genessia | 3rd kill | video/action;

[...well, this sure is a sight, isn't it? battler has no choice, he knew he would be going against his master's wishes by making this broadcast- but he was desperate. he had been searching for her for a while now, well over a day, and he couldn't find her at all. the storm had blown into genessia, it took over and the blizzard was everywhere. it was thick, harsh, and absolutely freezing. it hadn't bothered him, his strength and magic was enough for him to be fine, but the icy cold was harsh enough to bite at his skin.

was there magic involved with the blizzard...? there's no way something natural would ever affect him.

so, his master was missing. he needed to find her, she was his only purpose now, and without her he felt completely empty. he was always just meant to be a husk of a man, but without his master at his side he felt the need to just give up. he needed her.

the broadcast clicks on with battler's face, a genuine frown spread across his features, and he he seems to be covered in snow. the bits of white contrasted with the purple color of his suit, and even the tips of his hair appeared to be frozen.]

....I wouldn't be doing this if I didn't genuinely need.... assistance. [he knows what this means too, that people will attack him, that they won't hear him at all- but as long as his master will be safe he simply doesn't care.]

My master has gone missing and I cannot even sense her. Usually I would know where she is at all times, I would be able to teleport to her if she ever called on me... however she is... simply gone. She cannot be dead- I would know that for sure but... I know she is in danger as well.

You all have your grudges with me, I understand, however let it be known that I cannot harm you any more. My current master instructed me not to hurt or kill anyone anymore, I am simply... hers now, and hers alone.

Aahh get angry with me all you like, attack me if you like, you all love that... don't you? You humans... and your emotions....! It all still fascinates me so much, but now is not the time for me...! My master must be saved, and I need help finding her...! I'm sure.... I'm sure my magic could help her in this blizzard, it must!

My master's name? You all know her very well: Terra Branford. You all hate me... but will you not put aside your hatred in favor of Terra? She has done nothing to earn your hatred... And I will be walking the streets to search for her, seek me out if you must.

[he will be awaiting the intense backlash.]

action;

[as he said he battler would then be walking the streets of genessia in order to look for her. the blizzard was strong, much too intense, and he had to put up an arm in order to shield himself from the sheer force of the wind and ice. she grit his teeth as he walked, his anger for being unable to find her growing more and more intense.

battler would often duck out of the wind in order to hide in a shop, or even in an alleyway. feel free to accidentally run into him then as well.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[battler knew exactly what it was she was trying to accomplish. she was trying to get him to understand, to see that he had done wrong- but he didn't think he had truly done anything overly wrong. he had killed, sure, but they all came back. he had tortured them all, even killed terra... but he had enjoyed every moment of it. it was his purpose, after all, he had been created for that.

however... what she was saying, he did see her side of it. battler's glare softened a little, and he huffed, his cold breath coming out white and blowing swiftly in the blizzard wind.]

I even killed her, you know this, I even tormented her myself.

[but...] ...She forgave me, and I wanted to find out why. As it stands now... as her master- if I were forced to watch, I would want to rip apart the person that hurt her.

[and he definitely would.] I understand what you are saying.

[ The people she's pardoned she still hasn't quite forgiven. They haven't earned it, they've simply earned their right not to be harassed in this world if they keep their noses clean. So the idea of forgiving Battler, of forgiving him for such a remorseless act.. that doesn't make sense to her. ]

Did she ever share why she would do something like that?

[ She isn't sure that he really understands. He didn't go through it, but it's as close as she's going to get. She doesn't know why she wants him to know, or if the subtle changes in his expression actually meant anything, but if Terra had found something out that the rest of them didn't know, it might explain something. Maribelle had spent so long screaming at Weiss to make sure that Battler had his rights to an attorney because there might be circumstances and she'd refused to listen. But Terra had, for whatever reason, decided to forgive him despite everything. Weiss knew he hadn't gone easy on her, even if no one had gotten quite the special treatment that Weiss had. ]

If she wasn't holding your leash, would you do it again?

[battler merely shrugged a little at her question.]

...We simply came to an agreement one night while talking. Neither of us... truly understand humans, but we can at least understand one another. Where I come from, torturing others... is simply... second nature. It is done out of hatred, out of love, out of even greeting... and Terra had killed many people before- and I was someone that would never judge her for that. I suppose she wanted someone around that didn't see her as a monster.

[that must have been it. they had shared so many talks with one another, they had come to truly... understand, or possibly even, love one another.

as for her second question he did have an answer in mind already.]

Would I do it again....? Hmm... I was really only created for one scenario, to be the culprit one time... and I had done that back home, but I was able to do it again here. Yes, I think I would want to do it again-... I think my cravings would continue until I burst.

However-... Terra satisfies me, she gets rid of those cravings, so she is the one that holds my attention now. Without her I would definitely want to attempt another crime.

....and yet, I suppose being exposed as the culprit really was meant to be my end. Aahh... I don't know, I really don't know....

[ Weiss watches Battler quietly as he speaks. So Terra has a history of murder, retired to deal with flowers, and then decided that regardless of her reasons, Battler should be forgiven because she had done bad things too. Whatever Terra had done wasn't personal, but Weiss's feelings toward Battler certainly didn't give her a reason to believe Terra should be forgiven any more than he should- but that's not her responsibility. ]

If you and Terra both turn yourselves in after she's found, I'll arrange for you two to be together in custody.

[battler's eyes widened at that statement. seriously? seriously? that was enough to make him laugh. in fact, the corners of his mouth did turn up into a slight smile before he went right back to frowning at her through the blizzard.]

....Do you truly think I will comply that easily? Ohh no... no no, not unless my master, not unless Terra tells me to turn myself in. I cannot do anything without her.

You humans are so obsessed with justice.... I simply cannot understand it at all. Why? Why do you need justice so badly? Why do you want revenge so badly...?

Is it to feel safe? To put me behind bars? Hohh.... I already told you, you are safe as long as Terra doesn't want me to kill anyone.

No, of course I didn't think you would. But I'm a better person than you are, so I gave you the choice. I suggest you inform Terra of it.

[ That laugh sent a chill up her spine though, and any inch of tenseness that Weiss had let go came back immediately. Her eyes were narrowed, teeth gritted, fists balled. ]

I think you already know the answer to that based on your answers about Terra. Of course I want to feel safe and I want the people I care about to feel safe, and you asking me to trust you that you won't isn't going to make that suddenly go away, you single-minded oaf! You can't just say "someone's holding my leash now" and expect things to go away. Actions have consequences and you've changed all of our lives for the worse and we're all still fighting to try to move forward, but it's impossible to do that completely when the reason we all have nightmares is still out there laughing it up with his selfish, idiotic girlfriend!