Post by princessz on Mar 26, 2024 2:15:42 GMT
MATILDA: <’Ey there Tomoe-dono?>
Unmoved by her maid’s voice, Tomoe glowers out at the twinkling lights of the city. Even in this relative solitude the heiress of the dark throne cannot find peace. Trains shaking the earth as they pass. Shrill laughter from a gaggle of teens heading home from the convenience store. Pathetic pleasantries being exchanged as neighborhood shops close up It’s enough to drive Tomoe to dig her fingernails into her palm, nearly drawing blood.
TOMOE: <Not now, Matilda-chan. Tomoe is occupied.>
Atop the skyline is a single red light, blinking in and out as if transmitting a code to her. A singular vicious signal meant only for the woman destined to sit upon the devil’s throne. Tomoe lifts up the Ozeki One Cup in a salute of sorts; though distorted by the deceptively tranquil liquid within, the light continues to wink in and out.
MATILDA: <It really is import’int, Tomoe-dono.>
Her maid’s voice has grown louder and, more annoyingly, closer. Those fingernails dig even deeper into Tomoe’s palm.
TOMOE: <And what is so important that you’ve disobeyed Tomoe’s direct order to stand guard at the door?!>
She lowers the jar of cheap booze and violently knocks a swig back. Almost instantly her face contorts into a tapestry of anguish as it burns her throat. Still wearing a fresh scowl from it she spins around to find Matilda a couple steps away from her. A beat later the maid flinches as Tomoe shakes the One Cup at her.
TOMOE: <And what would happen if Takara-san or, worse, Reeve-san found her ike this because of your negligence?! Everything Tomoe’s built, every step Tomoe’s taken towards her destiny, undone because you just had to have a little chat. Would you take responsibility, or would you just insist that you’re an innocent idiot?!>
Matilda hangs her head in response to the verbal torrent - the nerve! Tomoe stomps towards her so loudly that the smaller woman jumps back.
TOMOE: <It’s not always possible for Tomoe to channel her desires into combat, Matilda-chan. Sometimes she has to fall back on these disgusting habits, or->
The clack of high heels on the rooftop cuts her tantrum off.
KASHIMA: <Or what? Go ahead, please enlighten me Tomoe-san.>
Tomoe’s fingers loosen up as she turns away from her failure of a servant. The moment she meets the freezing gaze of her benefactor Tomoe sighs heavily.
TOMOE: <Nothing. Tomoe understands perfectly, Kashima-san. You’ve made it abundantly clear why she shouldn’t be indulging in these ill-mannered habits.>
Kashima taps her chin as her eyes flit down to the beverage Tomoe insists on holding onto.
KASHIMA: <Is that so? I wonder. Do you actually understand what’s at stake here? You showed us what you can do when you’re focused last month but we’re right back where we started. Our secret weapon sneaking out at night for a trashy drink in the moonlight? You do not have time for this, Tomoe-san.>
The fearsome woman’s eyes wistfully drift to the skyline.
KASHIMA: <None of us do.>
Tomoe stiffens up at the sudden heaviness tinging every last syllable Kashima speaks of her destiny. Yet her own gaze falls back to the horrid clear liquid sloshing around in the jar. She takes another sip to steel herself for the inevitable question to follow.
TOMOE: <What do you mean there’s no time? Maybe you haven’t paid attention to her matches, but Tomoe is undefeated in this ring!>
Kashima brings her hands down on Tomoe’s shoulders so sharply the One Cup nearly drops to the ground.
KASHIMA: <There. Is. No. Time.>
Tomoe sneers at the forcefulness and reaches up to begin prying the older woman’s hand off of her. Her efforts stop dead in their tracks when she sees something new in Kashima’s eyes: fear.
KASHIMA: <The devil is waking, Tomoe-san.>
Tomoe cocks her head to the side as the words hit her like an express train running a minute late. Out of the corner of her eye she catches that blinking light again - a single devil’s eye watching her. The corners of her mouth turn up into a grin as she finishes loosening Kashima’s grip on her.
TOMOE: <Then Tomoe will be ready to greet her. If she’s waking, then she’s watching. There’s no option except for Tomoe to make another example.>
For a moment she’s in another place. Rain batters her back through what remains of her clothing. Her body aches as if someone took a sledgehammer to every last joint. The pain is exquisite. Her nostrils fill with the iron-rich stench of blood as she struggles to even lift her head. It’s then that she meets a pair of eyes - cold, dark and solely focused on her. Devil’s predatory smile is matched by Tomoe’s as she returns to the present.
TOMOE: <Tomoe’s heard Chloe Coudray-san is actually quite talented. She doesn’t flash an empty smile and promise her followers a sparkling future either. She fights hard and fights with honor. But honor is for trash losers who accept failure! Coudray-san’s whole life is failure, especially her figure skating before this. Tomoe wonders how she can stand so tall on that reconstructed leg of hers.>
She throws her head back and laughs loud enough to wake the dead.
TOMOE: <Tomoe will only accept the tormented screams of Coudray-san as her leg shatters to a million pieces along with her dreams! The tears of agony as she writhes on the mat like a worm will be reward enough for dealing with the idiots in this place. She can’t stop Tomoe’s march to the dark throne. She can only pave the way with her broken body>
Tomoe turns around dramatically, shoving her sake into Matilda’s hands just before Runa Takara emerges onto the roof. She shrugs innocently as the trainer’s eyes lock onto the bewildered maid, then passes through the door with Kashima in tow.
TOMOE: <Let’s get back to work. There’s a devil to please - and a leg to break.>
