Red Like Roses @pheramoreandnidaphyx - Tumblr Blog

nexusofmuses:

Ringabel waves the papers in front of Fiore’s face, “You can’t see what these are?” Sure enough, they’re the theorem and formulas behind the perfume. “Seems your eye sight is going with your old age as well.” He quickly pulls them back and way before the other can even move. “Honestly, that you wasn’t all there, trusting Qada with such damning things.”

He taps the book against his own forehead, “and I have the knowledge and the asterisks to make use of it. Some subtle adjustments to get past your previous immunity. Finding the right substitutes did take some time, but a little mana later…” He tucks his journal away, still grinning.

From his bag he pulls a small bottle. “And viola! Perhaps since you’re so insistent on being a thorn in my side, I give you a sample of my Ringabel Original.” He seems downright malicious now. “I think I’ll call it… La Distruzione del Fiore.”

But, what DeRosa didn’t know is that the bottle in hand was no where near ready to be actually tested. But since the man wouldn’t take his bait, he had reason to believe he wouldn’t call his bluff either.

“I can see they’re research papers but Qada’s been a researcher of potions and poisons long before Florem.” Qada - at least the Qada he’d known - had lots of research about a lot of things. So, Fiore hadn’t been considering a now very obvious danger that could have just arisen. Qada had helped greatly with the addictive ‘love potion’ mixture. And now, the Dandy had those papers, or so he claimed.

The dandy might be lying, but he also might not be. Did he really want to take that risk? It wasn’t as though the young man wasn’t clever enough to maybe do some science of his own.

“A thorn in your side? Why, dandy, I haven’t so much as looked your way since our last meeting. Unless you’ve been thinking about me while I’ve been gone~? I’m flattered~” Teasing - not really serious, but poking fun was always a good way to throw somebody off. He couldn’t help but eye Ringabel much more carefully, now, though. Nervously. This was a very risky thing to try and call bluff on.

“I see we really are two peas in a pod, then - who’s the unlucky soul you’ve been testing your products on?” DeRosa would try his luck just a little. “I’m surprised you’ve got the stomach to develop such a thing, given all the requirements involved in getting it right. Stomping those pesky morals into the ground and playing dirty, are we?”

#nexusofmuses

nexusofmuses:

“You’re the sort of fool who makes deals with Qada of all people. If your own hubris hadn’t bitten you his would have.” Ringabel, or perhaps it would be better to call him Alternis, now. “He was already playing too close to the line with his plague, because he doesn’t hide his tracks as well.”

He reached into his pocket, pulling out one of his journals.

“You might be running a perfectly legal operation…” He pulled out a section of pages that had been shoved in the back. “But as you’ve just said yourself, you’re still doing your research.” He held them up, pages upon pages of Qada’s old notes. “Wouldn’t it be interesting if I had been doing some research of my own?” An almost nasty smile spread across his face.

“You overestimate how intelligent he was. It was easy to tangle him up with some project or another - even if he was ambitious, he just didn’t have the head for it.” Case in point, being beaten by the dandy and friends. A massive supply of potions and poisons and he still gets taken down?

A shame. A waste of perfectly good talent and asterisk.

Ringabel keeps talking, though, and DeRosa can’t help but watch - curious about where the dandy is taking this and what’s so facinating that it would keep the young man so oddly cheerful. If this could be called ‘cheerful’.

“So it seems our little dandy is also a little thief - now where did you get Qada’s research?” Ah - right. Those alternate worlds the dandy had mentioned. “Alright, dandy, I’m interested.” Looking at Ringabel now with an expression that was half impressed, and half cautious. A jilted ex-lover was a dangerous thing, even if the ‘lover’ part wasn’t quite accurate here. “What sort of nasty, devious research have you been doing?”

#nexusofmuses

((Apologies for slow posting - writing muse has been tired as hell lately.))

#ooc post

pinkpompomsandkatanas:

Kamiizumi could only shrug at the mention of Geist.

“Geist is an Exorcist, so he has much experience with handling demons. And yes, he has his extreme….tendencies, but he’s not a bad ally to have, especially if he can undo your injuries.”

“That may be, but I’d have sooner expected the dandy to ask to be my apprentice. You working with Geist ‘The Bloody’ sounds more like a joke than anything.” A joke DeRosa would love to have nothing to do with. Geist was unpredictable in a way that unsettled DeRosa - and as useful as his asterisk did admittedly sound, if taking advantage of it involved having the man around? Yeah. Not a chance.

“As long as you don’t drag me into things. I may be a criminal but at least I’m not him. I at least, leave the people I torment in one piece.” A chuckle, then he adds; “Well... most of the time~”

#pinkpompomsandkatanas #I actually remember using that asterisk constantly in game #it's my favorite one~#allowed me to have a psuedo healer by virtue of 'undo'

pinkpompomsandkatanas:

Kamiizumi sighed, shaking his head.

“I don’t have any ex-lovers, so you can put that theory away.” He managed. “As for who brought up the demon theory in the first place, it was Geist. Given his past work as an Exorcist, he’s more experienced handling demons than I am…”

“Not an ex-lover of yours, an ex-lover of hers. I’ve known some men and women to call their ex-partners demons, or monsters. Pretty decent chance whoever’s calling her that might have something against the poor lady.” A shrug, then, as he continued- “Or she really is a demon. One or the other.” Then Kamiizumi mentions Geist, And Fiore finds himself paying more attention. There was a name he hadn’t heard in a while.

“Geist? I’d take what he says with several grains of salt, but I do suppose he must still know quite a bit of value, regardless. I’m surprised you of all people are alright working with him.”

#pinkpompomsandkatanas

pinkpompomsandkatanas:

Kamiizumi couldn’t help but crack a grin, hearing that DeRosa miffed a god all because he tried to go after Ringabel. “I have a feeling that deity might not leave your presence too soon…”

At the mention of the therapist, he could only sigh. “I don’t even know for sure if she is an actual demon. She denies it, of course, and I haven’t sensed any malicious intent from her. As for how we met—I was recommended to her. She’s been helpful to me with processing and coping with things…so it’s hard for me to believe that she could be a demon.”

“Oh I doubt it myself, much as I wish he would. He’s a deity with no worshippers, so it’s likely he’s got more time on his hands than he knows what to do with. So why not stalk me?” Said sarcastically, with plenty of irritation mixed in. DeRosa couldn’t help but gesture as he spoke, so miffed at the thought of being stalked by a deity for the rest of his life.

“I wouldn’t expect a demon to take up therapy, but I suppose anything can happen. I have to wonder who on earth has made you think this woman is a demon. Are you sure she’s not just one of those particularly self-confident ones?” He refrains from making a lewd comment, not in the mood to potentially drag Dardanos out of hiding yet. “I wouldn’t be surprised if it was some ex-lover with a grudge.”

#pinkpompomsandkatanas

pinkpompomsandkatanas:

Kamiizumi resisted the urge to roll his eyes at the other’s smirk.

“At least I’m not the one who has a literal deity trying to kill you…” He muttered. “And as for the demonic sword, it’s not a threat at present. The therapist is another story.”

“I’d get rid of him if I could. I had the misfortune of said deity deciding he quite liked the dandy, so when he learned of my little experiments, he got rather upset. Not unjustified, I suppose, but I do wish he’d lose interest in me already.” DeRosa hadn’t so much as put a toe out of line - or at least not in a way that’d be worth the effort of hunting him down - in ages! You would think he’d have gotten bored by now. “I’d consider a potentially demonic sword a threat regardless of if it’s being active or not, but I’m not the one in possession of it, so who can say, really. Should I even ask how on this earth and several others how you managed to get yourself wrapped up in a demonic therapist?” He added, looking at the other with an amount of fatigue.

#pinkpompomsandkatanas

nexusofmuses:

“Actually, I do know how far your mask got you.” He stepped forward, uncrossing his arms to jab a finger at DeRosa’s chest with each stress and punctuation. “It got you shafted to the Legion, Nearly as far from the duchy as you could be. It got you cornered in Florem over and over. It got you dead, dying, or running. World after world.”

Almost like a switch flipped. This isn’t the Dandy Ringabel. This is Counsel Member Alternis Dim all the way. Dark Knight in tone and so divorced from the danger he was courting.

“Your mask got you nothing.” He finally pulled his arms back, expression cold and without fear. “It’s only a matter of time before their fates catch up to you.”

Foolish, stupid, biting, and also baiting. He just needs to get under the man’s skin a little more. Just enough to force a hand…

A look of amused surprise crossed DeRosa’s face as he straightened ever so slightly. Ooh, now this was new - and fascinating. If not a touch nerve-inducing. He’d never seen the Dandy go quite this far before. Get quite this angry.

“Maybe it didn’t get me exactly what I wanted, but it got me plenty enough.” He hissed, voice quiet. Holding himself in place. Careful, Fiore, careful. He didn’t know if the dandy still had that asterisk on him, and a fight with a Dark Knight wasn’t something he wanted. “A lab, a place to experiment, and few eyes on me enough so that I could play as much as I wanted.” At least until the Dandy and his friends had messed it up. Admittedly, part of that was on him, too - he’d gotten too eager, taken a few too many noticeable people. Ah, well. That was the price one payed.

“Oh did they? Thanks ever so much for the tip then, dear dandy~ But I’m not so stupid that I don’t know when I’m pinned, and I’m not about to give you or ‘him’ any ammunition. Right now I’m standing at a cliffs edge, and I can, in fact, see it.” Arms crossed, expression irritated - but he refused to make a move. Any move he made would push him further towards that little metaphorical cliff, and he had no intention of falling - not yet, at least. “For now, I’m perfectly content doing minor amounts of research and managing a perfectly legal perfume line.”

#nexusofmuses

nexusofmuses:

The grin is met wish a sneer.

“I was taking a perfectly respectable break before you came round again.” He crossed his arms, adapting a decidedly more ‘Alternis’ stance. Something about Derosa just brought out the dark of the Dark Knight.

hm, best not to mention he hasn’t seen or spoken with Dardanos in… sometime. Since that one fact seemed to be keeping him safe. “You’d best step back, Red, Lest my fist fix your posture for you.” He tilted his head, “Or fix your jaw. I think one phoenix fist should be plenty to correct your ugly features.”

He cracked a smile. “Shame it can’t fix your truly revolting personality.”

“Well don’t let me stop you, dandy~!” He cackles. “I haven’t put a single hand on you! Not physically or metaphorically. Recently, at least.” And as much as he’d love to keep playing with the lad, tormenting him, he wasn’t exactly in the mood to bait a deity into attacking.

He knew very well that Dardanos did not like him, and wouldn’t hesitate to kill him if DeRosa started acting up again.

“We’re more similar than you think, dandy, and you know it.” He muttered, but indeed did back up, grin fading somewhat at the insult. Better a petty insult than the whole of the Duchy raining down on him, though. They’d kill him for what he’d done. “My ‘revolting personality’ has gotten me a lot farther than you think. You wouldn’t believe how far one can get with the right mask.”

#nexusofmuses

pinkpompomsandkatanas:

“I see.” Kamiizumi nodded in understanding. He supposed he’d be irritated, too, having to try to explain magic to ‘regular’ people.

At the mention of netting something interesting, the Swordmaster could only sigh. “Well, if you’re looking for something interesting from me, you won’t find anything. Not unless you want to get into particularly deadly situations that might cost you your life. From demonic swords to your therapist being accused of being a demon in disguise, that is…”

“Ooh, now that sounds interesting!” DeRosa said,smirking slightly. “I agree though - not exactly the kind of ‘interesting’ I feel I’d want to be a part of. Demonic swords and demonic therapists? I can barely handle one mostly-forgotten deity, let alone a pair of demons.” Dardanos was so much of a handful he didn’t doubt the creature would stab him in the back the second DeRosa turned to deal with these potential demons. “You can keep your demonic friends,Kamiizumi, I think I’d rather wait to get settled back out here in the open, rather than jump into the thick of a dangerous scenario right away.”

#pinkpompomsandkatanas

((Ah - whoops. Tis late! I’ll get to things in the morning when it’s not nearly midnight.))

#ooc post

((I need to rewatch the Derosa cutscenes one of these days to re-affirm how he acts. It’s been so LONG.))

#ooc post #he's probably drifted from canon derosa a lot #but I suppose that's not a bad thing

pinkpompomsandkatanas:

Kamiizumi sighs, shakes his head. “I’m not sure if I want to know who you’re dealing with now and why. And yes, the Duchy would likely slaughter you if you went back.”

He looks DeRosa in the eye. “Did you come here to see my face for the sake of me being your eye-candy, or is there something else you want from me?”

“I’m dealing with ‘regular’ people that don’t even know magic exists, much less how to incorporate it into their lives, or defend against it. Speak about magic to them and they look at you like you’re an idiot.” There goes that grin, replaced with a look of profound irritation.

“Can it be both~? But in all honesty it was just boredom. Common work can only entertain a man so long after all, and I can’t even research anything fun without getting a thousand eyes on me. I was hoping that popping back in would net me something entertaining for once.”

#pinkpompomsandkatanas

pinkpompomsandkatanas:

“You missed me.” Kamiizumi emphasized, raising a brow. “That’s certainly an odd statement coming from you. Especially given that I’ve tried killing you once.”

“I did say ‘a little’. Trust me, I don’t miss your actions, merely your face.” He gives Kamiizumi a half-grin. “You wouldn’t believe the idiots I have to put up with on a regular basis. Makes me almost miss the Duchy, if not for the fact they’d probably kill me too, now.”

#pinkpompomsandkatanas

nexusofmuses:

“My dearest detested Old Red, the mere sound of your voice is an affront to my mental well-being.” The Sarcasm is so thick it drips like venom from every word. “I can only hope to will that one day you get so bored you just leave and never come back.”

He made a little shooing motion. “I do not trust you, I do not like looking at you, and I have good reason to not even like being around you.” He flicked his hair back. “I don’t know what you’ve been up to in the last year, and I don’t trust that you won’t try something.”

He deigns not to respond to ‘old red’. Merely spends a moment mourning the corruption of a previously enjoyed nickname, then moves on.

“Boredom brings me back, dear dandy.” He says, grinning. “I can’t resist seeing what you’re up to - you always do seem so busy. Do you never take a rest? Not even a machine can run forever without breaks.” Mostly mocking, but there’s a note of what might be genuine concern. Maybe.

It’s probably made a bit less genuine looking by the wide, amused grin on his face. Ass.

“I’ve been selling harmless perfume in the last year - I believe I mentioned an oversized colubrid? Much as I’d love to resume my research in earnest, I dare not test the limits of something that has displayed, earnestly, it’s willingness to kill a man it detests.” Kneeling slightly to get more on a face-to-face level with Ringabel, before he adds; “So you and your handsome face are safe.”

#nexusofmuses

pinkpompomsandkatanas:

@pheramoreandnidaphyx (YO WELCOME BACK! XD)

A sigh only left the Swordmaster as he faced the Red Mage. “I should have known you would come back. Why?”

“Oh, boredom, of course! And because I missed you. Well. A little bit. I can’t possibly deprive the world of my presence forever.”

#HELLO #TIS GOOD TO SEE YOU

nexusofmuses:

@pheramoreandnidaphyx

"Oh calm down, dandy-boy, I haven’t even done anything.“

“And lo, the ill tidings arrive.” [His face scrunched in disgust.] “And I was having such a relaxing time, too…”

“Again - calm down, I haven’t done anything. I touch one hair on your handsome little head and I’m certain that oversized colubrid of a deity will come bounding over here to protect you. I got bored, so I decided to see if any of you were still around. How fascinating to know that you are~”

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