#tmnt aimi

[bluefire-dancer]

Tales of the TMNT (Vol. 2) #65

Publication date: December 16, 2009 Script/Art: Dan Berger Tones: L. Jamal Walton Letters: Eric Talbot Frontispiece: Michael Doone

Aimi's Origin.

[bluefire-dancer]

"When the dark wood fell before me.

And all the paths were overgrown.

When the priests of pride say there is no other way.

I tilled the sorrows of stone"

- A shameful lyricfic drabble based on an rp with @ravenousmonstrosity

(Please forgive the mun, she's in a mood)

In the earliest hours of a new day, in the twilight in which night fights to keep his grip and morning gently, relentlessly pushes him back, a warrior woman steps into her darkened penthouse apartment after a long and frustrating evening.

Lights are unnecessary and unwanted, for the moon cast the perfect spotlight on the instrument in the centre of the room.

As if in a trance she was drawn to it. Without thought she lifted the cover off the keys and floated effortlessly onto the seat before the keyboard.

Closing her amethyst eyes she inhaled, long and deep. With her exhalation she allowed her mind to recall the dreams that had been plaguing her nightly. The dreams had caused her to recall a song she'd learned years ago. The melody, the lyrics, all felt as though they had been written just for her...and for him. The one whose shadowy figure in her visions made her heart stop and somehow thunder all at once.

The prose of the piece detailed an explanation for every vision, every heart wrenching feeling, every tug of longing, every pang of regret, all the heat of desire, all the comfort of companionship. The visions felt as real as though they were memories rather than dreams.

She knew she had to do this. The only way to gain some peace would be to allow her heart to cry out it's anguish through the song. The need to purge the overwhelming emotions was now beyond the young woman's ability to control.

Pale hands drifted to the ivory keys. Long, slim fingers nestled between the ebony bars. With another exhale she let her fingers find their way as a soft melody filled the room, and the hollow in her chest. Parting her lips, she gave voice to the lyrics that so eloquently illustrated what mere words could never convey...

"Breathe life into this feeble heart.

Lift this mortal veil of fear.

Take these crumbled hopes, etched with tears.

We'll rise above these earthly cares"

[bluefire-dancer]

Aimi: A snapshot

The night was quiet by New York City standards. Considering the whirlwind her life has been since she left China so many years ago, the relative calm was as welcome as it was frustrating. Perched on the ledge of an abandoned building in the warehouse district, the young Japanese woman sighed softly.

Tonight's reconnaissance was proving once again to be fruitless, and she was finding it a bit difficult to stay as focused as she needed to be. She was tired and her muscles were a bit sore and stiff. It was an unfortunate drawback to working as a ballerina for her cover, though she found ballet to be one of the most rewarding endeavours she'd ever delved into. It was one she took as seriously as her wushu training, which was to her existence as the very breath in her lungs.

Aimi breathed deep again. A quiet, deliberate drawing of breath, and exhaled slow and even as she stealthily changed her position on the ledge to stretch her long, leanly muscled legs, being careful to stay in the shadows. She closed her amethyst colored eyes and allowed her other senses to rise. She felt the night breeze sift through her loose, waist length raven hair, feeling the tickle of an inky black tendril brushing across her alabaster skin and full lips. Taking note of the the direction it blew from, she parted her lips and allowed the flavour, texture and scent to pass over her tongue and palette. She inhaled through her nose, and felt the wind's vibration along her skin, which she could feel even through her jacket.

Aimi then opened her eyes and cast her unusual gaze deliberately upon her surroundings. In the same manner that she could detect certain things differently from what was considered normal, through air movement, scent and atmospheric change, she could see beyond what is considered normal as well. Aimi had always had extraordinary night vision, but if she concentrated, she could focus on objects in such a way as to almost magnify them. She could even see something akin to heat, in the form of a faint sort of aura. The only people who knew of these things were the monks who raised her, Grand Master Sifu Li Chen, and her guardian, the one called The Rat King.

She had never been formally tested, and was warned that no one should know. She was told that she should not worry, and that these were gifts she could use to help people. Their origin and true purpose would be revealed when the time was right. So she used them. Her gifts had proven useful on many occasions, and on many missions. Her employer was pleased and she was compensated well. Aimi did not always find her missions tasteful, but she knew that she served the greater good, and that was good enough. For now.

Aimi's current mission had her wondering though. Her personal Intel had revealed information that had her questioning her employer's motives. She was beginning to wonder if he was really as altruistic and benign in his dealings as he had led on these past 8 years.

Nevertheless, it was imperative that she find the man known simply as The Oni. The rumour was that he was amassing the components for a weapon capable of destruction on a galactic scale, as well as an army to support him. They also say he wears an Oni mask, and that people die wherever he goes. The deceased are found in a state best described as 'having the life literally sucked out of them.' All that was left of their bodies being a barely recognizable husk.

The young Asian woman shivered at the vision this conjured. It was unspeakably insidious. This Oni-man must be stopped. To this end Aimi found herself in New York city, searching for clues. She had found a cover as a ballerina with a local ballet theatre company, which she found she adored. It gave her a creative outlet while she conducted her search. Her cover as a dancer gave her access to many potential informants. People who may have unwittingly had business dealings with The Oni, for she was certain he also had a cover as an upstanding citizen and businessman. Aimi had also been told of a group of vigilantes, four of them quite possibly not even human. Part of her mission was to find them. Perhaps they had seen or heard of something that would yield a critical clue. Perhaps they had even had a run-in with the man or his agents.

She had been in New York City for four months now and while she was certain she had detected them on occasion, she had not been able to pin them down.

So, night after night, regardless of whether she'd had a performance, attended a fundraising gala or had a day off, The Asset found herself on the rooftops of NYC, watching and waiting. Her eyes sharp, her senses extended as she waited for what she knew would come eventually. Perhaps not tonight, nor tomorrow, but soon. Her Intel was never wrong, and neither was her intuition.

[bluefire-dancer]

how many pictures do you have on your phone? have you ever peed in the woods? do you still watch cartoons? do you prefer chicken nuggets from Wendy’s or McDonalds?Favorite dipping sauce? what do you wear to bed? have you ever won a spelling bee? what are your hobbies?can you draw? do you play an instrument?what was the last concert you saw? tea or coffee?Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts?

Oh my, such a curious mind! I must admit, I don't think anyone has ever cared to know so much about the inanities of my life! However Nonny, since you've asked...

How many pics on my phone: For reasons of security, and to keep my phone working optimally, I tend to upload my photos to a secure server quite often. So while I could have up to 500 on my phone at any given moment, I usually have no more than 100 or so.

Have you ever peed in the woods: I have spent a great deal of time in natural environments, and have done a great many things while there. Relieving myself out-of- doors is least of them a necessary requirement.

Do you still watch cartoons: 'Still' implies that I once did so with regularity. Because I was raised with very little in the way of the typical conveniences that most people enjoy in their childhood, I have to say I did not have much exposure to that form of entertainment. That is not to say that I have not enjoyed them as I have had opportunities. Since I have immeresed mysyself with the outside world I have developed an appreciation for many kinds of pop culture. However, with the exception of animated films, I have very little time to keep up with cartoons, or any television shows. I do enjoy them if I happen to catch an episode.

Do you prefer chicken nuggets from Wendy's or McDonalds: Not that I make this indulgence often, but I suppose Wendy's is slightly better. If I find myself having to eat at these places, I prefer the chicken tenders.

Favorite dipping sauce: Sweet and Sour

What do you wear to bed: In winter I wear a tee and flannel sleep pants. In summer just a tee, unless I've just showered, then nothing.

Have you ever won a spelling bee: Never had the opportunity to participate.

What are your hobbies: Piano, shamisen, any type of dance besides classical ballet, origami, making tea, reading, art appreciation, bonsai, flying.

Can you draw: I can do rudimentary sketches of landscapes, and I can draw decent maps. That is about the extent of it.

Do you play an instrument: I answered this one under hobbies.

What was the last concert you saw: I had an opportunity to see Coldplay in London a few years ago. Phenomenal show.

Tea or coffee: I enjoy both equally, but I love the sense of tradition involved with tea.

Starbucks or Dunkin' Donuts: Starbucks

I hope this satisfies you Nonny!

[bluefire-dancer]

Artwork by: Mario Wibisono, titled 'Purgatory' source: www.episodeseason.com

Aimi's Oddyssey: A snapshot of a Work In Progress

The night was quiet by New York City standards. Considering the whirlwind her life has been since she left China so many years ago, the relative calm was as welcome as it was frustrating. Perched on the ledge of an abandoned building in the warehouse district, the young Japanese woman sighed softly. Tonight's reconnaissance was proving once again to be fruitless, and she was finding it a bit difficult to stay as focused as she needed to be. She was tired and her muscles were a bit sore and stiff. It was an unfortunate drawback to working as a ballerina for her cover, though she found ballet to be one of the most rewarding endeavours she'd ever delved into. It was one she took as seriously as her wushu training, which was to her existence as the very breath in her lungs.

Aimi breathed deeply. A quiet, deliberate drawing of breath that she then exhaled slow and even while she stealthily changed her position on the ledge to stretch her long, leanly muscled legs, being careful to stay in the shadows. She closed her amethyst colored eyes and allowed her other senses to rise. She felt the night breeze sift through her loose, waist length raven hair, feeling the tickle of an inky black tendril brushing across her alabaster skin and full lips. Taking note of the direction it blew from, she parted her lips and allowed the flavour, texture and scents around her to pass over her tongue and palette. She felt the wind's vibration along her skin, even through her leather jacket, searching...

Aimi then opened her eyes and cast her unusual gaze deliberately upon her surroundings. She could detect certain things differently from what was considered normal. Through air movement, scent and atmospheric change, the woman could glean more than the average human. For reasons that were still unclear to her, she could also see beyond what is considered normal. Aimi had always had extraordinary night vision, but if she concentrated, she could focus on objects in such a way as to almost magnify them. She could even see something akin to heat, in the form of a faint sort of aura. The only people who knew of these things were the monks who raised her and her unlikely guardian.

She had never been formally tested, and was warned that no one should know of her abilities. She was told that she should not worry, and that these were gifts she could use to help people. Their origin and true purpose would be revealed when the time was right. So she used them. Her gifts had proven useful on many occasions, and on many missions. Her employer was pleased and she was compensated well. Aimi did not always find her missions tasteful, but she knew that she served the greater good, and that was good enough. For now

Mentally shaking the cobwebs of her past from her mind, she thought of her current mission. It was imperative that she find the man known simply as The Oni. The rumour was that he was amassing the components for a weapon capable of destruction on a galactic scale, as well as an army to support him. They also say he wears an Oni mask, and that people die wherever he goes. The deceased are found in a state best described as 'having the life literally sucked out of them.' All that was left of their bodies being a husk barely recognizable as ever having been human.

The young woman shivered at the vision this conjured. It was unspeakably insidious. This Oni-man must be stopped. To this end Aimi found herself in New York city, searching for clues. She had found a cover as a ballerina with a local ballet theatre company. It gave her a creative outlet while she conducted her search, while providing her a cover that gave her access to many potential informants. People who may have unwittingly, or not so unwittingly had business dealings with The Oni, for she was certain he also had a cover as an upstanding citizen and businessman.

Aimi had also been told of a group of vigilantes who protected this city, four of them quite possibly not even human. Part of her mission was to find them. Perhaps they had seen or heard of something that would yield a critical clue. Perhaps they had even had a run-in with the man or his agents.

Aimi's current mission had her wondering about her employer. Her personal Intel had revealed information that had her questioning his true motives here. She was beginning to wonder if he was really as altruistic and benign in his dealings as he had led on these past 8 years. However, It was something to consider at a later time. Her focus needed to be here and now. She had been in New York City for four months and while she was certain she had detected them on occasion, she had not been able to specifically locate either her target or the vigilantes, let alone make contact.

So, night after night, regardless of whether she'd had a performance, attended a fundraising gala or had a day off, The operative found herself on the rooftops of NYC, watching and waiting. Her eyes sharp, her senses extended as she waited for what she knew would come eventually. Perhaps not tonight, nor tomorrow, but soon. Her Intel was never wrong, and neither was her intuition.