#v.agent

[vierandancer]

RUN RABBIT, RUN RABID

[vierandancer]

“ What are you hiding? ” (from Thancred)

This Meme || Accepting

"Hidin'?"

It was frustrating, but not entirely surprising that the spy would sense something was amiss with her. Fortunately, her story of how she got here was airtight -- and the Warrior of Light already viewed her as an ally.

She wasn't worried. She'd only worry if someone brought out the auracite.

"Fine. Ye got me." She reached up and rubbed at her cheek. With some effort, the white 'tattoos' on her face on her smudged. "These are no real. S'just facepaint. M'no brave enough tae get actual tattoos on m'face..."

[vierandancer]

Traveling through the space between worlds had been a harrowing experience. Not painful, no, but -- it made her feel wrong, almost.

But Emet-selch insisted she join him on the First. Mei wasn't too thrilled with the idea, however; she wanted to remain on the Source to keep an eye on whatever the fuck the Empire was doing. But apparently her boss no longer gave a damn about any of that, and so she shed her flesh to follow him through the rift between worlds.

She hated it. Shedding her physical form felt wrong, even if she could do so without consequence. But she knew better than to complain.

Emet-selch had revealed himself to the Warrior of Light and their companions, most of which had had their souls stuck on the First for some time. While he was off trying to figure out more on the mysterious Exarch, she was keeping an eye on the Scions in the Rak'tika Greatwood. And right now, in particular, she was watching...

"Ye dinnae mind my height, then?"

"Not at all. I'm agile enough to make up for it, I assure you--"

She hadn't expected to see that man alive again. Not back then, at least. But Lahabrea had been defeated -- destroyed, even -- and forced out of the body fo Thancred Waters. And what was more, he survived the ordeal. Long enough to be here at present, at least.

Mei kept away from the Night's Blessed. Emet-selch had warned her that that leader of theirs, the one that went by Matoya, would absolutely be able to sense her presence based on her aethersight alone. But Thancred had suddenly stormed out into the woods on his own, looking visibly vexed.

She could only guess why. The man appeared tense since uniting with his companions. She didn't care about his poor mood, though. Her only purpose was to observe, as was often the case.

The trees in Rak'tika were bigger than she had anticipated, though. She was used to ducking and weaving around such things efficiently, but maybe it would have been better to climb up? The branches were massive enough to act more like runways. Was this what Golmorre Jungle looked like? She --

Ah, shite. She'd lost him. Cursing her wandering godsdamned mind, she came to a stop and waited, listening as she tried to regain her bearings.

There was a shift of something behind her.

"One would think a Viis could navigate Rak'tika with more ease than this," Thancred commented idly, his weapon already raised. "Who are you?"

This prick. She wasn't looking for a bloody performance review. Mei didn't move for a minute, considering her options. Then she took a breath and spun, although she kept her hands up in a placating gesture.

"What, ye dinnae remember me?" She had been dressed by one of the Viis, but he was already suspicious. And she was shite at doing their accents anyway. "And here I'd thought my gift left quite an impression."

She watches his eyes widen briefly in recognition, then narrow and harden with contempt.

"So you had been a part of it," he concluded. "I'd often wonder if you had been an unwilling pawn in Lahabrea's scheme. Thank you for the closure."

"Yer welcome," she titled her head. "So. Ye have white auracite on ye, or no? 'Cause otherwise there's no point in shootin' me. At least no yet."

He scoffed, but after a minute, lowered his gunblade. He didn't sheathe it yet, though. In turn, Meiko lowered her hands. The tension on the clearing was palpable.

"So you're an Ascian," he began, the word laced with disgust. "Serving Emet-selch now, I presume, since your previous master was undone?"

"I never served Lahabrea," she corrected. "I was only helpin' oot. But aye, ye have it. Emet-selch's the one holdin' my leash."

"And yet your accent holds," he observed.

"Not all I told ye was a lie," Meiko shrugged. "Slavers nabbed me as a child an'kept me 'til I was sellin' age. Then I ended up in service tae th'Empire."

"So you're a conscript."

She waved a dismissive hand. "If yer tryin' tae determine if there's an ounce o' morality in me, I'll save ye time. M'loyal tae Emet-selch's cause. I dinnae care what happens tae th'First or th'Source." She smirked. "Though m'flattered my act back then left such an impression that yer seekin' tae try."

"Tch," he shook his head. "It wasn't a very good act. I was just more naive back then than I care to admit."

She snorted. "All right, fine, be a bitch aboot it. What mattered is it was done, and by some miracle, yer still here. Are we done? Am no gonnae tell ye anything o' importance." She glanced towards the direction he had come from. "And if yer gone long enough, her friends'll join us. I'd really rather not meet th'whole crew."

"What, not eager to meet the hero you were so excited about before?" His tone was almost teasing, brows knitting together. "That period of possession was one of the most harrowing moments of my life. I always regretted not being able to contribute to Lahabrea's downfall."

"Aye. And now you've got th'lass who helped him out." She held his gaze. "So, what are ye gonna do?"

There was another long, tense pause. Then Thancred shook his head.

"I am going to warn my allies that Emet-selch has a lackey. And then I'm going to make sure we have enough auracite to destroy both of you when the time comes."

"A fair decision," she conceded. But then she added, "Although I must suggest ye let him speak more often. He enjoys his dramatics, aye, but he's no lied tae ye yet."

Thancred hesitated, only to chuckle cynically, "Forgive me if I'm not inclined to believe you."

"Not at all." She sighed. "Well. S'time tae head back an' report my failure. I'll see ye around -- an' I'll try not tae get caught next time."

He opened his mouth to say something else, but she had already vanished in a flutter of dark energy. Reappearing at the border of Rak'tika and Lakeland, she let out an aggravated groan, wobbling on her feet.

At least he hadn't shot her. She hated having to regenerate and find a new body. Catching herself against a tree, she took a breath.

That had not gone great.

[vierandancer]

Meiko wasn't entirely sure if Emet-selch would have encouraged her to assist Lahabrea (she was almost certain he wouldn't), but she didn't believe there was much harm in doing so. After all, it was all meant to further the Ascians' master plan.

Lahabrea had caught sight of one of the Scions lingering once more around the Bowl of Embers, where a person of interest had somehow slain Ifrit just a few days before. The man often traveled alone, which made him an excellent target for the Unsundered's scheme.

But truth be told, Mei couldn't be arsed to listen to the details. Emet-selch liked to ramble on, but at least he was entertaining about it. Lahabrea simply couldn't hold her attention for longer than necessary.

She spotted the man in question, inevitably having stopped to rest in Little Ala Mhigo. Mei had been hanging around there for a few days, assisting the refugees with errands and looking after the ill and injured. She wasn't very good at it, but few of them turned down any form of help -- especially from a woman offering a kind smile.

She approached the man, holding a pitcher of cool water.

"'Scuse me," she addressed him, her voice almost hushed. When he turned, she asked, "Is it true ye were one o'th'few who survived that run-in w' the Amalj'aa a few days ago? An fought Ifrit?"

"--Ah. Not quite," The man appeared to almost wince, before his expression smoothed out into something more charming. "I was present for the aftermath, but I'm afraid I can't take credit for the primal's defeat."

As was often inevitable, she watched his gaze travel upward.

"It's not very often we see Viera in Eorzea," he commented lightly, voice pitched with curiosity. "Let alone one with a La Noscean accent. However did you end up in Little Ala Mhigo, if you don't mind me asking...?"

She offered him a sheepish smile. "Slavers," she answered with a lift of her shoulders. "Though I'd prefer not tae dwell on th'details. I managed tae get away from th'pleasurebarges an' traveled as far as I could." She glanced around. "M'no healer, but...it feels nice tae be able tae help others who're also down on their luck."

The man's gaze softened, ever so slightly. "I see. Well, I'm glad to hear that. You sound like a formidable woman to have survived such trials."

She beamed, feigning shyness as she held the pitcher of water closer to her body.

"Thank ye. It's -- s'nice tae hear such words. E'en if I know it tae be true, someone else speakin' them's...very welcome." She looked up, eyes widening as if struck by a thought. "Ah -- actually. If ye dinnae mind --did ye say ye happen tae know who defeated the eikon...?"

The man nodded. "That I do. Although unfortunately, they're quite busy and not lilkely to come this way any time soon."

"Oh, o'course!" She nodded, earnest. "I wouldnae expect tae meet someone like that -- only... ah, it's a bit silly..." She reached into the pouch hanging off of the belt at her hip, and undid the buckle. "I've recently been learnin' tae make jewelry. S'no very good, but..."

She drew out a necklace, with thin black twine looped through a set of three shiny black crystals, carved into rough diamond shapes.

"Would ye be willin' tae pass this along tae them?" she asked, offering it up to him. "Just as thanks. Two o'my friends were abducted by th'Amaalja a few months ago, an'...they never came back." She paused, shaking her head as if to dismiss a rise in emotion. "E'en if they dinnae wear it, I... just want them tae know how much it means tae all o'us."

The man's brow furrowed, and he gave a prompt nod.

"Of course I can," he assured her, accepting the necklace. Dark eyes washed over the crystals attached to the twine. "May I ask where you found the stones to make this?"

"Oh, I bought them," she chirped. "A few merchants from Ul'dah came through an' were sellin' all sortsa baubles! Obsidian, I think they said? I'd never seen anythin' like them!"

If the man had any other concerns, he chose not to voice them, his expression returning to a more pleasant one instead as he tucked the necklace into one of his own pockets.

"I agree. I'm sure my friend will appreciate the gift," he concluded. A playful smile now on his lips. "In the meantime, would you like to join me for a drink? Perhaps something stronger than that water, there?"

Oh, he was a charmer this one. Meiko giggled. "Aye, I thought ye'd never ask."

The trap had already been sprung. He didn't have to wear the necklace so long as it remained on his person long enough. They would have a drink, she would depart, and within a few days, Lahabrea's influence would overtake the man's own will.

She almost felt a little bad about it, but not quite.

[vierandancer]

There had been a handful of groups and rebellions and even some lone individuals that had caught the Empire's attention in the past. People were people; it was natural they wanted to fight against those who oppressed them. And, make no mistake, Mei was not under the impression that Garlemald was doing any sort of benevolent unification of nations.

The Empire had always intended to subjugate others. Even Emperor Solus' death without chosen heir had been by design. There was no false pretense regarding the morality of whom she had aligned herself with, intentionally or no.

The thing was, Meiko didn't particularly...care.

The memories of Apate and the Unsundered World that Emet-selch had bestowed upon her had sort of given her the answer to life's many mysteries. Even the gods and the primals that Garlemald 'feared' so much had been named and revealed, making them small in their simplicity. It was like colors of existence had been dimmed to that of a muddier palette.

It was better this way. Giving up her flesh and becoming indifferent to life itself were necessary experiences into becoming what she needed to be in her role. And, just like the woman she had been before, simple instructions and quiet tasks brought her satisfaction and joy that little else did.

Even if the tasks received nowadays weren't considered very quiet at all.

"--Sorry." The man beside her stopped himself suddenly, shaking his head. "I hope that didn't -- I mean, I know you were--"

Here he was: Hydaelyn's Champion, Eorzea's Savior, the Warrior of Light. Eikonslayer, too? The lad had plenty of titles piled up on his head. Meteor was the name he had decided to take up for himself, mainly due to a case of amnesia that likely occurred during the Battle of Carteneau. It was something she had used to relate to him.

"What, mentionin' slavers?" she shook her head, waving a dismissive hand. "Nah. S'good tae hear ye helped catch one. Dinnae know if Doesmaga was responsible for where I ended up, but..." She shrugged. "M'no very keen on recoverin' those memories. I like tae think I suppressed them fer good reason."

While she had had plenty of occasions to strike the man when vulnerable, that had not been her orders. Emet-selch merely wanted her to watch and share information on this hero, ever since he had caught the former Emperor's attention after freeing Doma. She didn't even think he was sharing the details with Varis. He was just...hoarding it for himself, or maybe using it to direct Elidibus...

It was fine. She didn't need to know what he didn't deem her necessary to know.

"I suppose not," Meteor agreed, although he looked bothered by the thought.

She tilted her head. "...Ye still wantin' tae recover yers, though, I suspect."

He nodded. "I keep thinking something's going to jog them. Some face, or some place I go to, or even just -- words I hear. I don't know."

"Mm. Well," she shrugged. "So long as ye dinnae get so stuck on th'past that ye forget tae live in yer present. What's gone is gone, ye? Whoever ye might've been afore whatever happened... he's dead, fer all intents an' purposes. Likely best ye move on."

It was an intentionally ironic statement -- not that Meteor would understand. Still, he appeared comforted by the words she offered, and after a few more minutes of chatting, bid her goodnight.

Meiko sighed, leaning back against the railing she'd been leaning against.

Easy as feedin' a starved dog.

[vierandancer]

❝ love and hate! the most powerful emotions, and the underlying causes of war. ❞ ( emet's monologuing to agent!meiko... 😳 )

"-- Sir." Meiko was content to let the venerable Emet-selch go on for another half hour, but the initial message he wanted her to deliver sounded somewhat timely. "If I try tae recite this word-for-word tae His Radiance, he will likely shoot me before I get partway through. And we're not lookin' tae reveal my bein' an Ascian yet, aye?"

[vierandancer]

@aidcneus

Mei had always known that life wasn't fair, but this situation was truly barrel-bottom shite.

As a child, she had naively hoped she had endeared herself enough to the crew of the Cursed Corsair to prevent being sold. She rarely argued or spoke back to anyone and followed orders no matter how ghastly they were. For all intents and purposes, she had been a good little lass.

And then when her tits started to come in, they sold her off. Not even Setsuko batted an eye at the decision -- and she was the bitch that had named and raised her!

Even if it was naive to believe that slavers could grow a heart, it still felt like a betrayal.

Tacitus had been a better master, even if he saw his acquisitions as little more than dancing dolls. Better to be painted dolls than warm holes. When she heard (and he had proved) that he did not treat his entertainment troupe like a musically-inclined brothel, she had been so relieved. Some nights, especially after seeing how some in their audience leered at her and the others, she would find herself sobbing in gratitude for her situation. Which, when one looked back on it, was still pretty damned fucked up, considering she was barely above the status of slave.

She had been at this for three years now. She thought she was as careful as one could be. But one couldn't even slip away to take a piss without risk of being followed by some pig-headed drunk who decided he wanted to touch the merchandise anyway.

If he hadn't been sloshed out of his mind, she surely would've been the one bleeding out in the corridors of the castrum tonight. But the man was sloppy in his attempted violence, and the pistol in his belt had been loaded. She should've just cracked him with it, she hadn't even touched one herself before, but instead...

I had no choice! But these guards didn't care. All they saw was her with the weapon and a military officer dead. So after she managed to sputter out an explanation, she gave up trying to protest. There was no use, she knew. Garleans barely viewed their own conscripts as second-class citizens. A slave like her meant even less. Maybe she had had another choice -- but after being beaten down all her life, just letting something like that happen wasn't an option.

The word executed floated by, but she didn't react. She was so in her head, reviewing her meager life and preparing for the inevitable end, that she barely questioned why they bothered to drag her anywhere at all. Why not just shoot her with the gun she'd used? Were they going to use her to punish Tacitus? She hoped not.

Meiko finally snapped out of her daze, however, when she was brought before a pair of double doors that seemed far too large and important. She blinked the distance from her eyes, feet catching briefly on the carpet as she was pulled past them. Into... a throne room, of sorts? What was --

Oh, what?

That was the Emperor. The Emperor! Was this really bloody necessary?! Before Meiko could comprehend what the man looked up close -- honestly, he looked like petrified wood in his age and the pauldrons he wore looked more debilitating than anything -- she was shoved to the floor before the throne.

"Your Radiance," one of the guards now spoke, his voice muffled by his frankly stupid-looking helmet -- "There was an incident just now. Claudius sas Lanatus is dead." The guard looked down at her. "This girl who came in with the entertainment for the evening is the perpetrator. We request to interrogate the entire group after her execution."

Meiko looked up sharply, finally finding her voice.

"There's nothin' tae interrogate!" she insisted. Then she looked up at the Emperor. She didn't expect he'd show any mercy. "The bastard tried tae have his way with me. I resisted. It's no deeper than--"

"Silence!" The other guard that had dragged her in abruptly jabbed at the back of her head with the butt of his rifle. "How dare you speak to His Radiance!"

[vierandancer]

Mei had witnessed a variety of terrible things in her life -- and in her former one, apparently -- but nothing quite made her skin crawl as much as the sight of the damned cloning labs.

Unnatural was probably a word used to describe it, but that felt like a judgmental word used by people who were too strict about a personal moral code. No. It was more like...stifling.

Even if the bodies weren't alive, there were still so many of them stored in casket-like tubes everywhere in this damned facility. Lined up like toys on a shelf, just waiting to be experimented on -- or, more recently, occupied at a whim.

Emperor Varis surely meant it as a way of disrespect, but something felt almost akin to an unspoken affinity in it, too. She chose not to linger too much on such thoughts, though. Emet-selch's familial ties in the Source were egregiously complicated and she already participated in enough drama-related bickering in acting as messenger between him and Elidibus.

With a shake of her head, she moved to the console and tapped in the code she had acquired to access the program monitoring the clones' status.

"--Aha. Not this time, ye bastard," she muttered, cancelling an upcoming automation.

Apparently a half dozen of the clones were due to be soaked in the newest version of Black Rose as a field test, which would render them inhospitable to her employer. She removed the tasks before closing the program and stepping back from the console.

"Cheeky fucks." With a shake of her head, she brushed her palms together before pulling up her hood and tucking her ears back over her head to hide them. She didn't need to be too obvious in her sneaking around doing the 'late' Emperor's secret bidding.

Quietly as she arrived, she slipped back out into the corridors and sought a platoon of grunts to blend into. Then it'd be on to the next task.