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[sharktrash]

Who: MANTICORE and possibly you
What: catch-all for all your MANTICORE needs
When: april
Where: various (see toplevels)
Warnings: Squalo, will add as necessary

~

[ basic settings in toplevels! feel free to make your own starters, tag each other, threadjack, etc ]

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[snapcrackleburn]

[ Roy had been sewing.

For the past day he spent most of his free time carefully sewing something with care. When asked what he said it was a science thing. When teased he shrugged and kept sewing.

Today as soon as morning practice is over he holes himself up in his room even as lunchtime arrives. Those who go looking for him have two logical options: A) politely knock or B) burst through the door without warning.

Those who choose to be polite will be greeted at the door shortly after they knock by Roy who sticks his head out the door without opening it all the way as if he's hiding something in his room. One might notice when he touches the door frame that he's wearing gloves which appear to be the same material he was sewing earlier.

Of course there are those who might barge in Jecht? Squalo... which won't be very difficult even with the door locked after so many previous forced entries have damaged it. Those who fling the door open will be just in time to catch Roy snapping his fingers, those gloves on. In the blink of an eye an entire row of candles set on the table in front of him light, all at the same time. ]

[sharktrash]

[ Missing lunchtime is apparently a terrible sin in Italy, so of course Squalo is going to barge in. ]

Vooooi, Mildred, you're skipping lunch --

[ YEAH SO for the past day he's been addressing Roy with a selection of old lady names apparently as a homage to his newfound love for sewing. ]

[ And he's just in time to see the dude light a bunch of candles with a snap. ]

-- holy shit.

[snapcrackleburn]

[ After his initial jump at his unexpected guest, Roy frowns and sighs. ]

You could just call me from the kitchen next time.

[ No door stands up to that volume. Roy starts quickly putting out candles and slips off his gloves. Not a word of explanation. ]

[sharktrash]

I could. Doesn't mean I would.

[ Luckily or not, he doesn't seem too surprised or confused. Roy did tell him he was planning to do this in his birthday party, after all. And he never specified if it would be special effects or ~magic~, which is becoming increasingly common around these parts. ]

Hey, you're working on the snap shit aflame thing, aren't you!

[snapcrackleburn]

Ah yes. Just starting with a small scale version of the concept. Next time we have access to a company stage I can work on a larger version.

[ You must be a level ten friend to unlock Roy's open admission that he has powers and exactly what they are. Time to smoothly change the subject... ]

What's for dinner?

[sharktrash]

Can't wait to see that.

[ Fine. He'll leave it. It's not like it makes a difference to him, his boyfriend boss being able to set an entire beach on fire with his bare hands. ]

Fish stew.

[ Which is probably exciting to nobody but himself, but hey. ]

[snapcrackleburn]

[ It occurs to him that Jecht may have shared information about odd powers among bandmates already. Roy figures he might has well ask in case he's keeping his door and his mouth closed for nothing. ]

Oh by the way- has Jecht told you about anything strange lately?

[sharktrash]

No. [ He waits a moment, grins and adds, ] But if you're asking if I haven't seen every fucking thing in the penthouse defy gravity while he slept, then yeah.

[snapcrackleburn]

You saw it too then. That's a very powerful ability he has. It seems a great number of the musicians here have strange abilities to match some of the strange appearance changes some have undergone.

Would you still not believe me if I told you this was all from another life? [ He's avoided the subject for a while ever since that tense conversation they had while Roy was in the shower after Santiago tortured him and Genos. Squalo's recent "adventure" to visit their CEO and following absence makes Roy wonder if he's changed his mind. ]

[sharktrash]

Mm. I'm feeling kinda left out, to be honest.

[ Everyone's getting cool powers for levitating stuff and setting things on fire and he's just sitting here twiddling his prosthetic thumb. ]

[ At that question, he raises an eyebrow. ]

I didn't disbelieve it. And I still think it's a fucking bad idea to make waves about it.

[snapcrackleburn]

I'm certainly not going to hint to Santiago that I've remembered things or regained abilities. [ Okay that's a subtle admission about his alchemy. Better than nothing right Squalo? ] But I don't plan on remaining Pride's pawn forever. I'm assuming you don't plan on it either whether you return home later or not.

Are you aware that there are outsiders trying to help us? Escape might be an option though I personally plan on collecting as much information as I can before I do any running.

[sharktrash]

[ He scowls, silencing for a moment. Yeah, he's been feeling like home is where he belongs more and more, but... Whether it's strictly brainwashing or something of a genuine change over these months, part of him can't help but wonder if it'd be better for him to stay here. Isn't he a much better person right now? He doesn't really love killing, does he? The realization of being a hired murderer can weigh pretty heavily. ]

[ But lately it's really feeling like the better option. Lesedi is full of shit, and he's no less of a slave here than he is back home, isn't he. ]

Of course I know about them. I'm not fucking blind, and I'm not fucking stupid. [ He just really has no idea what the hell he's supposed to do. (Losing half his band in near future might help nudge things along). ] And I don't fucking run.

[snapcrackleburn]

I'm not suggesting you run away with your tail between your legs. I'm talking about cutting ourselves off from Santiago's manipulation and preparing for the day the movement against Pride and Virgo finally comes to a head. Jecht and I both have special abilities that could prove useful fighting against them. I don't imagine you sitting back and allowing us to rebel against Santiago without you.

[sharktrash]

The movement? I've yet to see anything solid from them. [ Who's bitter yes he's bitter. ] But you're right. I'd hate to be left out of that.

[ He's already left out on the special abilities front, damn it. It makes him feel so fucking useless with everything that's been going on. ]

[snapcrackleburn]

Their efforts have been easy to miss. There's a high likelihood for example, that you ingested some powder on the set of Fairy Trials to prepare you for the surgery we'll require if we leave Pride HQ and join them.

We've been chipped. [ He taps the side of his head. ] That's why they haven't been removing musicians from the labels sooner.

[sharktrash]

Yeah, like hell -- [ Wait. Wait, he does remember sort of choking on a drink that woman offered him. He didn't think much of it back then, but... ] You're pretty informed.

[ Sounds like Blond Bombshell told him more than Squalo's supposed apprentice did for him. Information and boobs. What did Roy ever do to deserve all this? ]

[ He makes a face at the mention of a chip. ]

Aw, shit.