06-05-2008, 11:05 PM
“We’re not so different, you and I,” the konat’s words caused the android’s upper lip to twitch. Within the recesses of Seventeen’s mind, there was an almighty ringing that triggered him to pitch forward. Before the mohawked warrior could notice the erratic movement, the android straightened himself out—shaking his head slightly as he wrested with the buzzing in his head.
We’re not so different, you and I. The words repeated in the cyborg’s head as the strange pairing of rivals marched onward into the horizon. Deep within Seventeen’s subconscious, he could sense the cold, familiar presence that had begun as an unwelcome guest at the start of the game. But now…now the vicious, barbaric musings that cropped up in the back of his head were beginning to feel less foreign than they ever had. For one reason or another, the android was compelled not to dismiss them as quickly as he would have earlier in the game.
He’s right. The formless voice spoke, conveying his words with what sounded almost like glee to Seventeen. He’s not so different from us. There it was again—the plurality that the disembodied speaker had peppered into his rasping speeches throughout the innumerable that he had made his presence known to the android. The thoughts caused a shiver to cascade down Seventeen’s spine, and without another thought, he plunged into his duffel bag and produced the cartoon of cigarettes that he had lifted from the abandoned convenience store.
Minoshia, noticing the quick movement of the android’s hand, immediately tensed up and looked as if he was a second away from drawing his bat and hitting a homerun. When he saw that logo on the tiny carboard box, he seemed to relax and soon thereafter returned his attention back toward the horizon. With a snicker, Seventeen popped open the lid of the small container and fished out the last cigarette—the one he had opted to save for a special occasion.
Given his current circumstances and his decision in where to place his allegiances, the cybernetic warrior figured that the current situation fell into the category of ‘special occasion.’ Igniting the cigarette with a tiny amount of ki formed around his fingertip, Seventeen took his first drag on the cigarette and let it out in a large puff of smoke that was quickly blown away by the swirling, arid winds that cut across the wastelands.
With a relieved sigh, the android took the base of the cigarette into his fingertips and let it swing down to his side. Minoshia—ever the overly observant type—had been watching Seventeen’s movements out of the corner of his eye. Upon realizing that fact, the cyborg lifted the cigarette and held it out in front of his traveling ‘partner,’ Turning his head, the konat warrior stared at the android for a few moments before he shifted his attention to the extended cigarette.
Smiling faintly, the android extended the rolled tobacco closer to the dark prince, and with a look of immense apprehension, Minoshia reached out and grabbed the cigarette from Seventeen. As the machine-hybrid watched, the mohawked warrior rolled the end of the coffin nail between his fingers. He seemed to be analyzing it to ensure that it wasn’t some type of miniature explosive. With a frown, he held it up to his nose and took a brief smell, as if trying to see if he could smell any hint of poison within the processed material.
Grunting to capture the attention of the konat, Seventeen pantomimed the purpose of the cigarette by holding his fingers up to his mouth and taking in a deep breath of air. Although he didn’t acknowledge the android’s assistance, Minoshia nevertheless put the end of the rolled tobacco into his mouth and took a deep drag from it as the machine-hybrid paused mid-step.
Almost as soon as he pulled the cigarette away from his lips, the Dark Prince began to cough, causing smoke to escape from his mouth in rapid bursts. Despite his better judgment, Seventeen couldn’t help but snicker, which prompted the konat to growl in frustration. Before the android had a chance to ask for his cigarette back, Minoshia crushed it in his palm and scattered the still burning fragments into winds. A cold frown spread across the cyborg’s ghostly white visage as they two continued their silent, tense journey across the unimpressive landscape.
Stop being so cutesy, you bitch. The formless voice interjected, causing the android to cringe once more as he walked alongside his rival. You spoil this for us, and I will see you burn. The strange, violent remark caused Seventeen to arch and eyebrow, but try as he might, the cyborg knew that he had to listen to the advice of the vicious, insidious presence. Earlier their might have been an argument between Seventeen and the voice, but at this point, their once autonomous mentalities were starting to bleed together.
“I suppose you’re right,” Seventeen muttered beneath his breath as the two reached the top of small prominence. In the distance, they could see a large depression in the surface of the earth, and even farther, there was the endless ocean that surrounded the island. “We’re not,” he added softly as Minoshia turned to look at him. It took a brief moment for the konat to register the remark, but when he did, the machine-hybrid was certain he saw a glint in his rival’s eye.
We’re not so different, you and I. The words repeated in the cyborg’s head as the strange pairing of rivals marched onward into the horizon. Deep within Seventeen’s subconscious, he could sense the cold, familiar presence that had begun as an unwelcome guest at the start of the game. But now…now the vicious, barbaric musings that cropped up in the back of his head were beginning to feel less foreign than they ever had. For one reason or another, the android was compelled not to dismiss them as quickly as he would have earlier in the game.
He’s right. The formless voice spoke, conveying his words with what sounded almost like glee to Seventeen. He’s not so different from us. There it was again—the plurality that the disembodied speaker had peppered into his rasping speeches throughout the innumerable that he had made his presence known to the android. The thoughts caused a shiver to cascade down Seventeen’s spine, and without another thought, he plunged into his duffel bag and produced the cartoon of cigarettes that he had lifted from the abandoned convenience store.
Minoshia, noticing the quick movement of the android’s hand, immediately tensed up and looked as if he was a second away from drawing his bat and hitting a homerun. When he saw that logo on the tiny carboard box, he seemed to relax and soon thereafter returned his attention back toward the horizon. With a snicker, Seventeen popped open the lid of the small container and fished out the last cigarette—the one he had opted to save for a special occasion.
Given his current circumstances and his decision in where to place his allegiances, the cybernetic warrior figured that the current situation fell into the category of ‘special occasion.’ Igniting the cigarette with a tiny amount of ki formed around his fingertip, Seventeen took his first drag on the cigarette and let it out in a large puff of smoke that was quickly blown away by the swirling, arid winds that cut across the wastelands.
With a relieved sigh, the android took the base of the cigarette into his fingertips and let it swing down to his side. Minoshia—ever the overly observant type—had been watching Seventeen’s movements out of the corner of his eye. Upon realizing that fact, the cyborg lifted the cigarette and held it out in front of his traveling ‘partner,’ Turning his head, the konat warrior stared at the android for a few moments before he shifted his attention to the extended cigarette.
Smiling faintly, the android extended the rolled tobacco closer to the dark prince, and with a look of immense apprehension, Minoshia reached out and grabbed the cigarette from Seventeen. As the machine-hybrid watched, the mohawked warrior rolled the end of the coffin nail between his fingers. He seemed to be analyzing it to ensure that it wasn’t some type of miniature explosive. With a frown, he held it up to his nose and took a brief smell, as if trying to see if he could smell any hint of poison within the processed material.
Grunting to capture the attention of the konat, Seventeen pantomimed the purpose of the cigarette by holding his fingers up to his mouth and taking in a deep breath of air. Although he didn’t acknowledge the android’s assistance, Minoshia nevertheless put the end of the rolled tobacco into his mouth and took a deep drag from it as the machine-hybrid paused mid-step.
Almost as soon as he pulled the cigarette away from his lips, the Dark Prince began to cough, causing smoke to escape from his mouth in rapid bursts. Despite his better judgment, Seventeen couldn’t help but snicker, which prompted the konat to growl in frustration. Before the android had a chance to ask for his cigarette back, Minoshia crushed it in his palm and scattered the still burning fragments into winds. A cold frown spread across the cyborg’s ghostly white visage as they two continued their silent, tense journey across the unimpressive landscape.
Stop being so cutesy, you bitch. The formless voice interjected, causing the android to cringe once more as he walked alongside his rival. You spoil this for us, and I will see you burn. The strange, violent remark caused Seventeen to arch and eyebrow, but try as he might, the cyborg knew that he had to listen to the advice of the vicious, insidious presence. Earlier their might have been an argument between Seventeen and the voice, but at this point, their once autonomous mentalities were starting to bleed together.
“I suppose you’re right,” Seventeen muttered beneath his breath as the two reached the top of small prominence. In the distance, they could see a large depression in the surface of the earth, and even farther, there was the endless ocean that surrounded the island. “We’re not,” he added softly as Minoshia turned to look at him. It took a brief moment for the konat to register the remark, but when he did, the machine-hybrid was certain he saw a glint in his rival’s eye.
![[Image: A17June08.jpg]](http://frozendust.com/sig/A17/A17June08.jpg)