it, I do not relish it. But things will be as they will be. I am not immortal; Arachne. But I will be the first goddess of this new world, Mark My Words." | TAG WORDS NOTES
| | text text text | text text |
|
|
1,835 Posts
0 EP
EXP
Total
26 Years
Female
"Miss-Many-Thread"
|
Post by Rosey on Sept 27, 2020 6:15:49 GMT -4
Tsukiko has 14 exp and gained 21 exp.
Sonya has 1669 exp and gained 20 exp.
|
|
