AN OVERACTIVE IMAGINATION.

❝Got bridges to burn, and places to run. Yeah, this smile is a loaded gun.❞ NEOPOLITAN of RWBY penned by persephone! [affiliated with isola radiale]

[hushedblade]

nobumaou​:

@hushedblade​ wants a bad time!

❖ “What? You can’t talk, hm? Hmhmhm… That truly is a problem! Here I thought you looked interesting so I wanted to discuss some things, but hm…” 

“Here! Write using these!” She produced a piece of construction paper and a crayon. Nobbu, are you five years old?

Whether or not she couldn’t talk or chose not to was a secret that she kept close to her; so, for someone to thrust such a childish set of items at her in order to communicate... Neo almost dropped them on the ground out of spite. Almost.

Instead, she wrote “What do you want?” on the paper in large letters, hoping she would not have to write much more.

[hushedblade]

thewhitepuellamagi​:

@hushedblade​ liked for a starter

“Is this the Golden Ward?” The difference of size between the two is evident, with Oriko seemingly looming over despite being the youngest one (possibly?), what she was certain of that this was what they called The Fun Zone. Things very much vary between wards, it seems.

Neopolitan looked up, an eyebrow quirked ever so slightly. Goodness, was this woman tall... especially in comparison to herself. Sometimes, she really did hate being so small. At least this woman wasn’t a threat, she thought.

Regardless of her own inner thoughts, Neo nodded; yes, the two of them were certainly in the Golden Ward. She had just been passing through the area, but what was this woman doing here? Neo was just curious enough to stop so that she might find out.

[hushedblade]

illusence​:

“I’d bet that you were devoured by Grimm. He’d bet on Torchwick being tenacious as a cockroach.“ 

Now she knew Torchwick lived. Though getting thrown into this place wasn’t how Emerald had imagined being proven wrong. 

Perhaps she was stirring the fire with her quip, but they were never going to be the type of allies who were perfectly friendly to each other. Emerald might even prefer Neo’s ire over the calm smug look she wore.

“Don’t tell Merc he won.”

Neo scoffed. She was almost surprised that they were both wrong, but, she had no intention of letting Emerald know that. Instead, letting her think the opposite was not only advantageous, it was more amusing. So, she shook her head at Emerald’s of the bet... only to smirk a moment later.

A shame she couldn’t tell Mercury much of anything right now-- Neo wouldn’t mind causing a little friction between the two of them. Seeing them bicker was amusing.

Neo finally turned completely, only allowing Emerald to see her back as they walked. They were nearing their destination anyway-- the subway station. Neo was curious if it was still operational, as she did prefer it to walking.

[hushedblade]

xcoriate‌:

“You don’t trust me, do you?”

Shigaraki suddenly asked out of nowhere. He knew he didn’t look like much, but he was perceptive when he wanted to be. He only said this after he had led Neo back to base, and poured her a drink.

He had absolutely no idea what her favorite drink was, and she couldn’t tell him, so he just guessed.

Shigaraki leaned back against the bar resting his elbows against it. He tilted his neck all the way to the side until they cracked. There was always something a little bit off about his movements. They were jerky and unnatural. Almost like a shambling corpse trying to imitate life. 

“That’s fine, I wouldn’t trust me either. So you don’t want to be my friend, boo hoo. I guess I’ll cry about it a little.” 

Shigaraki’s shriveled up lips peeled back revealing a smile. He gestured in the air with his empty hands. 

“But, I bet there are people you hate worse than me, aren’t there?”

Neopolitan shook her head with a smirk.

Of course she didn’t trust him, but, there was no way that he trusted her. They’d only just met, after all. Even still, she followed him. She had been in many a bar, and otherwise seedy establishments, but Neo took quick note how this place was empty, save for the two of them.

Creepy.

Neo wasn’t touching that drink; he could have it if she wanted, but she knew better than to take things from strangers.

At his question, though, her smirk returned with a curt nod. There were plenty of people she despised. She quirked an eyebrow at Shigaraki, as if to throw his question right back at him. Who did he hate?

[theoddbun]

pls let neo come back with a vengeance for roman

[hushedblade]

illusence‌:

“Two weeks? No, more like two months since you went missing. Did the kids at Beacon give you that much trouble?” She was being cheeky now, anything to distract from the unusual circumstances she found herself in. Emerald hated to admit it, but they hadn’t exactly been on a winning streak since Beacon. But Neo didn’t need to know that.

Hearing, or rather, seeing Neo confirm Torchwick’s survival, Emerald tutted her tongue. “You know, Merc and I had a bet about what happened…” 

Neo nodded at the mention of months, but just as quickly shook her head at the mention of Beacon Academy’s students. A bunch of children were hardly a match for her, though whether the same could be said for Emerald... well, Neo wouldn’t comment on that.

Still walking quite confidently, Neopolitan quirked an eyebrow in Emerald’s direction. A bet, huh? Whatever did she mean by that?

Of course, Neo could make a few educated guesses, but would have much preferred to hear it straight from the other woman. Considering that Neopolitan wasn’t too enthused by the possibilities that came to mind, learning about this so-called bet would be better heard from Emerald than Mercury. Neo did prefer the woman over the man, anyhow.

[hushedblade]

xcoriate‌:

“Oh great you don’t want to kill me. That means we’re best fucking friends now.” 

Shigaraki tilted his head the same way a child might as he observed Neo.  He had to watch her features close because he did not want to miss a single thing her expression might imply. His only reaction to the knife (or in this case umbrella) being removed from his throat was a slight smirk.

She seemed to have dubbed him useful at least. He was fine with that. He would use her, and she would use him, and that was how villains treated those close to them. They were all pieces on the Shogi board (even though Shigaraki did not know the rules to Shogi). 

He turned around and started to walk off, his black overcoat trailing behind him as he did. “I’ll show you our base. Technically it’s not set up yet, so we might look like a bunch of losers sleeping in a basement, but trust me we’re evil.” Shigaraki knew Neo would not respond, so he decided to do enough talking for the both of them. 

“Do you have any friends you’re on the lookout for in this city? We can help you find them. If scum like you even has any friends… I mean.” 

Neopolitan exhaled sharply, her unique version of a snort-- she found his words amusing. Best friends, he said, how hilarious.

She took note of his observing eye, and made no attempt to hide her own. Even though she had lowered her parasol, the two of them were still akin to two predators circling around one another, waiting for an opportunity that suited them. If that opportunity ever arrived, neither of them would hesitate to pounce upon it. It was a clearly unspoken fact, the kind that Neo preferred best.

So, she followed him, having no issue with keeping in line with his stride. She was not surprised by how quickly he began to fill the silence; most people found it so uncomfortable, but he didn’t, did he? No, he seemed to just be talking solely for the act of doing so, which she didn’t particularly mind, either.

Neo shook her head at his question; it wasn’t that she didn’t have friends (read, friend), but that she had already found the person she wanted to see most. Now, if he could help her find out if any more of her enemies were around, that would be really useful.

[hushedblade]

illusence‌:

Emerald followed Neo as she turned down a dark alleyway. Her hands hovered by her weapon, ready to draw in case they found themselves ambushed. Her lips were pursed in a frown, her steps lacking the lightness of Neo’s. Emerald had been in her fair share of sketchy streets that the choice of route wasn’t the cause of her unease, but rather the unknowns of her situation. Since Cinder found her and gave her purpose, she had never been without direction. The silence of her companion did nothing to lift her apprehension. Emerald spoke up, distracting herself from her thoughts.

“How many weeks have you been here? I imagine your boss is out there somewhere, taking advantage of this chaos.” 

Was Emerald always this chatty, or was it the situation that caused her to speak so much? Neo supposed it was the latter, but knew how her own silence could cause others to fill the space with their words. She didn’t really mind, though, not in most situations. Passing through a creepy alleyway was one of those scenarios.

How many weeks had she been here? Good question-- the weeks had turned into months, so Neo instead held up two fingers, standing for months as opposed to weeks. Emerald didn’t need to know the distinction, or perhaps Neo simply didn’t feel like holding up two hands’ worth of fingers.

Regardless, she nodded, pleased to know that yes, Roman was out and about, having fun just as she was. Maybe they could all meet up and have a reunion. Or, not. Neopolitan was flexible.

[hushedblade]

illusence‌:

“Are you enjoying this?” Seeing the nonchalant way the other reacted, Emerald had to wonder what Neo found so entertaining about the chaos filling the city. To her it was an annoyance. They were messing with her, dropping her into this place right in the middle of their war. She could care less which side won, especially now that NULL had gone back on their word. 

She simply wanted to survive. Survive as she always had, and find her way back to…where, exactly? Emerald wasn’t sure, but she knew the person who mattered to her wasn’t here. She ignored the uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach, covering it up with her attitude.

“Whatever, let’s get going before this place is overrun. Someone else can play hero for this city block. Know anywhere that’s not so popular with the crowds?”

At Emerald’s initial question, she simply shrugged. If she was enjoying anything, Neo wouldn’t tell.

Neopolitan was an opportunistic woman, and saw this island as a place full of opportunities for her to take; there was plenty to enjoy, chaos aside. Emerald clearly had just arrived, and Neopolitan saw her freshness as just another way to entertain herself for the time being.

So, she nodded, and began to take the lead. With Emerald in tow, Neopolitan took the nearest turn into the darkest and most foreboding street around. Where was she heading? Well, she wouldn’t spill those details, either. Emerald would just have to wait and see where this alley way might take them.

[hushedblade]

vereisten‌:

As bureau chief, Winter became more involved in day to day happenings than when she was a specialist in Atlas. Despite having been to many crime scenes, she could never understand the curiosity of civilians as they crowded around, peering in for longer than necessary.

It’s always given her unintentional anxiety; always wondering if the culprit was among them. But on the other hand, her optimism urged that perhaps there was an eyewitness to the incident. A sloppy robbery in broad daylight. The culprit was reckless, but brazen. Surely someone had to have seen something. Approaching the onlookers, who seemed surprised by her sudden attention, Winter addressed them.

❝ Did anyone witness what took place here? We would appreciate any details you have to offer, no matter how small they may seem. ❞

Neo wasn’t surprised by the woman’s direct approach; from what she knew of the Schnee, it made sense. Yet, as much as she would love to volunteer to ‘help’, Neo knew that it wouldn’t be the best of ideas even for a risk-taker like herself. So, she would have to find another way to further this entertaining scene, which wouldn’t be too hard for a villain like herself.

Looking to her side, Neopolitan noted a few individuals who had stopped to stare around the same time she had. She stepped back silently, blending right back into the crowd with little issue. As she did so, Neo twirled her parasol in her hand, using the handle to shove a random stranger forward. If no one was going to volunteer for Ms. Schnee, then Neo had no problem giving her a little help.

The man shoved forward stumbled, both in steps and words, and Neo couldn’t help but smirk at his fumbling. What would he say? How would Winter react? She would wait within the crowd and watch, eager to see how things would develop from here.

[hushedblade]

illusence‌:

@hushedblade​​

“So you and your boss didn’t go belly up.” 

In the chaos following the fall of Beacon, Emerald had assumed the pair either deserted or died. She couldn’t say she’d missed them much, but if she had her pick of accomplices, Neo was far preferable to working with that creep Tyrian. 

Now wasn’t a bad time to find an ally. She’d seen the monsters flooding out of the island in the sky, an unsettling summoning of creatures that reminded her of Salem’s power and sent an old shiver down her spine. She wanted to know what the hell was going on. 

“Does this mean our alliance is still on? Or should I ask - do you intend to stick around? Because things are starting to look pretty bad out there, and I can’t trust someone who bails.”

A smirk is all she gives the other woman at first; the equivalent of a laugh in this situation. Neo was well aware of the chaos that was enveloping the island, and though it had recently escalated, it did not alarm her as much as it clearly was Emerald. 

Between the unease Emerald was trying to hide and her desire for company, Neopolitan was unsure of which she found more amusing. Oh, well, there was nothing wrong with seeing how far this could go and how much fun she could have with it.

So, with a twirl of her parasol and a slight bow, Neo nodded, almost as if she was eager to agree with the notion of an alliance. Even if it was temporary or not, Neopolitan supposed she would have her fill of fun today regardless.

[hushedblade]

liketorchwork‌:

          “– Ya know, Neo? I was just thinking that I needed something to distract me for a while. This place hasn’t given us a good excuse for a big brawl in a really long time, it feels like. It’s about time we get something new… Something to shake things up from the usual run ins with Little Red and her gang of brats.“

     Roman twirled the hook of his cane around his finger a few times, eventually gripping the handle to place the full cane against the back of his neck. Both hands now had a firm grip on the handle… and it’s not long before the downpour began to reach them. The coasts of Golden were flooding at a rapid rate, so of course that would make a mess before the two even reached their destination.

          “……. I really hope we get to kill someone.“

She nods, eager not only to indulge in the sort of things she found fun, but also to join Roman in said endeavors. Committing crime was enjoyable, but was even moreso when done with friends. So, with a spring in her step and a smirk on her face, Neo was clearly content to engage in just the sort of ‘distractions’ that Roman spoke of.

And then, almost as if on some sort of cue, a flash of lightning struck nearby; a clap of thunder soon followed, as did the sudden onslaught of rain. It was almost surprising, especially how the flimsy parasol she had was of little use. Well, maybe the latter wasn’t especially shocking, but it certainly was aggravating.

By the time the two of them arrived to... well, wherever this was, they were thoroughly drenched. Neo gave a short and curt exhale, the only gesture necessary to convey just how nice committing a murder sounded right about now.

[hushedblade]

liketorchwork‌:

          “Hm, not really sure what good our masks will do right now– not like anyone really cares about stuff beyond the current problem… But yeah, just in case. I’ll go on and head your way, I was just… wrapping up business at the bar. Eh– what little business was left when this mess started, at least. Catch ya later.“

     With a swift tap to end the call, the phone was put away before Roman finally stood up, one hand still holding a full shot. It only took a few seconds to down the rest of it before he just… tossed it aside, making it break against the wall. He’ll clean it up later, assuming nothing happens to the bar later. The owner finally made his way out, grabbing his trusty cane and hat near the door on the way. Giving the door a hard shut before locking it, Torchwick began his long walk over to where Boss wanted everyone to meet. This was gonna be a very busy mess to focus on… The least they can do is make it fun for him.

It was almost impossible to be unaware of the chaos running rampart on this island-- which, for the record, was just the sort of chaos that Neopolitan preferred. She figured that the only way to be ignorant of what was happening was to be willfully so. Neo fashioned herself to be the opposite sort; she was quite intrigued, and was further content to note that so was the only person she trusted in this entire city.

The sound of glass breaking caused her to smirk-- she wondered who would clean up that little mess, as it certainly wouldn’t be her (or Roman for that matter, if she had to guess). Oh, well, that wasn’t of much importance now, was it? No, no, the destination of her red-headed friend was, so Neo had no problem silently falling in line behind Roman.

[hushedblade]

sanpatron‌:

There had been talk among the crew about how a group of wannabes were running around calling themselves Saints. Of course this was immediately a big issue for the gang as they were doing their gosh-darn hardest in keeping themselves relatively hidden for the time being. The last thing any of them needed were a bunch of chucklefucks pretending to be them and causing a storm across the city, so obviously the big man himself was gonna have to deal with it.

Thankfully it wasn’t that hard to track these poor fools down. For whatever reason they had decided to take inspiration from the gang’s first venture into the criminal underworld and dress themselves head to toe in purple. A few of the Boss’s informants had wound up spotting these idiots off in some part of the city, so it was only a matter of time before he arrived to the scene.

Now what he had assumed would be a simple beat down to discipline a bunch of idiots had turned into stumbling upon somebody else having already done his dirty work. However, what was more surprising was just who exactly had gone and dealt with this in the first place.

“ Jesus, Neo. Ya really did a number on these idiots. ” he finally says while stepping over some of the bodies. “ Did Roman ask you to do this, or did ya find it in your heart to do us a favor? ” He begins to prod at one of the unconscious bodies with his foot. “ Hmm. Never thought I’d see anyone trying t’ copy the gang. Eh, guess there’s a first time for everything. ”

Neopolitan was unaware of any sort of subterfuge-- she didn’t much care to listen to what those she beat down had to say. At least, not in this context. On the contrary, Neo had simply poked her nose into the business of others, where it did not belong, and had acted on a whim. If anything, she was just blowing off some steam, taking out any mixture of negative emotions she might have been feeling out on others.

So, when another man strolls up to the scene, Neopolitan doesn’t expect much. Whether he was with these fools beneath her heel or no, she didn’t much care. She was fine with dealing with him in a similar manner, should she so desire, and looked upon him with a smirk that reflected such thoughts.

Yet, when the large man opened his mouth, her expression drastically shifted. Her eyes narrowed, and she leaned forward where she sat. Her smirk had turned into quite the frown as well.

Her mind was abuzz with questions, and her suspicion was evident on her face. Who was this man? How did he know of her? How did he know Roman? And most of all, why did he think he could refer to her so casually?

[hushedblade]

liketorchwork‌:

     The mastermind of crime, while normally a perceptive man regarding his surroundings, was too busy in the middle of a… slightly heated phone call to notice his accomplice just yet. Just another stooge, completely incompetent with his own job– another mess for Roman to clean up! It’s a tad difficult to keep his voice composed right now… but surely the goon on the other end can feel how unhappy his boss is right now.

          ”Listen up– here’s your only warning. Either you find a way to replace what went missing, or it’s coming straight from your paycheck. Just be glad I’m not in a blood money kind of mood.” With that, the call finally ended… … And what fascinating timing– just as he felt that someone was stepping into his business, there was the familiar nudge of an umbrella to the side.

          “Whoa– sneaky little…“ Just like that, his tone was… altered so drastically. No longer an annoyed boss on edge… and all it took was one person’s presence. “You keep disappearing on me, Neo– I swear, I’m gonna have to get a bell on you or something.”

How many times had she heard him scold someone incompetent? Usually, it brought an amused smirk to her lips, but now she could only smile ever so softly. It was nostalgic, even if he was somehow standing so close. Perhaps it was because it had been so long, too long, since she’d heard his voice. Tegardless, to stand in his presence again... she hadn’t thought it to be something possible, yet here they both were.

This island really was strange.

At his acknowledgement of her, Neo paused. What did he mean, ‘she kept disappearing on him’? Her expression scrunched up in confusion. Such an honest view, one that only Roman Torchwick was allowed to see. 

What was he referring to? It had been years since she had last seen him, yet his words implied as if he had just recently seen her. That didn’t make any sense-- none of this did. Thankfully, the confusion she felt was quite evident on her face, and he was the one person who could so readily understand her.

[hushedblade]

xcoriate‌:

“You’re doing this all to survive, right?”

Neo showed him the same eyes that everyone else did. He could already sense her disappointment. He knew he was nothing to look at. 

“You don’t need to say anything. I already know. You look hungry. Like you’d kill and eat anyone just to survive another day.” 

Shigaraki did not understood the hearts of people at all. He hated people. However, those who were not considered humans. The psychopaths, the deranged, the ones who didn’t get along well with others. The hated, the despised. He would expose his back to her, and let her stab it. That was the only kind of camraderie that a villain could know. 

“It’s easier to survive in a group, than to survive alone. You’re hungry, right? I’ll let you eat me. I probably taste like shit, though.” 

Neopolitan listened, giving this odd man more of her attention than she would give most strangers. She could not deny that he had a point, despite the weird analogy he was using. 

There were things she wanted, things she desired; whether or not they all could be found in this city, with or without this man (or anyone who followed him), was debatable. Even so, if this shaggy-haired man was going about recruiting all sorts of people, he likely had (or at least had access to) information that she did not. That alone could be useful.

So, she gave a soft exhale, closing then twirling the parasol in her hand, only to prop it over her shoulder all in one fluid, quick movement.

Neo smirked, giving a nod. Whether she was agreeing at his ‘taste like shit’ comment, or just the sentiment of his entire spiel, she would let him decide.

[hushedblade]

petalbursting‌:

           ——-  OH   … Shit. That was her suspicion, but she really didn’t want to believe it. Silver eyes immediately widened with alarm, far too preoccupied with the keys themselves to bother downplaying it. She couldn’t get a good enough look to see the number etched into the flat end of the keys, but… Any number was a bad number. A very, very bad number. 

           Where does she go from here ?  Even if she tells her off or moves the fight to someplace else, it doesn’t change the fact that Neptune lives here — and their paths were bound to cross. Ruby isn’t sure if Neo would remember him from that brief encounter in Vale, so… there’s always the possibility that he’d be little more than a stranger to her… But somehow, she doesn’t think any of them are that lucky. And if she does remember him, and Ruby keeps this conversation up, there’s little doubt in her mind that she’d put two and two together. … Then again, on the other hand, it’s not like she can just tell Neo outright to stay away — that would be stupid, and it would ruin the possibility she’d forgotten his face ( however remote it might be ). So… what choice really was there ?  

           Where does she go from here ? She has no clue. Not even a little.

                  ❛   Of course,   ❜   Ruby finally responds — weary exasperation bleeding through her every word.   ❛   Of course you live here. … Look, I’ve got — I’ve got no real reason to fight you. Far as I’m concerned, that’s over and done with… But is it over for you ?  Or do you wanna settle this already ?   ❜

         She doesn’t have any sort of trump card, not yet. She’s yet to tell Torchwick the state of things in Remnant, she can only keep her personal life private for so long — ripping this off like a band-aid might be the only course of action. If Neo really holds a grudge, if she still sees her as that scrawny little girl dangling off the edge of an airship… Maybe they can settle this before anyone else has to get involved. … Maybe. 

Were she one to laugh boisterously in the face of others, Neopolitan likely would have done so. Really, the shocked expression that ruby Rose wore was truly hilarious. How would anyone not find it humorous, laughable even? It practically made Neo’s day, her whole week even.

She knows what she’s done. Whatever reason Ruby Rose had for being here, whether it was due to herself living here or someone else doing so, Neopolitan had put her in quite the difficult situation. They both knew it, and that made the toothy grin Neopolitan now displayed all the more poignant. She knew exactly what move she has made, and now was simply waiting for whatever rebuttal Ruby would make.

What she happened to sputter out wasn’t the outburst that Neopolitan had exactly expected, though. The grin she had previously been wearing faded away, and a neutral, albeit curious, expression was given. So... that was how she felt?

What a typical response from such a goody-two shoes of a girl.

Neopolitan frowned, suddenly as if she had decided that this little game was no longer fun. Just like that, she was bored with Ruby Rose, with the entirety of this entire interaction. Just as her earlier amusement had shown through so easily on her expression, so did now her obvious disdain.