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Post by ♫ e s h e ♪ on Nov 6, 2010 22:20:02 GMT -8
⚉
Don. "What a pathetic abbreviation to be reduced to."
Chilled iron fingers twisted menacingly into unsteady fists that shook at the roots of poleyester-clad arms. Morbid thoughts contaminated the mesh of wires that made up the mind, and Don bit his lower lip as he brooded with care. Sick... sick... he was feverish with failure. He felt as if he needed to rinse it away or the dolls around him would collapse in coughing fits due to its rank scent.
A gentle click returned vision to numbed senses as Don peeled back the lids of his optics, grimacing at the frost which freckled the ground outside the Clocktower like cyanide icing. Failure. No. He couldn't afford that anymore. He was employed, and if he disappointed the boss he would certainly be suffocated by his own incompetence. Glancing from the Clocktower just beside him (it had a habit of scraping clouds from the sky) to the stick he'd tied bound with burlap and stuck erect in the earth, Don allowed his heavy butcher-knife resembling blades to rotate onto his wrists.
"You think you're so sparking tough!?" He let his voice carry out unburdened, glaring at the subtle stick as he shifted his feet into a better balanced position. He'd imagine it with a little blue bow... yes. That would improve his mood fantastically. "Well... you won't be looking so smug when I freaking chop you in half!"
Don vaulted forward, swinging a heavy blade in a gracefully arcing chop and splitting the twig down the center. He paused, releasing a triumphant laugh and kicking at the splintered stick with a cruel smirk painted across his storm-colored face. Simple pleasures... they were about to get so much more satisfying.
Murdering is a wonderful way to relax, after all.
[/blockquote][/blockquote][/blockquote]
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Post by ‹ kˆ†eworth › on Nov 11, 2010 8:06:16 GMT -8
< 226 Benjamin - to persecute us >
A muffled curse broke the light brown polyester lips of an enormously tall ragdoll not far away. The anima kicked his foot out, dislodging a piece of curved aluminum can that had gotten hooked on his.. hooked foot. Whoever had made this body could've been a little more smart about it.
But he stood straight and tall a moment later, aware that he'd gotten - or.. taken - the long end of the stick, in the end. That poor, poor, doomed Riddley.. was he dead?
"Oh, well."
The tall ragdoll chuckled aloud, taking a moment to brush any dirt off of his perfect blue-and-gold coat, untarnished by much of anything except a few subtly repaired tears and, of course.. the seam down the front. Such disgusting memories. He'd had to sit back and bear it every time Riddley had.. shared with that pathetic excuse for a doll. Now that the body was his, he'd taken measures to make his opinion on that matter clear. The seam was stapled shut.
A bank of thin clouds up above shifted slightly, casting enough light to catch Benjamin's attention and place it on the clocktower, which had been the reason for his wandering in this direction. He'd heard of a group of individuals.. and from the rumors, they were optic-deep in black market activities. Benjamin's morals might be twisted, but this was the sort of thing he lived for. These people needed to be punished. Or.. at least convinced of the wrongs in their ways.
The doll adjusted the steak knife hanging from a thread-sheath across his back, the long blade easily clearing the ground by an inch or two thanks to his height. He stepped forward, casually, everything about him relaxed except for his gaze, which darted back and forth. For.. it wasn't just the shift in lighting that had caught Benjamin's attention, it was the sound of a voice..
It only took him a moment to find the source, and he arrived in time to watch the gray-and-black doll kick at an upright object that looked like it once resembled a practice target. He felt a grin stretch onto his features as he raised his voice easily.
"Some would say that sort of behavior was a precursor to illegalities."
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Post by ♫ e s h e ♪ on Nov 11, 2010 16:40:28 GMT -8
⚉ "Some would say that sort of behavior was a precursor to illegalities."
"Wha-!?" Don whipped around as another voice suddenly penetrated his thoughts; casting each perfectly constructed plan into the heap of useless ambitions stacked in the back of his mind. Don's first impulse was to vigorously deny the fact that he'd been talking to a twig - which of course he hadn't been doing. He had just been... practicing fighting words? That might let him off the hook, as he hardly thought any of the other Racketeers would be as friendly if they thought he was insane.
Don's optics met the lanky figure and he tensed slightly when he noted the height of this certain doll. The face hardly seemed familiar... but as Don was new to the Clocktower, he couldn't expect himself to know every member by now. But... wait... illegalities?
"Why would that matter to you?" Don stood his ground, his pupils narrowing from round black shapes into inky slivers as he scanned the other suspiciously. He himself was drenched in illegalities, but then again, there was no longer a law to proclaim what was legal and illegal. Unless this was the soul of a cop from the old world... in which case Don's luck would plummet from horrible to appalling. Don bit his lip nervously as his optics locked onto the shape of the intimidating steak knife strapped across the taller doll's back. Instead of rotating his blades back in, Don dropped his hands to his sides as his voice rang out in a mocking manner. Hunter or prey?
"Might I ask why you're here, Mr. oh-so ethical?"
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Post by ‹ kˆ†eworth › on Nov 11, 2010 19:40:00 GMT -8
< 226 Benjamin - to persecute us >
"I'm here for you."
That was simple enough, and true, even if it was only true of a few moments ago. There is no good reason for attacking a puppet for target practice. That's all Benjamin needed for any of this to be justified.
Just one.. little.. reason.
The ragdoll gave Don a crooked grin, tilting his head up and back as if to look down on the other critically. "I wonder what other things you've done. You seem practiced." His mouth twitched into a bigger smirk, noticing as Don's gaze outlined his knife.
Benjamin lazily, casually reached over his shoulder and slipped the handle out of the thread, bringing the blade down to his side, then right before him, setting it tip-to-ground without scuffing up even a small amount of dust. He leaned forward over the handle of the blade, sneering. At this point his own gaze alighted on the other's weapons, and through much practice taking note of the contours of the blade. Butcher knives. How unique.
"Lots for me to work with. But first-"
Benjamin's optics slowly traveled past Don to the clocktower, taking his time as he followed it up to its tip as it seemed to touch the sky.
"I want to know what this building is for. The clock seems to work still."
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Post by ♫ e s h e ♪ on Nov 11, 2010 20:49:55 GMT -8
⚉ ....... what the hell? Don's almost chocked at the taller doll's response, a cold surge of memory stinging in his framing and cogs. Here... for me? For a moment, Don could almost picture 27 standing there with with a pointed finger of selection raised toward his next doomed victim. But that... that old geezer had to be dead by now.
This was someone younger... someone new.
Don's stance turned rigid, his feet digging into the dirt. Whoever this guy was, he seemed particularly good at reading into a murderer's soul. How sparking unfortunate for Don. Why did he have to have a rusty steak knife of all things!? ... the... the knife.
Don felt a cold hammer of fear beat in the back of his wire-composed brain as the threatening doll removed the blade, holding it out in plain view. Wincing, Don glared steadily at the other, puffing himself out in an attempt to look larger and more menacing. He even raised his own blades, refusing to show any hesitance.
"I have NOTHING to do with you... and I swear if you try anything there's an entire community within that Clocktower that will come to my aid!"
Don snarled, although he was bluffing. He truly had no idea how much each Racketeer cared for another of his kind... or if anyone would come to his rescue if he ended up needing one. This well-dressed bastard was pissing him off, but the only thing that held Don back was the disturbing tone in which he spoke. A dark look crossed Don's face as the other male asked about the Clocktower, causing his dark hair to dangle in strands over his optics.
"Like HELL I'm telling you anything!!"
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Post by shio on Nov 11, 2010 21:10:31 GMT -8
"Damn it's cold!" 99 stopped her walking to hop up and down on one foot, switching over from time to time, the cold was spreading up her legs and it was beginning to make them uncomfortably stiff. Softly, she began to sing, hoping it would warm her a little, or at least take her mind off the cold. "I was born... in a crowded taxi... Daddy scooped me, right up off the floor... and he carried me..." It was no good, it was just too cold, she needed to find shelter. The only place in site was that large clock tower ahead, and she had never been there before, she had no idea what might be waiting for her. 99 stopped, shading her optics with one hand and squinting up at the peak of the tower, was it her imagination... or was that thing.... Yes it was moving. So someone had it running. Huh. "Curiouser and curiouser..." She murmured to herself, and decided to go have a look, maybe she could scrounge some hot oil off someone.
The feathered doll was barely conscious of the argument going on just a few metres away until she was almost on top of them, a long day in the cold had numbed her senses. Shaking her head slightly, she raised a hand in greeting - missing the rather heated discussion but nonetheless wondering if getting involved with strangers was such a good idea, she hailed their attention. "'ey there folks, anybody feel like 'elpin' out a lost gal?" She smiled sheepishly. "I've lost me way ya see, never ben out this far."
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Post by ‹ kˆ†eworth › on Nov 11, 2010 21:19:08 GMT -8
< 226 Benjamin - to persecute us >
Benjamin's mouth curled - if possible - even more twisted, looking completely and utterly satisfied and amused with Don's reaction.
"Please… all I asked was information. I never once said I was going to hurt you.."
He leaned forward slightly on the blade, fixing Donnie with a keen, malevolent eye.
"No need to get defensive."
The hail from a newcomer caught Benjamin's attention, but he showed no more concern than someone getting a knock on the front door from a deliveryman. He adjusted his stance to acknowledge 99, his optics sweeping up and down in a noting way, but otherwise he didn't move. The 9-inch-tall ragdoll flicked his gaze and smile to Don, then to 99, then back again, and he kept them on Don as he greeted the newcomer.
"…madam. Where are you headed to this fine warm evening? I'm sure my.. friend here is kind enough to help you out."
He tilted his head at this last, blinking in faux boredom at Don before finally looking back at 99.
"After all, he knows this place better than I can claim."
Ulterior motive? A test? Maybe.
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Post by ♫ e s h e ♪ on Nov 11, 2010 23:44:38 GMT -8
⚉ Don scowled deeply at the taller male, locking up the gears in his legs and letting his hair shadow his optics. This guy was sparking creepy. It wasn't just in the way his mouth turned upright when Don spoke in a less-than-polite manner, but it was the way his optics watched Don. It was like.... like this guy could see right INTO him. Don despised the sensation of being instantly known, and he wasn't afraid to express it.
"I'll get as sparking defensive as I want." Don raised his chin defiantly, knowing that this bastard wouldn't have pulled out that steak knife for no reason. The sudden voice of another doll made Don twitch uncomfortably, sending a nervous glance between the new she-doll and the tall male. He took a small step backward when Benjamin turned the attention toward him, emitting a low, unhappy sound.
"..... I Live here, yes. But its not a Hotel. Employees reside here, mainly.... with their families." Don addressed 99 flatly, locking his stare onto Benjamin's as he spoke. He doubted the other male would try to attack with the newcomer here... the newcomer...
"... oh my! You look freezing. Perhaps I can help you find somewhere else that's warm? Also, what's your name, miss?" Don's mouth curled into a smile suddenly, his demeanor shifting into something more cheerful. A mask... just a mask; but a mask to keep 99 within sight..... and to keep that unnerving blade out of his back.
As soon as Benjamin was gone, however, Don would be happy to turn his murderous intent against the she-doll. She would be his little prop for now.
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Post by shio on Nov 12, 2010 0:19:42 GMT -8
99 smiled in relief, it seems these two were going to help her out after all! That was good. Perhaps her mind was still foggy with cold, because she missed Don's sudden shift of mood which otherwise she would have taken note of. She nodded. "That would be most helpful of you." She was sure to try and make her words clear, "I'm 99, and you?"
She started to sag a little where she stood, fatigue setting in and the desire to be warm was just too tempting, she shuffled closer a little wearily. Unconsciously leaning against the closest support - which unfortunately happened to be Benjamin. After a few moments she collected herself, muttered and apology, and stood upright again. "I'm a wandering me-self, so I might 'ave something to make it work yer while... not that I'm particularly successful." What 99 was referring to was her stash of shiny piece of metal, jewelry, wire, anything that shone and looked valuable.
The formality was just a front - she always felt it proper to properly introduce oneself before accepting assistance.
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Post by Shooku on Nov 12, 2010 1:12:53 GMT -8
Something stirred in a shadowed corner of the Clocktower. Light glinted dully off of metal spikes as Serration shifted slightly, roused from his sleep by the sound of unfamiliar voices. He drowsily lifted his rusted head, automatically consentrating on the subtle vibrations coming through the ground. Sensing nothing unusual, he was about to go back to sleep when the voices that had woken him hit his audio receptors again.
Intruders! Right outside the Clocktower! Serration's head snapped upright in alarm. How had he not noticed them? They must have been standing still, he concluded. He had to protect the Clocktower! Listening intently, he could detect two - three? - seperate voices outside. An invasion? He should warn somebody. But first, he had to take care of these intruders!
Unwinding himself from his burlap coils - he'd slept in a spiral, like a snake, with his head in the center of the swirl - the serpentine guard slithered from his corner over to the entrance, which was only a short distance from his napping spot. He hesitated at the cold air flowing through the opening; he didn't like the cold. It made it difficult to move around. Then he mentally shook himself. There were intruders he had to deal with!
He exited the Clocktower, and Serration positioned himself between the intruders and the entrance to the Racketeers' home, close enough to the dolls to attack if he needed to and still close enough to the tower to block the entrance if one of them tried to get past him. He hissed warningly, raising his head like a cobra about to strike and whipping his tail around to lay in front of him, prepared to use it against the trio if needed. He hoped he could just intimidate them enough that they would run away, but he would fight if they didn't flee.
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Post by ‹ kˆ†eworth › on Nov 12, 2010 15:03:46 GMT -8
< 226 Benjamin - to persecute us
As 99 leaned on him for support, he gave her a falsely welcoming smile, and held out a hand as gentlemanly as he could in case 99 needed something to hold onto.
"Not to worry, miss. I'm happy to help."
"You wouldn't help one person and then leave someone else out in this cold, would you?" Benjamin gave Don a sad frown, one hand tapping on the handle of his knife as 99 took her own weight again.
"I would be happy to leave our meeting to a later time, so don't be foolish. I want to know about this building. The lady doesn't need to see-"
Benjamin broke off. His eyes became cold and wary, and he slowly righted himself from leaning on his weapon as they flicked to the worm-like machine that was appearing from the Clocktower.
"…the serpent cometh to play~"
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Post by ♫ e s h e ♪ on Nov 12, 2010 16:55:32 GMT -8
⚉ "I'm 99, and you?"
"My name is Frank." Don responded with a jovial blink, raising his hand to wiggle his fingers in a small wave. He watched uneasily as 99 leaned against Benjamin, wondering momentarily if the two were working together. He figured the chances of that were highly unlikely, especially due to the fact that 99's timing worked more in Don's favor. To Benjamin's frown - which Don took as mockingly sad - Don spoke curtly to the taller male.
"Well... supposing you're a big strong man and little 99 here is a lady, I have certain priorities." Plus I don't help tall creepy guys who wield big blades. Don slowly rotated his knives back - keeping an eye on Benjamin as he did so - and exchanged them for normal stitchpunk hands which now rested on his wrists.
"We trade certain things here, but aside from that I doubt you might have any business in the Clocktower." Don sent Benjamin a clear look is dislike before turning his attention back to 99, smiling once more. "Follow me now, my dear, and I'll find you someplace warm."
A sudden hiss made Don twitch nervously. For a moment, he almost thought it had come from Benjamin, but upon spotting the shape of the Clocktower's guard dog (which he had heard of before) he relaxed slightly. Biting his lower lip, he called out to the machine. "I'm a Racketeer! No need to get hostile toward me or the lady... although I suppose if you want to dispose of the tall threatening guy, be my guest."
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Post by ♔ K ℇ N N Y ♔ on Nov 12, 2010 16:58:12 GMT -8
[ but hum along...even if the lyrics are wrong ]
"Ooo~! Guests?!"
A young female voice piped from the entrance of the clock tower. Soon a dark grey ragdoll came into sight as she trotted behind the monstrous machine, resting her hand on its burlap side and stroking it along its back lovingly. The doll was adorned with corset-like stitching in both her sides with blue ribbon and seemed to have been dabbed in bleach at one point. The female's lenses travelled over Benjamin and 99, smiling widely at the two. "G'day!" she chirped to them in a thick Australian accent, turning to look over at her coworker, Don, who had seemed very put on edge. Stupid Eisley had to go on and interrupt his little charade.
"Oi love, what's tha problem heeya? Whoy're ye sickenin our lovelay lil helpa heeya on this noice lookin' feller?" Eisley inquired, looking over to Benjamin with a tiny smile. What a stylish looking ragdoll! Why would Don want to send Serration to attack him?! The female leaned a bit against the guard dog, continuing to stroke his side in attempt to calm him. "Who's a good boyyy~?"
[/sub] [ cos they dont mean a thing without you now ]
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Post by shio on Nov 12, 2010 19:57:49 GMT -8
At this point 99 was wishing she had a bigger blade or a staff to lean on, almost on the point of collapsing where she stood - she needed rest, she had been walking far too much the last few days. Maybe she needed a partner. "Nice ta meet ya Frank." She gave a sleepy wave in return and held out her hand to shake his, at last noting the large blades as he retracted them. 99 blinked and frowned to herself, no one had such weapons without cause - but he hadn't attacked her yet, must be safe for the moment.
"Awww I ain't no lady," She giggled to herself, "This fella here's the real gen'alman," she jerked a thumb toward Benjamin, "And if you're tradin' I might 'ave something pretty for ya, in return for your 'ospitality."
At that moment she caught sight of the long burlap snake uncoiling itself and drawing up it's head, letting out a low hiss. In spite of her fatigue, 99 immediately shifted her stance and whipped out her pen knife blade, waiting for it to move - if possible, she would avoid this fight. Frank's words to the snake were noted - so he was that kind of guy was he? Well then... Benjamin had a larger knife, he could take care of himself.
Just when it seemed an attack was imminent, a little grey doll ran out to greet them - 99 blinked at the thick accent, thicker than her own, eventually recognising what she was saying and smiled in return. "If you could call 'im off, that'd be lovely." Seeing the creature seemed to be in her capable hands, she put her knife away and stepped forward - stumbling a little and stretching out a hand, still cautious of Serration. "How do you do? My name's 99!
OOC: Oh dammit Cool Guy - I still only see Eisley's accent at Cockney! >_< Damn me for not knowing my own accent, the G'day made me grin though. XD
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Post by Shooku on Nov 12, 2010 21:08:57 GMT -8
"I'm a Racketeer! No need to get hostile toward me or the lady... although I suppose if you want to dispose of the tall threatening guy, be my guest."Serration relaxed his threatening posture slightly when Don identified himself as one of them. Lady? Was the female a Racketeer, too? At the indirect order to attack the 'tall threatening guy', he parted the rusted metal of his serrated beak, his three optics flickering to life with a bright red glow. Peering warily at the three, he quickly singled out the tallest - was that a steak knife he had? - and had pulled his head back in preparation to strike when Eisley interupted. Serration felt her light footsteps before he heard her, and he didn't turn to look at her, completely familiar with her vibrations. "Ooo~! Guests?!"He paused his attack, chirruping softly at the stroking he was receiving. Guests? They weren't intruders? She seemed to want him to not attack them. Did that mean he'd been disobedient? Serration hesitated, confused by the conflicting comands, before clicking his optics off and closing his beak. The caressing Eisley was giving him was calming him faintly, and he whistled quietly in contentment. "Who's a good boyyy~?" Serration clicked twice in his 'throat', giving his version of an 'I am' to the question and leaning his neck towards her a bit. Was he supposed to attack or welcome the female and the tall one? He hoped someone would give him clear orders on what to do, but for now he would follow Eisley's wishes, her being the more familiar Racketeer. He swung his head around to follow 99's movement when she moved towards him. He wouldn't attack her, but he'd keep a figurative eye on her. He didn't like a stranger being so close to him when he had unclear commands.
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