Izanami-no-Okami (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
goddessinthefog) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
genessia2015-06-15 09:34 pm
goddessinthefog) wrote in genessia2015-06-15 09:34 pm
Entry tags:
005: Hell Hath No Fury [Video, Locked to Ted]
[Introspection]
[Izanami never much liked the verbose, religious fanatic that was Ted. He was the epitome of cowardly men like her former husband, who ran at the first sign of danger, he insisted she was mad, rather than a true God, yet despite all this claimed to know everything about her. Most of all, he was obviously afraid of her.
For the time being, she had planned to leave this as a minor annoyance and nothing more. However, since the debate between the Guardians, certain points had really got on her nerves.
Perhaps she thought scaring him would satisfy her poor mood and prove, if just to herself, what a worthless coward he was.]
[Video, Locked to Ted]
[When the private video began, it first showed nothing but darkness. The outlines of a pillar could be seen, the details of skeletons holding scythes carved across it slowly coming into focus. Fog hung in the air, clouding the microphone until a hand made of red, rotten bone brushed it aside.
A woman's voice echoed, sounding at once powerful and inhuman: ]
And what gives a coward like you the right to rule over Everglade?
[The skeletal hands grasped the device, holding it up so he could finally see her full 'splendour'. Partly concealed in the fog was a towering, horrific undead creature. Bones, ribs and shoulders were all clearly visible beneath what was left of the Goddess' tight, emaciated skin. Her face was barely identifiable, skin red and mummified over the skull where black tendrils emerged and flowed out behind her. Beneath the torn remains of her shroud, many skeletal arms unfolded atop an elongated spine. She watched the camera for a while, gauging his reaction.]
Tell me, son of man...What of the 'abominations', the 'twisted monstrosities' that exist here, more so than any other city? Can you call yourself a Guardian, one who considers your people as equals deserving of respect, when you are too afraid to even look upon them?
Abandon your claim before the people here tear you apart, you have no right for that title.
[Izanami never much liked the verbose, religious fanatic that was Ted. He was the epitome of cowardly men like her former husband, who ran at the first sign of danger, he insisted she was mad, rather than a true God, yet despite all this claimed to know everything about her. Most of all, he was obviously afraid of her.
For the time being, she had planned to leave this as a minor annoyance and nothing more. However, since the debate between the Guardians, certain points had really got on her nerves.
Perhaps she thought scaring him would satisfy her poor mood and prove, if just to herself, what a worthless coward he was.]
[Video, Locked to Ted]
[When the private video began, it first showed nothing but darkness. The outlines of a pillar could be seen, the details of skeletons holding scythes carved across it slowly coming into focus. Fog hung in the air, clouding the microphone until a hand made of red, rotten bone brushed it aside.
A woman's voice echoed, sounding at once powerful and inhuman: ]
And what gives a coward like you the right to rule over Everglade?
[The skeletal hands grasped the device, holding it up so he could finally see her full 'splendour'. Partly concealed in the fog was a towering, horrific undead creature. Bones, ribs and shoulders were all clearly visible beneath what was left of the Goddess' tight, emaciated skin. Her face was barely identifiable, skin red and mummified over the skull where black tendrils emerged and flowed out behind her. Beneath the torn remains of her shroud, many skeletal arms unfolded atop an elongated spine. She watched the camera for a while, gauging his reaction.]
Tell me, son of man...What of the 'abominations', the 'twisted monstrosities' that exist here, more so than any other city? Can you call yourself a Guardian, one who considers your people as equals deserving of respect, when you are too afraid to even look upon them?
Abandon your claim before the people here tear you apart, you have no right for that title.
The menstrual menace strikes again!
Naturally, this spooked him not a little, causing him to immediately fumble the phone onto the ground. Even softened via phone call, that thing was still pretty ghastly. Even if Ted could hear the rest of it through the distance and the muffled sound, he was too preoccupied with calming down.
The thought crossed his mind that he could, after all, hang up. He was familiar enough to find the button while covering his eyes with the other hand. "If only I were braver", he thought, "or if David or Koishi were here." Alas, he wasn't just then. The fire that David had brought had served its purpose, and now it was no more.
Or was it? Ted rebuked himself. "This isn't becoming; they won't be there to hold your hand forever. They've given you an example to follow, even if it is a shadow. Hang it all, if you need it so badly, just scoop up the embers."
Deep breaths. No, he thought. If he really must be a coward, then at the very least he'd do so out of sight, especially from one for whom it'd prove correct.
Besides, there's the eternal recourse of the Fool: heedless imbecility. If he wasn't brave enough to walk off the cliff, then by the god he's claimed to be fanatical of, he'd addle his brain enough to fly.
So, he crawled over to his communicator. Ted picked it up, had a seat, and then took a gander.
Goodness. What a wretched thing. Silently he mouthed the Lord's prayer as he processed. Finally, nervously, he started.
"I'm sorry, could you repeat that? I only caught the beginning."
Silly boy, undead don't have that problem
A dark chuckle, almost resembling a death rattle, escaped Izanami. It looked as if she'd proved her point, at least for the time being. May as well just end the call here...but no, slowly the pathetic man was collecting himself, picking the communicator up from where it lay.
She didn't recognise the words he muttered, but guessed at their nature. His pale, frightened expression, that nervousness, it irritated her so much. So much like Izanagi.
"I gave you a warning, but I suppose I'll repeat myself," she said, cooly. "The 'abominations', the 'twisted monstrosities', you spoke so fondly of exist more so in Everglade than any other city. What Guardian cannot even look upon his own people without fear? Abandon your claim, before they tear you apart."
Re: Silly boy, undead don't have that problem
He was more composed now, but still pretty shaken up. He wondered how to proceed. And then, as if from heaven above, a choice quotation entered his brain. This one came from Thomas Moore: "The proud spirit cannot endure to be mocked".
That was reserved for the devil, but this conversational adversary seemed appropriate enough. And the more he thought about it, the more appealing it became. Of course, if this was a face-to-face, Ted would probably have fled for the hills. But having all this transpire through the medium of everyday technology did add a twinge of humor to it. Perhaps that humor could grow?
"Well then, my thanks for your exceeding courtesy. If I might offers some correction? Those two descriptions were for the residents of Castlevania, not the citizenry proper. The latter I have met, and I can assure you that "tearing people apart" wasn't on their agenda. If it was, well, the claim to be one of "my people" would look rather specious."
That was a curious thing. She found the description unflattering. But given its address, why should she? Unless...could it be? Did Dracula really have something so awful in his castle? Thank god that he didn't happen upon whatever dungeon she belonged to.
"Still, I'm afraid your advice is rather vain. I doubt whether I'll actually win the position, sparing all and sundry my averse eyes. Since you've been kind enough to dispense wisdom unrequited, allow me some turnabout: my reaction was not unique. Guardian or no, I doubt whether anyone could see you and remain...unmoved."
no subject
"And some of the residents of this place chose Castlevania as their home, or did you not even learn that much?" she asked, moving her rotting visage closer to the camera so Ted could see the pendant around her neck - blue, with specks of yellow. She was a resident of Genessia, just as he was.
The movement only made her echoing death rattle worse, louder. "Those of us who tire of dealing with people like you, who cower from us unless we hide ourselves as human."
It was lucky, really, that Ted had not found his way into her chambers within the castle. That probably would have ended very badly for him.
With his last words, a rage shivered through her body. She knew that truth, she knew that truth painfully well...if even her husband could not look upon her without fear, who could? Still, she couldn't let her hurt show, instead letting only anger become apparent.
"Obnoxious human...! You know nothing, you speak for all because you are too ashamed to admit your own cowardice!"
no subject
At least the communicator avoided the mess. It was really better that this was a long-distance call, as the odors about were unpleasant. He fished for a handkerchief and cleaned himself. Assuming she was still there after suffering that social whoopsie, Ted would try and talk some more. Maybe it'd be easier; he couldn't imagine losing even more face than he already had.
"Excuse me...I'll probably have to watch my diet a little more closely.
You should never tire of courtesies, or of doing good in general. If your mere appearance makes people afraid, I cannot see how a human costume is so demanding. If it were in my power, I'd wear alien guises to get along better with monsters or whatever too. Indeed, if blonde hair were viewed as an ill omen, don't think for a moment I'd hesitate to shave. As a matter of fact, humans wear deodorant and things daily because they know their natural smells are repulsive. Why not the same with the eye?"
"As for your attack on my character...come on, that's hardly fair. I know some things. I'm not a coward just because I jump. That just makes me a...nervous, lively creature. I may not have iron nerves, but you wouldn't call iron brave for being insensate.
But say I was a coward. Is that really the awful thing you seem to think? I recall a certain someone whose power is made perfect in weakness..."
no subject
"Do not compare yourself to me, mortal...!" she hissed, "I am well aware humans present a certain side of themselves to the world around, that they hide any pieces of themselves they're ashamed of, I do not need you to tell me that.
Can you call your reaction anything but pathetic, cowardly, foolish? You can barely stand my presence, let alone address me as a citizen of Everglade.
Humour me, who is perfect in their cowardice, then?"
Sippin' on dat h8rade
"I wouldn't dream of such an unfavorable comparison. I'm much handsomer." He waited for a bolt of lightning or something equally symbolic of divine wrath to strike him down, given the "mortal" remark. Phew, still not dead! Yet. "Fine, you gave me a fright, proving once and for all that effect flows eternally from cause. Well done. Are you satisfied?"
"Then don't you think humans show good sense? Better to know shame and hide than to be shameless and divulge." wink wink nudge nudge
"No, no one's perfect in cowardice. But power can be made so— oh, never mind! I won't give pearls if your heart's set on trampling them. In any case, thank you so much for your warning. I'm not entirely sure what its contents were; something about me being very silly for not enjoying monsters with violent tendencies. It's well-taken; I shall be sure to keep a sharp eye out for such citizens as that. Then, if God plays another joke and allows me the title, I'll know who to expunge.
Well! That's about the nicest thing you've had to say. Is there more where that came from, or shall I follow the dogma of grannies the world over, and ensure you don't say anything at all?"
Thus was Ted's attempt to strike a pose and end the conversation in his frame, trying to reenact the confidence past given. Hopefully Izanami was actually buying his false bravado, which was growing falser by the second. He couldn't keep it up much longer. Then again, maybe it's better if he's thought of as a coward; then she might actually leave him alone, and agreement the both of them would likely love.
/raaaaggeee
She didn't want to even give his question an answer, but the second, she rose to despite herself:
"Monsters? You would still set to call us monsters? I am a God, I have more power than you can even comprehend, son of man...!" her tone of voice dripped with poison, "I give you warning, and you see fit to threaten me regardless. I repeat, you hold no right to any title, no right to guard any who reside in this city. You claimed to treat every being as you believe man have. I see that was a lie, told by a coward who thought himself brave."
Luckily for Ted, Izanami was blinded enough by her own rage that she could not see his bravado as false, not yet.
Never get tired of that icon
Strategically, Ted needed to end this before he broke down completely. This experience, however terribly interesting, was nerve-wracking. He needed to go out with a bang, not a whimper.
"That's not a threat, it's a job description. If whomever you're speaking for has a mind toward murder, it's any Guardian's job to show them the door. I'd treat anyone, man or monster, the same. Don't blame me if the former has better control over their tempers.
Were you even paying attention during the debate? No one has a right to the title, or the position. It's an honor, something Dracula, with all his bluster about results and ruling, could never understand. Can you?
You ought to, if you are a god. A monstrous god, certainly, for you're acting perfectly monstrously. Well, it's no matter. I serve the father of lights, the one whose power is made perfect in weakness."
Such a stand gave Ted just enough courage to finish up. And he knew just the trick, too.
"Since you've run out of nice things to say, here's a kindness: I'll show you how. This one is inspired by God, whose righteousness you'd do well to turn to. Ahem:
Wrath is a sin. Do not let the sun go down on your anger."
Yep, the religious spin on "umadbro?" Ted, through personal experience, knew that nothing made one quite so mad as being preached to.
"Have a nice day, and may the best man win." With power like unto a god's, he assured himself of having the last word, and hung up.
If he hurried, he just might make it to the men's room before he wet himself. What a horrible experience!
Of course, the future had different things in store. Oh well, Izanami probably forgot all about it when the election results came in, and everyone lived happily ever after. Right?