A Cog in the Dark 10/16

Maertock would appear, as ever, audaciously; swirling shadows rising from the nearby, flickering firelight as the Captain of the Deep Company manifested from their confines. The giant of a shark man would appear to be sipping contently at his bottle of Valmasian rum, softly clicking his rows of serrated teeth together with mirth as he scanned over the fresh catch with his cold blue, predatory eyes.

"This is just the hottest vacation spot around for cogs, ain't it? No wonder really; got a romantic atmosphere, there really ain' nothin' as excitin' as the prospect ya might be sacrificed if yer too mouthy."

The captain would nod lightly at that, taking a long, considerate drag from his cigar as tendrils of minty smoke progressively rose from his dry, reddened gills.

"Welcome to Hotel Moxtli. Stop lookin' so sour, ya out of the shithole ya used'ta call home."
(Maertock Reave)
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 Itzcali says, "Kind of."
Nekra twitches at Maertock's words, all of her decades of service pouring into simply keeping the snarl off of her face, even if some of her discontent manages to show. Something about it simply managed to hit home for her. But she at least doesn't dignify it with a response, eyes still locked to the ground.
(Nekra Bullwark)
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] While listening to Itzcali's words, she leans into to fasten Nekra's collar in place around her neck. It'd clamp down with a quiet click.

The sound of a fate sealed. Whatever would come of it? It wasn't her say as a diligent little soldier.

"Sure, sure! I was just going to toss the remote to Gou or D'noxa and let them handle it."

Such was what was presumably expected of them anyway.

For safety's sake, she'd take the time now to disarm her prisoner.
(Shining Sparkle)
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 Maertock would nod lightly at that as he retained his predatory glance upon Nekra; the Captain of the Deep Company tasting the consternation in the air like fine honey as a hungry bear. He was a reaver first and foremost, but there was certainly some sadism there.

He was a shark after all.

"So prim an' proper. Looks like ya could use her spine as a banner pole, wouldn' bend an' inch in the rain an' wind. S'pose there's ways'ta find out if tha' remains the case."

The captain would crack his massive digits at that, snorting with a dark chuckle as his cloak of inky, flowing shadows rustled along his broad shoulders. Ambient, glossy eyes opened and closed with no clear focus upon their expanse, ever watching in silence for an unseen moment.

"Look like ya swallowed a lemon, face as sour as that. Ya got somethin'ta say, or ya too focused starin' at the ground lookin' like a statue. Ain' got no use for a statue."
(Maertock Reave)
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 Blood was being hunted.

Spirits had grown restless and hungry, no doubt. When a mention of sacrifice had been brought before them, he dared not offer more than a simple quirk of his brow upwards.

"... I'd hate to see them sacrificed when use could be had. Achyon values their soldiers, it's how you were able to get Tono back a second time." He spoke, commenting on this situation as stardust would stir.

He who had continually looked towards the future than focused on the present, it was a difficult situation to simply see them slain.

Of course, his defiance would end there. Shrugging as boots were picked up from the ground.

"Though, I suppose your spirits are growing restless. Mayhaps a grand sacrifice would be interesting to watch."

It was out of their hands, Shining Sparkle having no interest in keeping her eye on this prisoner.
(Lannis Grimmore)
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 Shining Sparkle exclaims, "...not my say!"
 Shining Sparkle says, "I just hunt is all."
 She wouldn't stop the captain from bullying her either apparently.
(Shining Sparkle)
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 Cyril nods.
(Cyril pyr Aertas)
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 Lannis Grimmore says, "... Well. I suppose she can not flee now, no use in crowding them."
 Maertock would take a crowding step forward
(Maertock Reave)
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 Lannis is in awe at how much a rebel the pirate captain is.
(Lannis Grimmore)
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 Itzcali would've found nothing but an emotionless, cold pit staring back at him. Though a twinge of fear would be detectable, deep in her eyes at the mention of sacrifice. She offers no resistance to Sparkle, placidly allowing the collar to be placed on her, and her breastplate and weapons to be removed.

Maertock meanwhile would receive no response, other than a small look from the Achyon soldier. She simply wouldn't give him the satisfaction, and wouldn't worsen her situation.

Before long, her gaze is back on the ground. Jaw clenched.
(Nekra Bullwark)
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 Maertock would appear to grow annoyed at the stoic nature of the Barsburg prisoner. The captain of the Deep Company was nothing if not a performer; but the black hearted rogue wasn't half so tolerant of a poor crowd as a popstar. This was proof of the balance in the world, it created precious entities like the idol Shining Sparkle.

And it made Maertock.

Flicking his hand forward, a ruthless whip of pulsating, pressurized water and shadowy tendrils would issue forth from his hand, all the might the Atlantean swordsman possessed manifested in the arm of shadow as it proceeded to do nothing less than lunge forth to scourge Nekra across the face. It wasn't enough force to injure Nekra, but it would feel like a balled up towel whipping one right in the face at full speed.

"When you're in the presence of a Captain, you address him as sir, or Captain, or better yet Captain Reave. Ya ain't keep lookin' at the ground an' pretend I'm not here. It gives me this....itch on the back of my neck."
(Maertock Reave)
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 Shining Sparkle rubs the back of her neck while the Maertock does his thing. The prisoner was, after all, from Achyon and human. Even if she didn't necessarily like cruelty, there was no reason for her to stick her neck out for a captive.

She scoots aside silently and shoves the remote in her pocket for now.
(Shining Sparkle)
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 "... Well. He's having fun." His only comment on the situation at hand, one quick stride being taken back as Maertock whipped this woman in the face.

It was as he said, no use crowding what could be seen as little more than a prisoner now.

Moving to stand close to this grand temple once more, at peace with the world.
(Lannis Grimmore)
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 Nekra flinches back as the whip of shadow and water strikes her in the face...less from pain and more from the sudden nature of the attack. As asked, she moves her eyes from the ground and to the dread-pirate. Not much existing behind the cold gaze beyond simple resolve.

However her face reflects none of that, a red mark from the attack quickly fading against her emotionless features. Her tongue being held for the time being...a minor act of spite, true, more than she should allow herself in the situation. But regardless, her small bit of defiance against the brute is what her pride as a soldier demands of her.
(Nekra Bullwark)
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 Maertock's cold blooded, black hearted gaze would match Nekra's own with a spread of his serrated grin, the captain of the Deep Company barking out in laughter at the continued determination and resolve of the cog. It seemed like they had something to prove to the rest. No retort came, and the silence rung in the pirate's ears louder than any insult.

It was mockery.

A vein grew upon the reaver's head as his eyes began to gloss over, blackening not unlike a shark that has scented blood in the water as he appeared to raise both of his hands, spreading them wide as he splayed them to his sides with a sudden bark of dark laughter.

Inky, oozing shadows would fall from his hands like sludge, trailing unnaturally across the fabric of reality downwards before beginning to spill over the swordsman's feet, spreading out with sudden rapidity as the ground beneath Nekra and Maertock was swallowed in shadows. At her ankles, she might feel the strange, cold sensation of dense mist; though something far darker and deeper indeed lay in its midst.

"Still the unbroken soldier, are we? Tsk, tsk. A child's game, pretending. One can hide from themselves, one can hide from others, but no one can hide from the deep in the depths of the black sea."

Seeming to spite reality, the shadows would rise around Nekra, curving behind them as glossy, unnatural eyes opened and closed upon the expanse of its shroud.

"I can taste it. The dread. Don't you know it's wise to fear the dark?"
(Maertock Reave)
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] Nekra holds her posture, her demeanor, more of that resolve burning to the front of her eyes, and starting to creep into her blank features. But as the shadows rise and curve...Maertock would see twinges of fear indeed start to creep into her eyes. Even as she holds them onto the Captain.

But she doesn't speak, even when her heart begins to beat slightly harder in her chest. If anything, the fear in her heart made her dig her heels in deeper, jaw set in a determined line.
(Nekra Bullwark)
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 Maertock would cackle with amusement as he appeared to visibly taste the air, taking a deep waft of the scent of fear in the air as the sharp flashed his serrated rows of teeth. As the inky shadows continued to rise, swallowing light and life itself in their presence as the surroundings grew cold in their presence, The shark man would lean down to put his face, saw shaped nose to cog nose, right up in her visage. Eyes to eyes.

"Tough cookie, aren't we? It's easier to deny fear in silence; but there are rungs of terror that are absolute in this world. Primordial sensations that tug at the very fabric of our conscious being with their horror. To drink their shadow, to empty one's cups with the absence of light. It is an....intoxicating thing."

The breach of personal space was willful. Maertock appeared to almost perpetually grow closer to Nekra despite not actually budging from his position; the shadows of his magic warping perception of reality itself with their immense pressure.

"I think you and I are going to get along well, little cog. You'll make a fine plaything. Don't let me break you now, I have no use for broken toys."

A dark chuckle as the captain maintained his place, taking a long, thoughtful drag from his cigar as tendrils of minty smoke rose from his dry, reddened gills; interweaving with the walls and tide of flowing shadows in the manifested black sea as darkness pervaded around the pair.

"What is your name, my plaything?"
(Maertock Reave)
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 Shining Sparkle sighs. As weird as it was to watch, she'd forced herself to remain glued to the wall. She'd witnessed the suffering of her people to Achyon as well as suffered to them herself. This? It was mild in comparison.

But her friends had brought up good points.

With a swing in her step, she saunters on over to the big shark man in the midst of his ongoing torment. She herself didn't appear all that intimidated by him, though...

Her demeanor was similar to that of a child approaching a teacher.

"Captain, I don't think there's much point in beating a dead horse! If D'noxa and Gou are fine with it, you can do what you want! But till then? It might be best to give her some space and leave her to her thoughts!"
(Shining Sparkle)
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 She simply takes a breath as her breathing hitches, fear undeniably in the back of her eyes...but the resolve remains still, as it almost turns into a glare at Maertock. She was afraid, but she would be damned if he'd have the satisfaction of getting a single word out of her mouth through fear alone.

So her silence pervaded, even as Shining Sparkle approached him and spoke, the only change from her being her gaze returning ever so slightly back to it's normal blank appearance, and moving to her for a moment.
(Nekra Bullwark)
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 Maertock would snort with amusement at the variety of commentary received as he maintained his distance to Nekra, cold eyes never leaving hers as his serrated grin spread just a bit wider at her continued obstinance.

Like a savory nut requiring a cracking. A decadent delicacy.

He would only turn his head at the beckon of Shining Sparkle; for at the end of the day he was her biggest fan, and to disappoint the pop star would be Anathema. With a light sigh, Maertock's shadows would dissipate as the black sea vanished; the gesture hauntingly similar to one who had just gotten to a good part in a book, and had placed a paper mark to save it for later.

"Light has shined upon you this cog, the shining, sparkly sort. I look forward to our next chat."

Placing his hands in his pockets, he'd turn to the lapine with a flash of his roguish, serrated grin.

"There was a point, but it was largely entertainment. I've had myfun for now, Sparkle, I thank you for allowing me some time with your toy box."

A dark chuckle as the shark's glance flicked to Lyael, a snort of laughter at their reasoning.

"Don't get so greedy now, you'll have time to play with your toys! We must share on this playground."
(Maertock Reave)