What Are We, If Not Pawns?

Indie Brooke Augustine | Partial-Canon | Selective | OC/Crossover Friendly | Rebooted May 2017

[epuilibrium-blog]

lunarcries:

The small strand of hope that came hanging off of her words made the girl crack a small smile, slowly raising her hands to try and dry the few tears that had dampened her cheeks. Her bandaged hand hurt more than she had anticipated as it brushed her skin.

“Y-you will? Thank you.” Horribly genuine, trusting smile faltering slightly as her wounded hand burnt and throbbed. “I just… He’s all I have left. If he’s gone… T-t-then, no one else will know I’m in here. I’ll die alone, no one will miss me. I’ll just… Be gone.”

She didn’t have the heart to shatter something as small as this, the shred of possibility. A chance, a sliver of hope when the walls fell around her.

Who did she have to thank for such beautiful destruction but the Queen? For her shelter, her protection to be wrongfully taken for the sheer enjoyment, the pleasure it brought her? What is she doing?

“You won’t be gone, Sarah,” Thin lips forming a smile. “You won’t die and you will not be alone. We can go on these walks once a week if you’d like? Perhaps, if you let me and if I’m able, I’ll loosen the restraints on you. You can be as close to free as you let yourself.”

[inhumanghostlight]

He couldn’t focus. Didn’t even know what to focus on. There’s nothing left he could get a hold on to, she took away the ground he was standing on. The ground he managed to build under his feet in all this time being here. It wasn’t even crumbling, it’s simply not there anymore and he’s.. falling. Into god knows where.

And he didn’t understand it. It went well. So well. She even came talking to him in person. Had a good feeling to get into her at last. Finding something she lost on the way. Instead she threw him out, so far. What happened?

Lucas closed his eyes for a moment – it didn’t make a difference. The darkness sat in his mind like the cold in his bones, and he pushed the heels of his hands so hard into his eye sockets it hurt. His stomach felt sick and he was near throwing up, if there was something he could lose. Disgusting. Pitiful. Again.. he adjusted.

“..got it.” It was a faint whisper only, but she would hear. Be happy. You eventually win.

[epuilibrium-blog]

I’m well aware that I’ve won your war.

She had him backed into his corner, his whisper like a sweet melody she’d long forgotten. 

What was it called again?

It’s been so long, she could hardly remember it now. 

“Was that so difficult, Mathis? Yielding to me, obeying? If you work hard enough, I may let you attempt to get close. You are, after all, one of my favorites.” She made sure to let the final word sink in, as if to seal his fate here. He wouldn’t be leaving any time soon, and it was obvious enough that he was to listen to every one of her commands. His abilities were hers to control. Whatever fear he had would need to be wiped away, forgotten just as quickly as it came. There was no need for it now, she would have her way with him and that would be the end of it. 

She’s already won, why continue to fight it now?

[epuilibrium-blog]

vandalprince:

She had him eating out of her palms so easily. He blinks owlishly. To be honest he wasn’t expecting it to be easy. He didn’t think it would go away quickly; hell he might relapse considering how long this has been going on. And that was even if he could be ‘cured’. Delsin nods curtly, staring up at her, his confidence non-existent but that didn’t matter since he did trust you. “I do,” He whispers, “I’ve got nothing to prove if I don’t. You’re the only one I can trust anyway.”

She can’t help the corners of her mouth turning up at that, a smile however small stretching her thin lips. 

Just where I want you.

“I promise what happens there will purely be for your own benefit. I wouldn’t use you, especially not for my own personal cause. You have your reasons, I’ve my own. Together, we’ll overcome this illness.”

[lunarcries-a]

Sarah couldn’t help but scoff as the word ‘bio-terrorist’ left Augustine’s lips. Hypocrite. Suppressing the urge to frown or back away from the concrete queen, she made her cautious approach, once giddy smile swiftly beginning to weaken. Short walk? Any sight of the world outside this hellhole was good enough for her.

“Uh, Augustine? Do you… Do you know how my dad is? I dunno how long I’ve been here for but he’s on his own and-” she quickly cut herself off, trying to hold back her tears, “I just want to know that he’s okay…”

[epuilibrium-blog]

Her response to the word was expected, but it was something Brooke had grown used to over the years. She had to use something so bitter in a case like this. She had to win their trust, no matter the consequences. 

“I... would need to look into it before giving you an answer, dear,” The added syllable to the end of her sentence surely would send her a step back, should Sarah not see it as some sort of friendliness. “I’d like to keep up the image of myself to you, and a lie would put a stain on that image. I can tell you tomorrow.”

[rcprobate-archive]

Delsin couldn’t tell if she was being serious or not. Still,he wouldn’t want their powers, to deal with their memories and horrors.Struggling with three he had now was enough. All he wanted was to be better again which was why he was putting letting this happen instead of riding it out in Seattle. He was tired of being sick.

“Right yeah,” He looks away, still nervous, “That’s gonna be really nice though.” Delsin can’t even imagine how it’s going to feel. A day without being sick? A week? It all seemed so impossible, like some dream that he wouldn’t want to wake from. Though he could still do without all the Curdun stuff… “I’d do anything to stop being broken.”

[epuilibrium-blog]

Anything?

“Of course, you won’t need to worry once we get you on track. You need to know, as a small disclaimer, this will not be an easy process. If it were easy, it wouldn’t be effective,” Now she was guaranteeing something she had no power to control. There was no talk of Conduits getting sick from their abilities, and now she spoke of it as if she had watched and conducted each trial. 

“Delsin, you need to trust me once we get there. Everything I say is only to benefit you.” 

[inhumanghostlight]

Her words sink deep. Deep into his stomach and spread; bitter, numbing and yet so toxic, he feels his whole body getting weak.

There it is. She finally said it.

All the threats he heard and went through before, like they would cause him pain or cut meals, deprive him of sleep or keep him trapped in this eternal darkness - it had been still durable as punishment for being unable to fulfill her wishes. Somehow, he managed. He adjusted. And waited for an opportunity to make up for it, to talk to her, reason with her. Somehow he always could make it through everything she threw at him.

But he doesn’t want to die. She never said it so bluntly before and it causes him to slide down the wall he was leaning against because his legs gave in. Being not even worth breathing anymore..

Lucas’ mind got blank after a while, searching for an answer to this; he was so good at dealing with changing situations, but he couldn’t find a way out of this. He tried to fight but he couldn’t. She tried to push him to his limits and he almost got killed, every damn time because he refused to fight back,refused to hurt people. Useless as a soldier. And now he realized he was completely useless as a human being for her as well.

Whatever she wanted to accomplish with it, it was at least working partially. Lucas went quiet; all attempts to get that glowing crowbar into a crack of her shell faltered. Instead there was an even bigger shell growing; another punch in his face. He messed up. He doesn’t want to die. But can’t even tell her, because there is not a single reason to convince her otherwise. There’s nothing he can offer her to spare him. Nothing.

“..please don’t kill me..” Pleading is the only thing he can do. And it feels horrible. But there’s nothing left.

[epuilibrium-blog]

She wants to keep going, keep pushing because finally she’s broken through his stubbornness. It was a threat he knew she would stay true to, should her plan call for such a harsh decision. She had leverage against him, something to use against him now that he’s broken away from his pride.

“You’ve proven to me numerous times that you’re not fit to be here any longer,” Hesitation, certain words had to be said in such a critical time. It’s make or break, and she’s not done creating a disaster just yet. 

There was so much to do now, having this threat be seen as what it was. This was not a bluff, not a lie. He would need to learn if he wanted to stay alive here. It was almost like the time he spent here already was wiped away, the progress she slowly made was erased. 

“Do you understand what I will ask of you goes against the morals you so stubbornly latched on to? You value your life, therefore you need to do exactly as I say. If I tell you to jump, you jump. If I tell you to fight, you fight.”

[epuilibrium-blog]

taggingsmoke:

He nods, turning back up to her with a weak smile, “Whatever makes me less sick I’m fine with.” He won’t lie, he’s still scared, and there’s a part of him that was thinking this was all a mistake. There wasn’t much he could do outside of Curdun though. The training methods for Fetch were still in his head, no one was going to get hurt, so really it was his only option.

Delsin was just happy Augustine wasn’t treating him like some other conduit. She could’ve just locked him up instead of listening to him but she didn’t. That’s why his faith was with her. If anyone could make him better it had to be her. It had to.

“If this situation was different you’d’ve been sending me to an all you can leech conduit power buffet. Imagine the chaos,” He was trying to make a joke, laughing nervously. “Not sure my body could handle all those powers though…”

She thought over his words for a moment, wondering if that were his plan all along. Never once was he truly ailed by the powers he held, he was just starved for more. 

“Well, if you suppressed the Bio-Terrorist’s abilities, I just might consider letting you take their powers.” Augustine was thinking aloud, not registering what she was saying to the boy. Of course she would never let him near the others, never let him so much as see them. That was far too much of a risk and she never took comfort in knowing there may be a flaw in her scheme. 

“But let me reassure you, I’ll do what I can to make sure you won’t be sick anymore.”

[lunarcries-a]

The change in tone was a surprise as Sarah cautiously exited the cell. This felt wrong. There had never been a time in her memory when a journey had been so casual and calm. Not where it ended outside, seeing the sun again. Was this some kind of sick trick?

“Could you? Please? As much as I love this bland hoodie, it isn’t the warmest.” Her gut was telling her to go back to wallowing in a cell, not walk side by side with the face of the DUP. There had to be a twist, must be. “Uh, I don’t know where we’re meant to be going in this place… Lead the way, Augustine.”

[epuilibrium-blog]

Just for a moment, a finger pressed to the com in her ear to call into the central guard station.

“I’ll be going out soon with one of the Bio-Terrorists. Just a short walk ‘round the north hangar. No, just the coat will do.” Pesky guards make for easy accidents. She turned back to Sarah, never once making an effort to lower her tone when she called. Of course there wasn’t any reason to, Sarah was playing in just nicely. 

“A few guards will be meeting us at the door out, I doubt they’ll have something in your size,” You’re just so small. “But it will definitely keep you warm.”

[luridacity]

C’mon, Maggots! It’s a Party!

Indie Reboot Dante

Semi-Selective

Partial Canon (Post-Game)

OC/Crossover Friendly 

Semi-Paras to Novels (Please, No One-Liners)

AUs Welcome

written by doot

[inhumanghostlight]

It takes him nearly half a minute to answer. There’s too much to swallow and choke down. Disappointment. That’s all he hears.

“You know I can’t.” The voice is thin, but doesn’t shake; he’s serious. He can’t. He tried, but it just doesn’t work.

Lucas didn’t come here by choice, but just as the person he is, he did an excellent job to adjust to this new situation and just deal with it, making it as pleasant for him as possible. Always cooperative. Never the stubborn one. All those test she had run on him, he endured without rebelling. And she was pleased. She said he was doing great. A single, tiny hint of a smile, a tap on the shoulder – he remembered it so vividly, even though he was close to fall unconscious back then. But he would never forget this warm feeling spreading in him. He did great. The training had been a bigger step, Luke never liked to wield his power in that manner, it wasn’t easy. Exhausting, the light was so.. nervous.. erratic. Too easy to lose control of it, of himself, and he was so scared of the insane amount of energy breaking loose. But he still tried. For her. To get a tap on the shoulder, to get to her soft side again. But something had changed. She instead got harder and impatient, punishing him and other inmates for the slightest mistakes. Forcing him into fights with other conduits and got FURIOUS when he refused. Lucas never found out what made her change, but he blamed the others. There was too much hate in here.

“I’m not a soldier and never will be, you know that. Why are you trying so hard..” With an arm he brushes over his face to wipe off this glowing shit, stains everywhere on his arm and shirt for as long as it takes them to dry.

“Why can’t there be more for a conduit than just.. being a soldier?” Please. I just don’t want to be useless.

[epuilibrium-blog]

Disappointment couldn’t cover how she felt. It was no longer disappointment, in fact. More so disgust than anything else. How pathetic, a waste of time and energy. Nothing more than garbage, useless and taking up space. 

What am I supposed to do with someone so worthless?  Augustine sighed, trying to think of a plan for what to do next. He wouldn’t train, wouldn’t fight, wouldn’t do anything but whine and complain. What use does he have? Why is he here if he wouldn’t do as she said? Why was he so difficult? Why, why why?! 

This went against all of her plans. Another missing piece in her puzzle and she can’t find replacements. 

“’More for a Conduit’?” She mocks him, trying to make him hear how idiotic he sounds. “There’s only one thing left for you to be, if not a soldier. I’m sure you would hate that option,” Brooke was going too far, thinking without clarity and drawing from the wrong part of herself. “Do you want to die, Mathis? Is that the path you choose? In this world, you fight back or you die. Does my training make sense now?” 

[mini-musings]

describe your muse as shittily as possible in the tags.

[epuilibrium-blog]

♥ ❥✿❣!!

♥: Your dialogue❥:Your internal monologues (thoughts)✿:Your characterization❣:Your descriptionsooohhhhh bless ur soul ;; 

[inhumanghostlight]

Lucas didn’t feel that coming. Augustine’s hand hit his cheek, actually the whole side of his face, and he couldn’t hold against it, resulting his head flying to the side, making him stumble and reach for the wall for support.

It hurt.

Augustine was strong. A well-trained soldier, the force of concrete flowing with her every strike. The awful taste of blood pooled in his mouth where teeth had pierced the inside of his cheek.

It stung.

Physically. But her words hurt so much deeper. He hated it when she called him by his last name. This.. joke of a family.

He couldn’t help it; the pain and this horrible feeling of failure made his eyes swim. A thin layer of glowing liquid - being the only source of light in this room it illuminated his features in the area around his eyes. Spooky. { An odd abnormality about his body. Since he was deprived of any form of getting powers, his eyes were still able to produce liquid light, no matter how hard they tried to starve him from light to absorb. } Still glowing. Still showing. And he hated it, because it was so easy to see his tears, poking out through the darkness like a slow, peaceful lightning on his cheeks.

Lucas stayed on the wall with his head slightly spinning from that heavy slap, hiding his face behind an arm - he didn’t want to show any more weakness to her. And yet. He wasn’t ready to give it up. The hope, his good will to change something got beaten down so often, and yet he wasn’t ready to stop trying.

“I don’t! I.. I really don’t. I want to help, I know you want that back!” Maybe it was a bad idea to push it even further. But he wanted a hit on her, too. A hit in the right spot. Hitting the right thought, the right idea in her mind.

[epuilibrium-blog]

Liar. Liar, liar, liar.

He was pushing too far too fast, going after some fragment of herself she was too careless to hide away whenever she spoke to him. Augustine knew what he could do if he had just a sliver of her weakness, and she refused to fall victim to such ridiculousness.

“I’ve said it before, and you forced me to say it again. You’re a fool, Mathis,” His name feels bitter on her tongue, and it rolls from her mouth with just as much disgust. Her tone had to mimic how she felt, so utterly disappointed in her current project. “You were trained better than this. Directed better than this, and now? Now you can barely talk your way out of this.” How did it go? Silver tongue turned to lead?

The Concrete Conduit takes a step back, noting the brightness of his face and realizing how poor of shape he’s in. It should matter to her, should force her to lay off, but there was never any good coming from a reward without punishment. No, if you want to teach it a new trick, you had to force it to learn.

“You’re so infatuated with giving me back what I lost. Another fault, it seems. All I want back from you is the soldier I’ve been raising when you first stepped inside this station. If you want me to be happy, I guess you better bring him back.”

[epuilibrium-blog]

Tell me what you like BEST about my writing!

♡: Your narration

♥: Your dialogue

❥: Your internal monologues (thoughts)

❣: Your descriptions

❦: Your details

❧: Your plots

✽: Your ideas

✿: Your characterization

❁: There's good sentence variation!

✤: Your figurative language

❋: Your use of side characters

☆: Your understandably

☄: WILDCARD! Other: ______

[epuilibrium-blog]

The Queen pauses, almost inside the APC, having been caught a tad off-guard. Something’s caught her eye, and she’s almost never distracted from a mission this important. She’ll take the bait, just this once, to see where this goes.

“Just what do you think you’re doing?”

[epuilibrium-blog]

skvgga:

She flinched as the wipe touched her hand, remaining fingers balling into a fist. The burning sensation hadn’t been expected and she could feel her head beginning to swim, nausea slowly settling in. Only when the pad was pressed to the wound and the hand wrapped in bandages did she look up, cautiously inspecting the concrete queen’s handiwork.

Why did she care? Unacceptable? That was the last word Sarah had expected Augustine to say in regards to the ‘experiments’ carried out in Curdun. Curdun Cay Station. Conduit Sanctuary. Perhaps Augustine was hoping for the latter.

“Thanks… I-uh, I really appreciate it. Didn’t really expect you to care so much…” The mention of sun had her smiling, pushing herself up to stand, holding her injured hand against her stomach. Sunlight never agreed with her, especially after over or under using her powers, but the opportunity was far too good to miss. She would much rather risk a headache than stay cooped up in the cell.

“That’s great! Can we go? I haven’t been out in so long.”

A part of Augustine wanted to keep Sarah inside, to protect her in here as best she could. Get her a fresh set of clothes, something warm to eat. Take care of her. If she wanted to go outside, however, who was she to say no?

“It’s a bit warmer today, now that the sun is out. Do you still want me to get you a coat?” Her formalities in her speech were all but gone now. She was trying to make this as casual as possible and to not seem like an escort from cell block to cell block. Sarah was different, special. She had to be treated as such, right?

[epuilibrium-blog]

taggingsmoke:

“Right, yeah,” Except this school trip wasn’t exactly a trip. He’s not coming back for a long time. His hands rub together nervously, trying to remember everything so nothing is left out. There were important things that he had to mention because it could help Augustine fix him. All ofit made him feel so utterly broken. He would’ve laughed but chose against it.

Sliding to sit more comfortably, he avoided eye contact. “I got them when I grabbed Hank’s hand to try and get him off me. It hurt like asonova bitch.” The pain was hardly bearable. His hands ached, head pounding loudly as images flashed in his head.  “I was too scared to use my powers so I held them in. My chest would get a lot of bruises, sometimes I’d have nose bleeds, either blood or tar. Uh… I’ve puked neon. My voice breaks with video.”

Delsin sighed and dropped his head into his hands. He  was just one giant mess.

She paused for a moment, taking in what Delsin revealed to her. The sickness he had, it had to be some sort of over-load, right? As if he was containing too much power at once and he couldn’t hold it in for as long as he wanted. That had to be the case, right?

Augustine crossed her legs, then placed her hands on her lap. She was both focusing on Delsin’s face and on what he told her. There had to be an explanation for it, had to be something in his genes that would explain this. Some sort of mutation of the actual Conduit gene that would make it this way. She never had her own Concrete betray her like that. 

“After we document each of your powers and we start training you to control them, we’ll give you less to work with. I am not a doctor, I just sign their papers, but that seems to be the best route for you.”