506 Posts
3 EP
EXP
Total
25 Years
Female
"Ishtar"
Bandit-Rank Quirk:
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Post by Sonya Chernova on Aug 2, 2020 3:43:17 GMT -4
At 1pm, down to the very second, a limousine pulled up along the sidewalk that crossed in front of the Fuchu Forest Art Theatre. The jet black vehicle bore no discerning markers besides a legal license plate. A man in a dark designer suit stepped out of the front passenger seat, his hands behind his back as he stepped around to open the door for the VIP they had arrived for. Sirens blared nearby, word had already caught that a band of the Goddess Cult Radicals were up to god knows what about ten blocks away. The doorman, bowed deeply, at a sharp ninety degree angle before standing up straight.
"All assurances have been made to give you your privacy, Ma'am," The man said, letting the implication hang in the air as it became obvious that any heroes or cops that would be in the vicinity were certainly somewhere else. The man closed the door for her and whomever she brought along; maintaining a bow as they got into the car for six seconds before returning to the passenger seat. The vehicle departed with no hesitation, the interior was luxurious but simple; the trappings of wealth more subtle. Flair and panache were in the details, the seats were not only heated but designed to acknowledge the body type and internal body temperature of the passenger and calculate an optimal temperature. Ice cold drinks, non-alchoholic out of professionalism, sat in a glowing auto-cooler.
Most importantly, a woman with red hair and the eyes of someone who has ended a life before sat in the seat across from them. Her smile was friendly, if a bit mischevious, though it was the kind of smile that struck one as perpetual and not rooted in any actual desire to cause trouble. She introduced herself as Atalanta, her mistresses' butler and servant. It was her duty to ensure their ride was comfortable until they arrived at their destination. The ride was brief as well, lanes reserved for the Mayor were used when the opportunity rose. Eventually though, they arrived at the intended destination. ASTA Corporate Headquarters, entering through the private gate to the second basement level garage. From there, they were escorted with all respectful haste to the executive elevator.
One hundred floors, they shot to the top in moments.
And there they were.
The room that Mercury would step out into was nothing short of exotic. While the rest of the building was spartan in it's elegance. Sonya Chernova spared no expense for the greater corporate board-office of ASTA Corporation. The room was a massive square, making up a full fifty percent of the floor. The rooms around it were restrooms and private meeting spaces among other things. The floor, the ceilings, and the walls were all touch-panel displays designed by the company. With the help of holography technology, the room could look like... anywhere. Today. The massive oval-shaped table of black stone was in the center of a magnificent traditional japanese bamboo garden. One could smell the scents unique to the environment in the air and feel a gentle breeze that came from an unseen vent.
Standing at the head of the table, her fingers on the surface, stood the woman herself. The glowing pink eyes of Ishtar were replaced with an easy lavender color. She wore a white suit that with her marble-white skin and white hair made her look like some kind of statue. Her smile reached her eyes as her guests approached and she stepped around the table. "This has been too long coming, You must be Mercury," Sonya, or rather, the most wanted villain in Japan, Ishtar, said. | TAG WORDS NOTES
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220 Posts
0 EP
EXP
Total
4 years Years
Plant
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Post by Kelolon on Aug 2, 2020 10:44:30 GMT -4
Sometimes, the coexistence of some comes at the extinction of others. Outside the Fuchu Forest Art Theatre :: 12:59amThree figures stood together on the sidewalk. One, on her right, had a stern expression and looked constantly around themselves while sucking on a lollipop. One, on her left, had a serene expression, simply waiting. And she stared down at the road, frowning. She muttered to the others, muted replies followed. Each wore formal clothing. The stern one in a suit. The serene one in a business skirt and jacket. While she wore a full brown leather coat and sunglasses. Two palm-sized discs with a light blue center ringed by black metal floated above her, gently spinning clockwise in their stationary orbit. Similar constructs, like small rabbit’s ears, breached from her head. This was one of the most wanted people in Japan, even if the citizens still didn’t know of her. Sirens rang a few streets away and one of her ears pricked to hear it. None of them reacted otherwise. The one in the suit spoke up and gestured to an oncoming limousine that rolled in front of them and stopped. Mercury’s head turned slightly to the figure on her left, who kept a smile. “1pm exactly.” She then flicked a finger at the figure on her right. As the passenger door opened, the pink-haired woman in a suit walked the length of the car, inspecting it thoroughly. She brushed past the man, eyeing him intently, before returning to the others and removing the lemon lollipop from her mouth. “It’s clear.”Silently, not even acknowledging the deep bow or the comment about privacy, Mercury nodded her head. The suited woman entered first and began to help herself to some of the drinks, followed by Mercury and the woman in the skirt. They sat together, like children at the back of a bus. The pinkette snarled and wrenched her head back from the drink, making Mercury stiffen. “Non-alcoholic…” Mercury let out a lungful of breath, looking quite small between these two women. When Atlanta introduced herself, she was mostly ignored. The one in the dress, a feminine thing with white-irised eyes and long black hair gave the usual diplomatic nonsense about being thankful for their time and appreciative of the ride; which for Mercury, was painfully slow. The ASTA corporation building was foreign to them. Entering this place of their own volition would be no less dangerous than waltzing on a minefield. But the invitation was steadfast and no hit-squad had burst from the shadows just yet. The elevator ride, despite its speed, was a snail’s pace to her. “I hate elevators.” she muttered, to the giggle of the raven-haired woman at her side. “I’m sure you’d hate the stairs even more.” the thought made her want to vomit. When they arrived into this oversized conference hall, Mercury stayed behind her escort, eyes scanning the room behind her sunglasses to find her. The pinkette whistled, which didn’t echo. “Nice digs…” Mercury removed her coat, throwing it at a hapless intern. Her outfit was unassuming but scarred into the memories of many. As the pinkette wandered off to explore the holographic details, the black-haired woman stuck close to Mercury as she approached the great oval table and, more importantly, the imposing figure of Sonya Chernova. The woman spoke a greeting. Mercury removed her sunglasses, pale blue eyes meeting lavender. “A little garish, don’t you think?” she smirked, gesturing to the room around them before offering Sonya her hand, like a princess to a knight. Or a queen to a commoner. The ravenette bowed ever so deeply to Sonya, hands politely in front of her. “These are my associates. The one manhandling your bamboo over there is my bodyguard. The lovely one at my side is-”“You may call me Kikori, Chernova-sama. It is a pleasure and an honour to meet you.” Mercury huffed at the stumped sentence. At a closer look, it was hard to tell exactly who or what Kikori was. A soft whirring sound followed her every action and her eyes betrayed little emotion. Her arms and legs were mechanical to the toes and tips and formed like black, embellished armour. Gears and circuits worked beneath them, visible through decorative gaps in the metal. Her ears were replaced with fin-like constructs of similar metal and a dull red glow poked from various parts of her at seemingly random intervals. Her clothes made no effort to hide the machinery. Kikori looked back to the pink-haired woman, who swiped at some illusory bamboo. “Please show some respect, Vulcan. We’re here for a very important meeting.” Mercury then sighed and rubbed the space between her eyes. “Yeah, about that. Listen, I drank enough last night to kill an elephant and I feel like shit, so how about we make this quick so I can get an espresso?” She walked past Sonya and sat, with a heavy flumph of fabric, at the head of the table. Kikori looked apologetic to Sonya, but did nothing to stop her. She didn't invite some stuffy, overpaid white guy whose only role in life was to brownnose after all. She invited Mercury. Lieutenant of the Plutocracy. Head of sales. And as the discs above her head turned just a bit quicker, she looked ever so bored. "Let's get this over with. What is it you want?" |
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506 Posts
3 EP
EXP
Total
25 Years
Female
"Ishtar"
Bandit-Rank Quirk:
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Post by Sonya Chernova on Aug 3, 2020 4:16:33 GMT -4
Sonya stood just off to the side of the table, her hands in front of her at her lap. She tilted her head and raised an eyebrow; silently watching as Mercury and her companions strode inside. The small pinkette was abrasive by nature, it seemed, but it wasn't a bother. She'd had less refined individuals in her domain. This was a special occasion though. She looked up at Mercury when the woman drew in closer extending her hand like a queen. There was a low, sharp, intake of breath from Atalanta nearby as Sonya dipped her head once, took the hand, and kissed Mercury on the knuckle. She flicked her glowing eyes up to meet her guests' gaze, a coy smile on her face. She stood up straight as Mercury tried and failed to be formal thanks to her abrasive companion.
Sonya let out a small laugh, turning to wave a hand at the Butler whom had arrived with a platter of a freshly roasted pot of decadent coffee. The butler inclined her red hair and strode in, setting the cups down and beginning to pour while Sonya pulled out her phone and tapped a few buttons. She glanced up at Mercury just in time to see her sit at the head of the table. Sonya smirked as the lights went out as if by reaction to her ungracious behavior. The lights immediately returned, but they were no longer in a garden. Instead, if they looked around themselves they'd see nothing but sky. It was when they looked down they'd see something no one is prepared for. The vastness of Tokyo stretched out, live, beneath them. It was as if they were hovering in the air.
"This one's my favorite," Sonya said, casually, as she walked toward the head seat and put her hand on the table. Atalanta began to serve coffee while Sonya leaned in close; her voice dipping to a whisper. "I know where the fraternity mainframe is," She said simply, her words warm, husky, and drifting into Mercury's ear like an offer for something decadent. She stood and walked around her, placing her hands on the back of Mercury's chair and looking at the two others who'd gathered. "Hero society is profitable. Business has never been better. It's a good time to be alive," She said casually, striding around Mercury to walk past Vulcan, she winked at the pinkette. "It has taken a long time to get here, but we villains-yes, even you- despite my bluster I have to admit you are what you are," She conceded, touching her chest and bowing once to Mercury in apology.
She cleared her throat; "We villains are closer than any that came before us to an identity that is more than just criminals with quirks. Those that came before were slowly grasping with what they were, what they represented, who they could have been. But we know what we want, we want freedom, and the power to be free," She grinned; "Whether that freedom comes from wealth, power, or privelage," She tapped her phone and an image appeared in the air at the center of the table. It appeared to be a globe.
"In a few months ASTA will open up its branch locations in seven countries in the east. Within the next year after that ASTA will expand into the global market," The image showed ASTA as a red... plague that spread over the globe. Sonya stared at Mercury, her eyes boring into the woman's eyes. "Each and every one of those branch locations will be a foothold to begin supporting nascent villains in that nation. Spreading the 'hero program' to those countries in order to increase profitability, and maintaining a steady balance of power to encourage arms dealing," She said simply, graphics of heroes rising, villains rising, and then bar graphs going up.
"Villains, around the globe, united by a central body that supports, safeguards, and even educates them. A Society of Villains," She said, her smile growing a little twisted; "And at the top of that organization? The people who I will hand pick to sit in these seats with me," She said, gesturing to the dark table. Her eyes grew hard as she looked down at Mercury.
"Thunder Shock is a close friend, but I will not ignore the contribution the Plutocracy has made toward the growth of Villains in Japan and being part of the trigger that set me on the path to creating this society. I would be a fool not to acknowledge what your organization is capable of," She said, gesturing to the table; "I want to offer the Plutocracy a seat at the table," She paused and grinned savagely.
"And to prove my intentions, I plan on taking Thunder Shock with me to the Fraternity Central Hub and taking control of the AI that has supported villains for generations..." She said; "...here's your chance. I'm putting the offer on the table," She said, resting her hand on the back of a chair.
"Does your boss want a voice on this council I am building?" She asked. | TAG WORDS NOTES
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220 Posts
0 EP
EXP
Total
4 years Years
Plant
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Post by Kelolon on Aug 10, 2020 20:47:59 GMT -4
Sometimes, profit comes at the exploitation of the poor. Mercury licked her lips as the dark coffee was served to her. Lifting it daintily from the table and blowing on it before sipping. Anyone else would be afraid of poisons. Vulcan was about to object before simply sighing and shaking her head. When the lights went out and returned to the skyscape environment, Mercury couldn’t help but look down and felt her guts hike up her body. She stuck tight to the chair, sneering as Sonya began a speech. Kikori stood, almost motionless, watching politely; while Vulcan inspected the clouds that brushed by, still fascinated by the technology. When Sonya got close and whispered those words to her, she bristled. Goosebumps covered her skin and her eyes brightened and the dials above her head whirred faster. When Sonya winked at Vulcan, the pinkette recoiled a bit, raising a confused eyebrow and crossing her arms as the CEO continued. Mercury had no reaction to being called a villain, but leaned her head against her hand as the globe appeared and was washed over by the sea of red. She considered the world for a moment before her eyes met with Sonya’s. With Ishtar’s. There was a ferocity there, lying deep beneath all the pomp. Mercury could almost respect it. When the offer was made, Mercury was silent. Her eyes focused on the globe and imagined a hand - her hand - holding the spinning world in its palm. She sipped again at the coffee, her satellites having returned to a deep slowness. Kikori approached the chair, Vulcan too on the other side. The Plutocracy was not the three women in this room. At least, it wasn’t two of them. The Fraternity mainframe was a gold mine if someone got a hold of it. Even if not for their own technology, its worth was off the scales. But they wished to commandeer it? What an odd notion. After a solid four minutes of Mercury contemplating the offer, she let out a sigh, leaning back in the chair. “I vote no.” she said, casually. If Sonya spoke in response, she’d be interrupted. “But what do you think, Mister P?”A shuddering whir sounded from the room’s projectors, clunks and clangs of machinery going awry. Vulcan whipped her head to try to find the source of the disturbance just as the sky fell beneath them all and was replaced by something quite dire. The desolate rock of a planet sat beneath their feet, red and brown and cracked. An omnipresent orange glow baked the room in a starlit heat as the projectors droned. Mercury rolled her eyes at the show, but Kikori’s eyes were half-lidded, though her smile was uniform as ever. And as she spoke, the voice that came out was a mix of her own and some other voice: bitcrushed - their age and gender anonymous, but their giddy, childish nature couldn’t be masked. “Your offer is generous, Chernova-sama! You’re practically offering us a share of the entire world!” Kikori’s entire body turned to Sonya. “But, please do not be offended when I say I share the concerns of little Mercury here! Such an offer comes with many strings; many unspoken agreements! We are a small business of like-minded individuals. We believe in making profits. And the most important thing you must have to make profits - do you know what that is, Chernova-sama?” Kikori’s head tilted and her finger lifted. “It is competition. Your world-dominating move might be an interest to the brutish and stupid. But not to us.” The voice laughed sheepishly. “Or rather, at least not to me. I will communicate the idea to my companions and bring you a consensus of their opinions by midday tomorrow. You’re free to try to convince Mercury though, have fun with that! Talk later my dear, ask dear Charon for my numbers. Buh-bye now!”The planet under their feet fizzled and returned to sky as the sound of a phone hanging up exited Kikori’s mouth and she choked a little bit, holding her throat. Vulcan glanced over at however many people were in the room with them. “M-- My apologies, Chernova-sama. Pluto-sama always has had a fondness for the dramatic… I wished to warn you before I called him, but he interjected… My sincerest apologies.” Mercury let out a loud, colourless laugh. “Not letting me just leave? What an asshole that man can be…” She tossed the now-empty coffee mug in the direction of Atlanta and stood to then sit on the table, looking hard at Sonya. “I hope you know we’re going to have to kill everyone in this room, us besides, of course?” she smiled sweetly. Just how did Sonya intend to “convince” her after such a display? Would she even try? Was there any reasoning to be done? |
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506 Posts
3 EP
EXP
Total
25 Years
Female
"Ishtar"
Bandit-Rank Quirk:
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Post by Sonya Chernova on Aug 12, 2020 12:23:41 GMT -4
Ishtar stood quietly, a smile on her face. Her hands behind her back. Atalanta caught the coffee mug in one hand and bowed, stepping to the side. The orange haired bulter glanced once at Ishtar; there was not nervousness or fear in her eyes. Something else. Something perhaps... more troubling. A glint of mirth. Amusement. A glint that was not shared by Ishtar. After all, her eyes were dead. Those off-color orbs of metal glowed faintly but showed no emotion behind the facade of facial expressions. It was only really noticeable when she maintained a passive expression. She looked Mercury in the eye and... her smile widened.
And widened.
She bore her teeth as her smile reached her eyes. Bloodlust boiling beneath her skin finally rising to her expression. She bent over and laughed. She laughed and laughed and laughed. Not an ounce of displeasure in her laughter. She howled and hooted, before finally reaching out to brace herself on the table. "Is that it? Is that all you have to say?" She wiped a glittering, foul smelling tear from her eye and flicked it away, looking up at the individuals gathered. Her expression turned cold and the temperature of the room dropped, one degree, five, ten. She bore her teeth wickedly. She strode around the table, getting within five feet before stopping; her hand planted on the surface, frost forming around her fingers.
"I brought you here..." She said softly; "...because I hoped a nubile, delicious young mind like yours would see what was really happening..." She whispered, "And you did... for a moment there you saw what was really going on... I saw it in your eyes, Mercury dear," Something... silver dripped down from her left eye and dripped onto the table. It collected. She didn't even notice as liquid mercury poured from her face around those glowing, hungry, evil pink eyes, her breath coming out as white tufts.
"I know you're listening still, you silly old man," She leaned in; "You can still hear my voice. Let me spell this out for you in a way you'll understand," She stepped back and threw her hands up and out. The screens that made the world seem so different changed again. This time. It was all Sonya Chernova. Her speech at the diet. Shaking hands with heroes. Smiling on talk shows. Her voice. Saying over and over "Hero Society" "Hero Society" "Hero Society."
"I am the mother of Hero Society!" She said, "I will spread it to every nation on the planet, I will empower heroes, give them tools, funding, urge the public to appreciate them... worship them." She tilted her head; "I will do the same for villains. Every villain on this rock will find support in me. Every one will be able to pursue their designs, their hate, their freedom. I will give them the tools to fight against the heroes." She held her fingers up, one next to the other. "One never more powerful than the other. An endless, vicious cycle."
She threw her head back and laughed as footage appeared of heroes fighting villains. Of wanted posters. Of the Fuchu Riots. Of Civilains protesting, demanding expanded rights for Heroes. Of a handshake between her and the leader of a vigilante association in the Philippines. She bore her teeth at Mercury; "This invitation was not an ultimatum, it was not a threat, it was not an olive branch. This was an invitation to join me, sit on my council, become part of the new world..."
The lights dimmed as power began to struggle to reach the electronics in the room, the cold was so intense around her. The screens beneath her feet cracked and groaned.
...or die in obscurity, penniless," She said; "I am the future of Villain Society and Hero Society and I have created the ultimate Competition! Endless! Perpetual! By comparison... your corporate childsplay is the work of the brutish and the stupid," She leaned forward, teeth bared; "Open your eyes, Plutocracy, this is the future and you will either grab hold of it with me, walk with me, or be left behind. I will harbor no ill will to you either way;" The cold vanished as abruptly as it had come, the lights brightened, and she stood up straight, running her fingers through her hair. "I won't need to fight you once I'm done..." She said mutely. Looking at her hands. "That ship has sailed..." | TAG WORDS NOTES
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566 Posts
EP
EXP
Total
27 Years
Female
"Quizzity"
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Post by quizzity on Sept 29, 2020 1:28:05 GMT -4
Sonya Chernova earned 21 exp Kelolon earned 16 exp (tell me what player account you want this on, or i'll just put it on your st account for now!)
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