Zero
Citizen
Frosty on the outside, that is.
Posts: 354
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Cipher
Oct 13, 2012 22:10:52 GMT -5
Post by Zero on Oct 13, 2012 22:10:52 GMT -5
Before the day of their promised wedding, Zero had trekked outside of the bounty hunter headquarters quietly through the night. It's a common safety rule for everyone in Veyyard who had the decency in taking care of their own lives to never walk alone at night.
Now Zero's not stupid, it's just one of the tests he had to go through in meeting the very man who had both ruined his life and trained him strong; Faun. Zero needs to see that man again, alone. Even with his horrible sense of direction, he was provided with a riddle if he ever needs to see that old man.
'Once met, but never found, Through the odyssey under the harvest, Where young blood dribbled on the ground, Empty the cartridge, where the deity rests.'
It's a good thing Zero's keen memory was able to remember all those confusing garbled set of instructions for years. It took him ten years, ten long years to figure that out. He was forever glad that he figured it out on time before his wedding day.
Once met, but never found... Zero had prepared his guns firmly in his grip as he walked, careful in his steps and took the initiation to shoot at those who had tried to ambush him while he was on his way. He had to be careful. That is what it meant. He had to kill those who met him on his way, so they will never find him.
Through the odyssey under the harvest... Odyssey indeed with how Veyyard is built filled with alleyways and secret passages, Zero has no problem with his directions this time because it is illuminated under the full moon. He only needed to walk where the path is lighted under the harvest moon, since tonight is certainly the September equinox. Its either tonight, or another night when the sun crosses the plane of the earth's equator. These events only happens twice a year.
Where young blood dribbled on the ground... Finally, Zero paused his steps. He found it. He found the exact alleyway...where Faun had dropped him off as a child. Where he was first shot as a child, where his blood was first shed in this downfallen country that is Veyyard. This is where he was challenged to survive...and he lived.
Empty the cartridge, where the deity rests... Zero slowly raised up both his guns, his hands now straight towards the spot where he once stood as a child, the barrels of his guns pointing straight at it. He can feel his heartbeat rising. This is it. All he needs to do now is to empty the cartridge of his guns...and then he can finally meet the man he had so long wished to see.
Pulling both of the safety triggers, Zero took in a deep breath and held it in as he released multiple shots from his guns, until the echoes of empty clicks could be heard when he tried to shoot. He's now out of bullets. Zero has no idea how the hell can he even survive now to get back to HQ.
Just then, a slow but deep voice could be heard from nowhere, and Zero immediately froze in his stance...
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Cipher
Oct 13, 2012 22:13:23 GMT -5
Post by NPC: Male on Oct 13, 2012 22:13:23 GMT -5
"Hello.... Zero."
A flash of black whipped from the sky, and it dived to the area where Zero just shot at. A dark form of a man hunched on the ground where his bullets had been wasted in, and then the figure slowly raised himself on his feet.
Once he's at his tall height, it's obvious to see the man is a giant. Zero's height didn't even reach his shoulders, and the old man only heaved out a vapour of sigh slowly once he eyes the boy in front of him.
"...I see you kept your red promise.." He voiced out in his deep voice, almost sounding impressed. "..Is the reason you wish to speak to me is of this fidelity? What do you have in mind...Zero?"
This man, is only known as Faun.
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Zero
Citizen
Frosty on the outside, that is.
Posts: 354
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Cipher
Oct 13, 2012 22:15:17 GMT -5
Post by Zero on Oct 13, 2012 22:15:17 GMT -5
Zero was practically shaking once the ground shook slightly at the appearance of a man coming from above. Recalling back the riddle, Faun was almost right in describing himself as a 'deity'. There are times when Zero thought Faun as not even a human...
"..Faun." His throat feels dry. Zero is indefinitely scared out of his mind, despite trying his best not showing it. He couldn't even raise his eyes to meet the man's eyes properly, his plams are sweating and his clutch on his guns are clenching so tightly, its straining his hands. His vision is fixed onto Faun's shoes...just like how he always does since he was a scared child.
Zero flinched slightly at Faun's voice once he spoke again, now regarding of the 'red promise', being his tie and the cloth he wrapped around his right arm. There's something about Faun that somehow traumatized Zero so bad that he follows everything the man had asked him to do, even simple things like wearing a red tie before he gets 'touched'.
"..Y..yes..." Zero forced his voice to come out to answer Faun's question, now having collected enough courage and lifted his head to meet Faun's eyes. The moon's light didn't shine on him, he's completely hidden within the shadows that Zero couldn't even see the man, just a silhouette of his figure.
Swallowing his spit, Zero raked his mind to construct his words before he speak out. "I... ..I'm getting married..." That was all he could say. How he could get himself to not stutter this time is a miracle.
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Cipher
Oct 13, 2012 22:16:10 GMT -5
Post by NPC: Male on Oct 13, 2012 22:16:10 GMT -5
Faun didn't seem to move at all at Zero's statement. The long silence from him didn't help, it almost seems like Faun isn't even there and Zero was talking alone to a shadow. Though, after a full minute, said shadow speaks..
"..I see.. Congratulations." His voice sounds apathetic, as if he didn't even meant it. Yet, it slowly raised back in a questioning tone, "..Who are you marrying?" There is an icy note in his voice just now that could get anyone to shudder.
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Zero
Citizen
Frosty on the outside, that is.
Posts: 354
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Cipher
Oct 13, 2012 22:17:21 GMT -5
Post by Zero on Oct 13, 2012 22:17:21 GMT -5
And shudder Zero did. The chill running down his spine is a usual occurence whenever he speaks to Faun ever since a child. The only difference now is he was stupid before, he talked back to Faun, which only resulted in him getting himself beaten.
Now, Zero's very cautious with his words, his actions and his overall responses to Faun. It's crucial for him to remain respectful to the man, or he will never come out of this alive.
At Faun's question of his bride-to-be, Zero quickly opened his mouth to answer. "Mitsuko Clara Cross." Zero understands. If he appear doubtful even the slightest bit in saying Miki's name, this man will surely be trouble.
Saying out her name to this man will not endanger her, he reminds himself. Instead, if he didn't or if he shows doubt, only then will her life be threatened. Speaking Miki's name out confidently shows that Zero trusts Faun, both out of respect and fear.
"I need...to have a last name.. Before I marry her. Which is why... I'm asking you." Swallowing another roll of spit, Zero is wary with his own words. "Please..free me. From being just Zero.."
It's quite difficult to see what exactly is his relationship with this frightening man. Zero doesn't even understand it himself, but he felt like he's tied to this man by a lot of unspoken reasons, with his life.
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Cipher
Oct 13, 2012 22:18:15 GMT -5
Post by NPC: Male on Oct 13, 2012 22:18:15 GMT -5
Faun was quiet once again in the shadows, until a sound could be heard. A sound that appeared like a....chuckle? A deep singular chuckle, it seems. Faun is chuckling and it's even scarier than him not even speaking.
"On one condition." He said in his deep voice, and then suddenly took a step closer to Zero, allowing the moon's light to shine on him. His greying hair is apparent on his head, and it had grown long passed his shoulders.
His face is filled with wrinkles, and scars. His expression unreadable. Faun reached up to hold Zero's tie, stroking his thumb against the red neckwear. "I will attend your wedding, only because I will be the one who will release you from this bind.."
He lets go of the tie and pulled his hand back to his side. "Only if you agree, shall I bestow a name for you, Zero."
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Zero
Citizen
Frosty on the outside, that is.
Posts: 354
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Cipher
Oct 13, 2012 22:19:04 GMT -5
Post by Zero on Oct 13, 2012 22:19:04 GMT -5
Zero's form tensed up immediately the moment Faun stepped into the light and got a hold of his red tie. He squared his shoulders so tightly, it's straining his neck that his veins popped out. The tense helped though, because now he's at least not shivering.
At Faun's condition, Zero snapped his head up to look at the man. He almost flinched at the sight, Faun's face looks just as frightening as he remembered it, if not older. Heck, the additional wrinkles only added dread in his aura even more.
How Faun could strike so much fear in everyone's soul, Zero has no idea.
"Only...to untie me from your binds." Zero repeated Faun's condition, making sure Faun is coming to his wedding just to do that and nothing else.
"If that is the case... Then I agree with your condition, Faun." Zero held his gaze to Faun's almost dauntingly. He's the one who's scared here, yet he didn't dare to show it or things will get ugly for him.
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Cipher
Oct 13, 2012 22:20:05 GMT -5
Post by NPC: Male on Oct 13, 2012 22:20:05 GMT -5
At Zero's agreement, Faun nodded ever so slightly. "..Good..." There was a pause from the man as he gazed into Zero's eyes. He didn't even move, he's like a statue standing there, looking at the boy, as if trying to incite the boy to react.
Yet, seeing Zero still standing his ground and keeping eye contact with him without even a single blink, Faun exhaled yet another cloud of vapour from his nose. He raised both his hands, and then strongly took hold of Zero's smaller shoulders. Faun opened his mouth, and only one word escaped his lips.
"Cipher."
And after he had spoken, his fingers grappled on Zero's shoulder on specific acute points that the boy immediately looses consciousness, yet since Faun is already holding Zero by the shoulders, he didn't fall.
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Zero
Citizen
Frosty on the outside, that is.
Posts: 354
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Cipher
Oct 13, 2012 22:20:54 GMT -5
Post by Zero on Oct 13, 2012 22:20:54 GMT -5
'Cipher...'
Snapping his eyes open widely, Zero sat up with a start. His breathing is ragged and he's sweating. Looking around, he realized that he's right in front of the HQ, apparently lying on the ground at the front door.
Zero's initial thought is that he possibly had passed out somehow before he even began on his journey, yet once he glanced at his watch, it had well passed a few hours before he started his search.
Tapping his holsters, Zero realized that his guns were still there. Pulling one out, Zero checked the cartridge, and sure enough, its empty. Checking the other one, it's empty too. "..So that wasn't a dream..." Reaching up to hold his head, Zero uses his other hand to push himself up on his feet and looked up the full moon with a relieved expression.
"My name is..." He whispered to himself, but before he word that out, he wanted Miki to know, so she will be the first one to hear it too. Fishing out his cellphone, Zero punched in her number and quickly rests it against the side of his face, patiently waiting for her to pick up, knowing its well around 3 in the morning right now, so she must have been asleep at the inn.
"Hello Miki.." His voice is shaky, he's still shivering from the thought of meeting Faun earlier that night. "I.. I've...settled.. w-with..Faun..." It's hard for Zero to even form a complete sentence right now, so then he took a deep breath and spoke with an assured voice.
"My name is Zero Cipher."[End Thread]
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