synnet | 01 🕊️ TEXT / @ANONYMOUS

Entry tags:

01 🕊️ TEXT / @ANONYMOUS

[ During one of the lulls between storms, a certain individual may or may not be losing his mind. Welcome to the network's first anonymous post! What better way of breaking in the function than… drum roll… ]

️‍🔥 HOT OR NOT: DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO BE NEO TOKYO'S HOTTEST OUTSIDER? ️‍🔥

HOW IT WORKS:

1. Post a photo: Upload some photos, any photos, preferably ones that showcase your unique style. Keep it safe for work, folks!

2. Get rated & rate others: Are they hot, hot, hot (10)? Or are they not, not, not (1)? Share your thoughts using anything from a sliding scale of 1-10, to ✅ or ❎s, to whatever else you can think of. Agree? Disagree? Tell us why!

<lj-raw><div style="width:280px;margin:0 auto;background:#fff;box-shadow:1px 1px 4px 1px rgba(0,0,0,0.15);border:1px solid rgba(0,0,0,0.1);border-bottom:4px solid #000;border-top:4px solid #000;border-radius:4px;overflow:hidden;line-height:1.7;font-family:tahoma,arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;">

<img src="IMG_HERE" width="300" style="max-height:500px;">

<div style="border-bottom:1px solid rgba(0,0,0,0.1);padding:10px 5px;margin:0 10px;font-size:13px;line-height:1.2;">
		<b style="color:#000;"> CHARACTER_NAME</b>
		<div style="color:#999;"> @USERNAME</div>
	</div>

<a href="#">PICTURE 1</a>, <a href="#">PICTURE 2</a>, <a href="#">PICTURE 3</a>
 
	</div>

</div><div style="margin:3px auto 0 auto;width:280px;font-size:8px;letter-spacing:1px;text-align:right;"><a href="https://tessisamess.insanejournal.com/155095.html" style="color:#999;text-decoration:none;">CODING</a></div></lj-raw>

( ooc: with mod permission, you're free to assume any implant glitches when it comes to posting an auto-generated profile and/or reacting to others! anon is "enabled", though characters don't necessarily have to use it. have fun! )

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[🤨?]

My favorite tool.....?

[Wondering if

this is an innuendo. Hm.]

I do have one. But its not one I'd use lightly. I suppose you'd just like to see it in action, hm?

[ This is, unfortunately, not an innuendo. Silco really is Just Like That.

Y'all say date, he says: let's commit atrocities together. ]

Perhaps I would. Think of this as an...opportunity. To show off, if need be.

[ Sighs. But then he says shit like that. ]

To show off.

[Hrrmmm.]

Will you clap for me if it impresses your high taste?

Oh I have very high standards. If you meet them, I'll clap for you, certainly.

[ Can't believe he's promising this. ]

Ah. Something to work for.

[He sort of means that, but he's dryly wry as usual.]

Will you bring any tool, yourself?

I have not been granted any, yet.

Don't worry, I tend to find a way to... improvise.

[ It's obvious, from the way the man speaks, he didn't need to bring a weapon to find one. Silco may be scrawny, small, and frankly unassuming... but Verg's earlier assessments about the man were spot on. Silco, after all, might be those things, but he was mean and driven, and didn't exactly let people hold him back. ]

If not, well. I did promise you entertainment, didn't I?

You sound like the kind of man too. You'd better not renege on your promise. I would lose some respect for someone like you.

[But yes, he'll move to sheathe his blade, here. Best to get ready.]

See you soon?

Oh, now, we can't have that.

I'll be waiting.

[And sure enough, after some time, here comes the man of the hour, a noticable holster strapped onto his back with a sword handle sticking out.]

[A brief little nod to Silco, as he glances around.]

Show the way, then. To your...opportunity.

[ Silco's eyes trained onto the sword, and his lips curled into a slight smile. Honestly? He's a little surprised that he showed, but... you know. He's used to disappointment.

Silco, in opposition to Verg, is unassuming in his dress and frame. No weapons (save for a small knife he'd pulled from a kitchen somewhere nearby tucked into his boot) and all in black. It seems to cling to him, waiting by the shadow of the building, but it's hard to miss that eye, glowing even when he was in the shadow of the large building next to him.

He stepped out of it, when Vergil approached. ]

Gladly. Hope you don't mind a bit of a walk.

[ Technically it isn't far, but he takes them the long way around, but for reasons not explained. ]

Not at all.

[Again, the glowing eye - it begs attention. Maybe in his world, it was a sign, an omen of not to be trifled with. For Vergilius, it's a common denominator, a familiar image to latch onto.]

[No weapons that he sees. That's fine. He's used to being the heavy hitter.]

Where are we going?

Down the way.

[ He gestured, even as they moved. It was a bit of a wide berth, like they were circling the destination, partially like a shark, centering in on its prey. ]

You see, there is a gentleman who owns a butcher nearby. Upstanding businessman, by all accounts. He even helps the police on occasion, when there is unsavory activity. [ A beat, and a curl of his lip. ] Except, you see, he has been leading them away from my employer, up until recently. Selling out the others around him, until... well. Someone else decided to pay his fees as well.

Now he has decided to cut and run, and... [ A shrug ] We can't have that. I noticed that there was a bit less money requested by his business, and yet it seems he is buying more stock more lately. [ Silco tutted, softly. ]

Amazing what one can find when one looks at books, and pays attention.

[ Did the owner of the... organization Silco was cooking for ask him to take care of this? No, but you know how it is. One has to be proactive to get credit. ]

[The more Silco explains, the more this situation winds gently under his skin, tickling against old, familiar scars and spots.]

[It feels nostalgic, it really does. A wayward scoundrel to find and poach and tear apart. A business to demolish. A crew to massacre. Its all part and parcel of his existence.]

[He keeps apace with Silco, taking the information in, before he offers a smirk.]

And you are a man of the books, of course. I suppose not many could evade that piercing eye. Now...you're dragging me along your adventures, aren't you?

Adventures? Oh, this is nothing of the sort.

[ He waved a hand, as if this wasn't remotely the same. ]

This is business.

[ He says it with such a matter of fact confidence, that it's obvious that he believes this. That business really did just work like this.

To be fair... ]

Who knows, it might even play to your advantage later.

Business is business.

[He won't argue that at all - he knows it far too well, himself, that's the rule of things in his world - but that smirk isn't going anywhere. He even looks more amused, a little bit of a surprising expression on his usually dour face.]

I hope it does. Given that this is supposed to be a date...I'd expect for you to sweep me off my feet if you make me do some dirty work, Silco.

Ah, well.

[ Had he forgotten the date thing? ~~Had I?~~ No, it's definitely Silco, and he certainly had forgotten that this was supposed to be a date.

Is it because he's a workaholic? Or is it because Silco so rarely engages with other people at that level that he forgets to bother? ]

I'll do my best, but you'll have to keep your expectations low, I'm afraid. It's been quite some time.

[ Probably uh. You know. Since he was trying to stage a revolution and before. All Of That. ]

[Of course he forgot. Vergilius isn't aggrieved - the whole premise was them joking about it to begin with - but accepting, perhaps even when he shouldn't.]

[Silco is the kind of man who sinks his teeth into a problem and never lets it go, he's finding. Good in some ways, bad in some ways. Bad in most ways, mostly for the people Silco is trying to work against.]

We'll see. If you do alright, maybe I'll allow you to buy me a drink. A little reward, you know how it is.

[ Bad in every way, because the man is relentless, coupled with cautious. It can be the sort of problem that seems to vanish only to reappear later, because while other people might forget, or try to sweep it under the rug... Silco. Doesn't.

No, he'll just hold onto that resentment for forever. Great. Healthy. ]

Oh, I'll get to buy you a drink? [ A laugh. ] I suppose I'll have to work hard to gain that honor, hm?

[ They're getting close, rounding a corner, and there's a small business at the end of the way. ]

Well, I suppose I'll have the opportunity, there it is. Owner is a man called Osuke, he's generally the only one running the place around this time of day, too. [ A tight smile. ] No collateral.

Oh, yes. Did you not know? I'm a big deal where I come from.

[He says it as if he's ironic about it, though its the truth - he's not someone to trifle with, but his status supposes favor. Favor he is not at all willing to give to most.]

How very kind of you. [No collateral. As if it would matter, in the long run. He's probably felled as many innocents as targets, some jobs. It is what it is.] Should I let you talk first?

[ A chuckle in response. ] Oh? Well, forgive me if I do not fall in supplication. I am too.

[ He says it with the sort of laugh as if they were two playing a game. ]

I think it will suffice to introduce ourselves, yes. Then we can get on with the fun part. Really, just in case anyone is nearby to hear. I want it to get back to headquarters.

[ Had he also staged for someone to be nearby to hear if not be close?

Never doubt that a man who spent a decade planning an elaborate revenge scheme absolutely would not hesitate to orchestrate something like this.

He reached out to open the door, proclaiming loudly: ] Oh Osuke, are you in? Yes? Fantastic.

[ The man seemed to pale when Silco started walking in. The bell over the door rang, and a "courier" biking what looked to be takeout slowly moved by, curiously turning his head to look in. ]

You recognize me? Oh, excellent, that makes this so much easier. Shall we?

[ He gestured to Vergilius, holding the door open.

What a gentleman. ]

[That does make it much easier. He barely pays attention to the courier - he bends his head slightly as he walks in, and perhaps its good for Silco to partner up with the Red Gaze, for his height seems that much more imposing compared with the shorter man.]

[Osuke. He fixes his eyes on him, reaching behind him to slide out his gladius from its holster.]

Shall we.

[And it only takes a few seconds. It's like a thunderclap. Here now, gone the next.]

[His body snaps forward at an inhuman speed - there's a smash, and poor Osuke is now in a crater against the wall, Vergilius's foot planted against his chest. It's definitely a blow hard enough to break bones, and he's digging in his heel, red eyes as bright as a devil.]

Misbehaved, haven't you.

[ There are few things as exciting as watching someone who is very good at what they do. Vergilius is fast, and a flicker of a memory back to when he had been able to move that fast as a shard-bearer is brought to mind, but Silco resists the flicker of jealousy that wants to bubble forward. He'll have to invest himself in some implants soon enough, and he will do so, no matter how much they hurt. (and oh, he has no idea how they will hurt.)

He lets Vergilius work, keeping back when he pulled the short sword free.

His eye widened slightly when the man was a crater against the wall. ]

To put it mildly.

[ Silco drawled from behind him, keeping back, but closing in. He wanted to watch what happened when the monster slipped free of wherever Vergilius kept it. His red gaze glowing brighter than the artificial lighting in the business. Silco right behind him, near-matching at least one eye, staring at their target, even while his lips curl into a vicious smile.

He's enjoying this. ]

Did you think I wouldn't notice? Oh, you can fool the man in charge, but I keep the books. [ Not as intimidating as one would think. ] I suppose you all are not used to competency, are you?

P-P-Please, I didn't--I'm not--

[The man tries to stutter, heaving through an obviously cracked chest. His voice is pitiful, like that of prey, a deer stuck in the red lights of an oncoming car.]

[There's no excuse that can save him now. And so, he can either lay down and take his punishment, or do his best to survive, even if there's little to be done.]

[The man's hand jerks towards his pants pocket, pulling out a knife to try to stab into the leg keeping him there and-]

[The hand is gone.]

[The hand, and its held knife, is flying onto the floor. Now, the sear of flesh is what remains, as Vergilius's sword burns with a vivid red hue, the heat of it distorting the air around it. Again, barely a blink between an intact arm, and a cut one.]

[Osuke screams.]

[The Red Gaze only leers, lip turned back into a sneer and a growl on his tongue.]

Wrong move.

[ Limbs flying wide is not something that shocks him, but Silco steps to the side to avoid the offending hand as it skittered across the ground, and he stepped gingerly to avoid the smear of blood as well. ]

My, my Osuke. For someone who thought he was so smart, you become rather foolish when you're stressed out, you know that?

[ His tone is chiding, but it's in control. He may not be doing...any of the physical work, but that's not where his advantage lays. He's at home like this, letting someone crush a limb while he chides them from behind, to get what he wants. The smile on his face in Vergi's periphery is far too self-satisfied to not be enjoying it at least a little. ]

I had been thinking that if you played nicely, maybe we'd let you live, properly back in line and all, but...

[ A sigh, and a gesture at the now bloody stump. ]

This is becoming too messy, isn't it? It's not very merciful if you can't knead bread, is it?

[ Another series of whimpers, but Osuke is quickly beginning to lose coherency. Does he know what's coming? Can he see it on the horizon, Silco wonders. ]

[Not very merciful. Osuke is unraveling, physically and mentally - a mess in human form, the fear of death suddenly at his throat like nothing else. Vergilius doesn't even move - as cold as a gargoyle.]

[The man shakes his head - as something comes to mind, and he chokes out:]

P-Please, I have- I have information, I can- I can give you everything, m-money, info, whatever...what-whatever you need-

[The begging desperation of a man who is at the edge of it all, who knows what is to come, and is fighting tooth and nail for even a glimmer of it. Vergilius has seen it all before. He could end this.]

[But he turns his gaze to Silco now - a quiet, unspoken question.]

[Does he need any of this?]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

cw: amputation

no subject

no subject