Enter the amazing(ly evil!) Guy!

[guyexplains.livejournal.com]

[Guy is seated at the bar, lounging with half an eye on the door but otherwise just smiling in bemusement as his drink, lost in his own thoughts. What's unusual is his outfit. Usually he's the type to wear some color, and nothing so overblown as the uniform he's now in, but black seems to be the theme and he wears it like it's natural. To those who know him best, it's notable that he's also not wearing his collar choker and the sword at his side is not the Jewel of Gardios.]

[Join him for a drink?]

((OOC: Villain/God General Guy experiment. Replies with this journal and servidude (as usual).))

Comments

[clinical]

[Jade should have worked out that something is wrong, and perhaps some of it has registered as peculiar to him--the Jewel of Gardios's absence, or something in the demeanour? But Jade is not one to voice suspicions until he has strong grounds for them, and there is a highly plausible explanation that he is more than happy to test as he goes to get his own drink from the bar.]

I'm grieved to see His Majesty is feeling well enough to be playing with his servants again. [as his eyes flicker over] Did you really accept something as tasteless as an imitation of Asch?

1/2

[explains]

[Guy just stills, watching Jade. Since when has the Necromancer been on the Plane? More importantly, isn't Jade being a little too casual? But it's Jade, the man is unpredictable as it is.]

[explains]

[So he smiles amiably enough. Even if the suggestion makes him grit his teeth. As he sees it, Jade is mocking him, and he doesn't appreciate the joke.]

I always thought we looked different enough. [He tilts his glass to his lips, only takes enough of a sip to wet them before putting it down.] It's a shame though, to see senility already settling in to one of the world's greatest minds.

[Really the suggestion pisses him the hell off.]

[clinical]

['One of the world's greatest minds' has, since a very young age, been in possession of a tried and true method of scientific discovery. It is ancient and noble and never to be underestimated. It is called "poke it with a stick and see what happens," and Jade is very fond of it, especially when he isn't confident that something is wrong. A little different? Yes. But not grounds for anything more than a little curiosity.]

Fortunately, I have you youngsters to help me along as I lose my mind.

[explains]

[A slightly odd look. What the hell is that supposed to mean? Has Jade really lost his mind, is he baiting him, or maybe he's from the past? Guy's not really sure at this point, and he doesn't know what to make of this familiar behavior.]

[He lifts a hand in a 'no thanks' gesture, still smiling.]

I'll pass. It sounds like a lot of work, taking care of an invalid old man.

[clinical]

[That seems all right enough. So he keeps going, waving one of his own callous hands.] I doubt it's much harder than seventeen years caring for the Fabres.

[explains]

[A cold shift in tone after a brief moment of stillness. Really, he's been trying, but Jade is just pushing it.]

Are we getting somewhere in particular, or is this just another quirk of you losing your mind? I ask only out of curiosity, mind you.

[clinical]

[Poke it with a stick: it never fails.] My, my. I didn't realise the subject was off-limits. For something a little more pleasant, why don't you tell me how long you've been able to come here? The bar wouldn't be my guess for your first choice after arrival.

[explains]

[He picks up his drink again, just turning it in his fingers as he composes his features again. As much as possible.]

Shouldn't that be my line? I've been coming here for a while.

[clinical]

Is that so? Then it seems we've been passing each other by. I hope you've been playing nicely with the other test subjects.

[And why has no one deigned to tell him? He's really annoyed at the thought that he has managed to miss Guy all this time, but then, Tear has been slipping him by as well. Still, he thought he would have picked it up with Bernkastel's powers; he'd been able to pick out the threads of Auldrant that were connected to the Plane, and he didn't see anything like this.]

[explains]

Don't go mistaking me for you, now. I'm a great guy, remember?

[Just smiling in a way that is a little vicious.]

[clinical]

[The problem with Jade's sense of experimentation is that he occasionally pushes past the safe limits. And while he is getting closer and closer to making a good guess, he still doesn't know the precise details of what he is talking to. His smile is still pleasantly uncommitted.] Now, now, that's not very nice to say. You know I haven't experimented on humans since shortly after Hod's fall.

[quecaneatit.livejournal.com]

[You cannot expect the Cosplay Emperor not to be drawn in by sudden wardrobe change. Peony is going to just come over and sit down with Guy like a boss]

What's with the new look?

[because a question like that needs to be asked right away, duh.]

1/2

[explains]

[If Guy were in his right senses that would probably earn a glare and a sharp word. Or if he were feeling resigned and indulgent, a sarcastic reply. This version of him just goes still, eyes on the liquid in his glass, smile frozen blankly, before dropping away.]

[He really shouldn't let an enemy's words get to him.]

[explains]

Sorry if I'm having trouble following your intentions, Jade, but what do you want?

[At this point he really wouldn't mind murdering the Necromancer.]

[explains]

[...What the hell is with Malkuth's higher echelons of power being all friendly with him?]

Wouldn't you say it's more like an old look? [It's been a while since he's worn the uniform.]

[promisedsomeone.livejournal.com]

[Asch isn't coming here for a drink. He's here to get information. Upon seeing Guy dressed... in something familiar and yet completely alien, however, he keeps to the outside.

It's kind of hard to hide in the shadows when everything has their own 'glow' on the Astral Plane, so it's better to just stay out of sight.]

[quecaneatit.livejournal.com]

Nah, I'd say it's more like you're catching Jade's disgusting fashion sense and his tasteless humor.

[explains]

[He touches the edge of the glass to the bottom of his lips and smiles without any sincerity.]

Please don't compare me to that man, Your Majesty. You'll make me sick.

[clinical]

[Jade holds the expression for a moment. The ease with which his smile slips into cold neutrality betrays how false it always was.] Call it simple curiosity, Gailardia. Though I assume that isn't the moniker you'd go under with the God Generals. Too obvious to anybody who had even passing familiarity with your family.

[explains]

[Guy doesn't turn around, so it's not that he sees Asch directly. Maybe it's out of the corner of his eyes, or a reflection in the glass or maybe he's just familiar with the feel of Asch's presence, but he doesn't turn around. His voice is a mix of playfully mocking and cold.]

You were never that good at skulking around, Asch. Why dawdle now?

[quecaneatit.livejournal.com]

[Peony laughs]

Man, what a relief. At least you've got some good sense buried under that get up.

[behind the laughter though, Peony is sizing Guy up, because he knows enough insincere smiles to spot one a mile away. He leans on the counter, his demeanor still laid back as he peeks at Guy's glass, tapping the side of it]

If you don't want to be compared to him, you'll have to stop picking up his bad habits.

[explains]

That's right. [Guy sets his glass down again and presses gloved fingers together just below his lips, looking at Jade a little sideways.]

[They went over this at the Absorption Gate, and that comment more than anything has Guy reviewing the conversation. Jade's from the past then, or a different reality perhaps. But this isn't the man he fought not long ago. Or at least this man doesn't hold the memories of it. That might be to Guy's advantage.]

But why bore you with such details? I always wanted to ask you--how are you enjoying the fruits of your labor? Luke's quite impressive, you must be proud of your research.

[explains]

I'm afraid this is my own bad habit, Emperor.

[Still formal and... Careful. He did not expect to meet Peony here and he's not sure what to do about the man. Honestly, he doesn't have anything personal against the man, but the Empire took as much from him as Kimlasca did. Peony's as much a pawn as the rest of the world. But he could be a useful pawn.]

Is there something I can do for you?

[promisedsomeone.livejournal.com]

[Damn it. Spotted already?

He really doesn't like that tone. It makes him feel... on edge. More than anyone should ever know. That's why he doesn't show it, not even a trace of the lurch in his heartbeat as he walks inside. Guy can be as cold as he wants: Asch welcomes it, expects it in the deepest parts of his subconscious.

The treatment he's received from Guy so far has completely contradicted the one from his world. But that is not nearly as concerning as what he's looking at right here, right now.]

When did you join the Oracle Knights?

[Straight and to the point. He isn't hurt by the sudden change of Guy's heart. He doesn't care.

But to have an enemy on the Plane...]