genessia | [video] in which shit gets so very real

[ The feed turns on to a concrete ceiling, a single lamp hanging from the center of the room. There's the sound of footsteps walking a slow circle around the device before they stop - the sound of a metal chair being dragged away from the table, a person falling into it to be seated. ]

Showtime!

[ If the voice doesn't give him away, the visual certainly will as Mercury flips the device up off the table to hold it back at arm's length, his smirk ever-present. ]

How are we all doing today? Good? Great? Well I'm here to brighten everyone's day just a little bit more. Now I know some of you may have noticed a sweet little guy by the name of Armin just up and vanished. Poof! What a mystery!

[ He leans in a bit, grin widening. ]

Well fear not, citizens - I found him.

[ A blur, as he tosses the camera up to flip it around in his hand - to reveal Armin, tied to a chair on the opposite side of the table, wrists and ankles secured to prevent any hope of escape. There isn't a blindfold, but a gag prevents him from making much noise.

More importantly, he looks like hell. One eye is bruised to the point that it's nearly swollen shut, his face littered with scratches and abrasions. His clothes are shredded in places with visible (but not life-threatening) wounds beneath them, and it's clear he's been made to bleed quite a bit. His throat is bruised abundantly, as if he's been choked roughly and repeatedly, and there's dry blood beneath his nose indicating he's been struck there at least once. His hands are visibly ruined - fingers have been broken, and from the look of things his hands have both been burned horribly, as if they were actually lit on fire at some point. He's awake, very clearly unhappy (rightfully so) but also very much alive. There's some anger there, for sure, but from how wide his eyes are (well, the one that CAN open wide anyway) and the light tremble in his shoulders, the rapid rise and fall of his chest, he's afraid. Very, very afraid. ]

He's not having a good day, but let's see what we can do about that.

[ A blur, and the camera is switched back to Mercury as he pushes his chair to lean back on it, kicking his feet up to rest on the table. ]

I know what some of you might be thinking - "Hey, golly Mr. Mercury, didn't you kidnap him in the first place?" And you would be right! I sure did. But I'm going to tell you all what I told Armin on day one: If everyone cooperates, he'll go home safe and sound. So with that in mind, let's go over my list of demands. It's brief, don't worry.

[ He crams his other hand in his pocket, digging for a crumpled sheet of paper which he flattens out to begin reading from, clearing his throat. ]

Alright, so, number one...

[ He falls silent, eyebrows lowering a bit - then abruptly turns the device around to prop it on the table so it faces Armin. There's the sound of scraping metal again as he rises to his feet, walking briskly around to stand behind his prisoner with his hands buried in his pockets. He cocks his head a bit as if in thought, before raising one leg to press his foot against the back of Armin's head, heel against his scalp. The blond is trembling fiercely now, straining against his bindings and trying to turn his head to see what's happening, but he doesn't get the time to turn his head far enough. ]

Change of plans.

[ And that's that. He shoves his foot forward with a flare of white Aura as the firing mechanism in his boot activates with a deafening bang, and the gruesome sight of Armin's head being blown open (practically apart) is only visible for a millisecond before the blood splatters over the camera, obscuring the feed with a blanket of red. There's a thud as the momentum causes Armin's body (as well as the chair he's tied to) to fall forward against the table, then a second thud and a clang of metal as he falls on one side against the floor. It's a few seconds before the device is lifted again, Mercury's thumb dragging across the camera to clean the lens - even then there's still a red haze to everything, which does nothing to soften the wickedness of his grin, the air of satisfaction in his gaze, and he shrugs nonchalantly as he looks towards the mess on the floor. ]

My only demand? Don't bore me.

[ With that he tosses the device to the ground and strolls towards the door, laughing cruelly as he passes the body. After bouncing once and skidding a bit the feed ends up almost exactly as it had began - facing the ceiling, the single light still shining from above, but now with a few specks of red on the ceiling. With a click the light is turned off, and the feed remains black until the recording times out. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Oh, he tried to. Desperate struggles are their own brand of fun.

But you know what? I think I see your point. You're absolutely right, my friend - if I keep going after the same type of people, it's going to get pretty dull.

[ He cocks his head to one side, giving the camera a thumbs-up. ]

So I need to go after all kinds of people, instead! Lots of them! As many as I can! What a good idea - and I have you to thank for it.

No! No, no!! I didn't say that at all!

You're going to get bored if you go after the same people. [ he frowns deeply ] And if you decide to hurt people like that again, I'll be right there to stop you.

No need to be humble! I want everyone to know you deserve full credit for my future misdeeds.

... Are you any better than your pal Jean? Because no offense, but that fight wasn't even my best work. If you want me to turn your chest cavity into an actual cavity, though, by all means.

I won't let you do what you did to Armin or Jean again! I don't care what you do to me!

It's cute that you think you'll stop me, but let's be realistic. Come on. You really think you've got a chance?

[ he's slowly starting to figure out this guy the more he talks. his face stays the same, no expression change or anything. even with what Jean's told him, he still presses on ]

I know I can. I'd just need a weapon like you have so that I can cheat too.

Two hours from now. In front of the colosseum. I'll take you on without any weapons whatsoever.

How's that?

That's fine. I won't have any weapons either. You can even pat me down to make sure.

If I defeat you, I want you to stop this.

Nahhh, I'm not that frisky.

But what are you offering if I win?

I-I don't know. Whatever you want.

You know what? That's vague enough for me to work with.

Deal.

Go near him and I'll fucking kill you myself.

[There's little emotion in his words. He just witnessed a good friend's murder and now he's threatening his best friend who he's already seen dead? There's no room to second-guess himself.]

[ While Jean may have gone stone cold, Mercury practically lights up at this reaction, eyes all but shining now. ]

No kidding? Well if he didn't have a target on his back before you sure just painted a big one right on there. Duly noted!

[That manages to get some emotions to resurface. His face contorts into one of pure rage. If he were anywhere near Mercury right now, he'd probably attack him without thinking, but the distance, which frustrating, gives him a chance to react more carefully.

Though not by much. Footsteps can be heard, along with the sounds of a few drawers being opened and slammed shut. He picks up the camera again, looking into it.]

If you're that eager to die an excruciatingly painful death, who am I to stop you? I'll just go ahead and kill you first.

[ He seems to consider something for a few moments, head tilting one way, then the other, before: ]

Three hours, in front of the Bay where all the new arrivals show up. We'll have a rematch where death means something.

Why the Bay? Why wait?

[If he's trying to make it more difficult for him to reach anyone else and target them, he won't go along with it.]

Because that's the time and place I settled on. Take it or leave it - if you want me, that's where you can come get me.

Fuck that. Maybe I'll ambush you and catch you off guard. But it will be on my own terms.

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