Bowser Koopa (
koopacrusher) wrote in
melodiesofeternity2019-03-14 09:27 pm
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Entry tags:
The Phantom Menace [Closed]
Who: Bowser and Maul
When: The Second April 8th
Where: Curti Center
What: Bowser asks Maul where he was three days in the future
Warnings/Notes: Time Travel grammar is weird.
Bowser had noticed something on the first April 11, that Maul wasn’t there during the Bahamut fight. It was easy to understand why, Bowser himself might have behaved similarly once. Regardless, he was upset to know it had happened. The absence was understood, but the dishonesty it involved was unacceptable.
With the Berserker job equipped, Bowser knocked down the door to B-01. He roared after he had done so, surely getting the attention of those inside. People outside may also have noticed, but it didn’t matter. The important thing was that Bowser got answers and possibly some revenge.
When: The Second April 8th
Where: Curti Center
What: Bowser asks Maul where he was three days in the future
Warnings/Notes: Time Travel grammar is weird.
Bowser had noticed something on the first April 11, that Maul wasn’t there during the Bahamut fight. It was easy to understand why, Bowser himself might have behaved similarly once. Regardless, he was upset to know it had happened. The absence was understood, but the dishonesty it involved was unacceptable.
With the Berserker job equipped, Bowser knocked down the door to B-01. He roared after he had done so, surely getting the attention of those inside. People outside may also have noticed, but it didn’t matter. The important thing was that Bowser got answers and possibly some revenge.
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But now those plans are mostly in place so Maul has retreated to one of the unoccupied bedrooms that he now uses as a meditation chamber. The bed has been tipped up against the wall, and the sheets pulled across the window, the lights turned off, leaving the room dim. All the other furniture was moved into another one of the empty bedrooms to give Maul as much floor space as possible. Some candles have been lit, illuminating the dim room a little; they're a useful meditation aide as well.
Stripped to the waist, he sits cross-legged on the floor, eyes shut, focusing and channeling his rage and hatred. His sword lies on the floor in front of him; experience has taught him to always have a weapon within arm's reach.
And with good reason, it seems; when Maul hears the door shattering off its hinges, his eyes open and in a flash he's up, grabbed his sword, and is rushing from the room, readying an [Enhanced Counter] as he does so. At the top of the stairs, he sees that his apparent invader is the lizard-like beast who was part of the same group of arrivals as he was. He doesn't quite remember the creature's name.
Recognition, however, does not slow or stop Maul's attack since the creature has obviously barged in with violent intent. With a snarl he leaps down the last few steps and attacks Bowser with an [Oblivion] combo. There is the smallest of chances doing so will banish Bowser to some sort of interdimensional rift, and in effect, kill him, but that's a risk Maul is frankly willing to take.
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Regardless, Maul lowers (but does not completely put away) his sword and regards Bowser with a cold anger. "You break down my door just to speak nonsense at me? What are you talking about?"
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"Are you insane, or merely as stupid as you look?" He spits finally. "This is why you broke into my home? This is absurd." He turns and begins to head back up the stairs. "Leave. I will send you a bill for the door, oaf."
He pointedly does not answer Bowser's question about his whereabouts on the 11th. The idea of "time loops" is of course ridiculous, especially since it seems rather convenient Maul is the only one to not know about them. And yet Bowser knows that Maul isn't planning to be there...concerning.
Fortunately, he does not owe the beast any sort of explanation and does not plan on giving him one.
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His hand is shaking with barely constrained rage; it's taking everything he has not to give Bowser what he wants and do his level best to actually kill the beast. But...no. Miles is next door. Killing Bowser, even if he could claim self-defense ("the creature burst down my door enraged and attempted to kill me in my own home! I had to defend myself!") would invite too much scrutiny and trouble, and he can ill afford such attention at this critical juncture. Self-defense or no, Miles would probably not have a favourable reaction to hearing his good friend and next door neightbour Maul killed somebody...and the boy has such potential Maul wishes to cultivate if he can.
"I will not say this again, beast. Leave. Now. You will have nothing from me." He says, his voice a low, hissing whisper.
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“If you wanted to kill me, why haven’t you? Are you just afraid to admit you didn’t have the guts? I wouldn’t have pegged you for a coward, and I’ve seen you can fight. So why?” He continues to shout, then calms slightly. “If you don’t tell me I’ll find it anyway. If you kill me you’ll have three days before I can come out on top and you’ll remember nothing. Maybe I shouldn’t expect you to think that far ahead. Or maybe we can come up with some kind of deal, to help out all the future versions of... whatever it is you are.”
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His eyes narrow. "A "deal"? What is the purpose of making a deal with me if, as you say, I shall not remember any of this in three days?" Utter rubbish of course, but for the sake of argument he'll humour Bowser. "Why would I ever bother to make a deal with someone if I am to forget the terms of it entirely? Am I to rely solely on your good nature? You cannot even keep your own story straight." He sneers. "No, I think not. There will be no deal. You have nothing to threaten me with besides your bluster and your empty threats. Rest assured, however..." The sneer turns into a most unpleasant smile. "I very much am thinking ahead."
Maul steps back, and now he puts aside his sword. He no longer feels Bowser is any threat to him. "What happens next is entirely up to you. I would say choose wisely, but...somehow I don't think wisdom is something you have in any great supply."
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Bowser leaves, but he doesn’t go far. He watches the house in which Maul resides, hiding behind something, surrounding shrubbery, perhaps, if any exists. However, being an 8-foot tall dragon-like turtle, he doesn’t hide well.
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As Bowser watches, he might notice the closed blinds on the second floor shift a little. Maul's sneer turns uglier as he peers out from behind the blinds, his past as an assassin and crime lord making him find Bowser's absolutely pathetic attempts at surveillance offensive to the extreme.
Unfortunately, Curti Center security is not as forthcoming as Maul would like in evicting Bowser; indeed, he discovers they've all left in the impending face of Bahamut giving them no reason to linger here. Well, that's fine, he can adapt.
After checking to see if Bowser is still there-and yes he is, the beast is clearly preparing for a long vigil though once again Maul finds himself unable to determine why he of all people should care so much about this is beyond him. Still, he'll be one to watch...Maul is disturbed by how much Bowser seems to know about his plans. He's been so careful!
Could the time loop story-no, don't be stupid. Of course it isn't. Bowser doesn't know much anyway, just that Maul isn't planning on being there when the dragon attacks. But it does still require a quick change of plans.
Pulling out his iMog (the KupoNet does appear to be going pretty crazy at the moment but Maul ignores it; he has greater concerns right now) and contacts his associate.
D, change of plans. I need you here for pick-up tonight.
...
What? What the hell happened?
...
Someone is sniffing around. Suspects me. Keeping an eye on my home. Need to slip away before its nosiness becomes problematic.
...
I thought you said you were beneath suspicion, KB.
...
Calm yourself, D. He doesn't KNOW anything of importance. How soon can you get here?
...
Godsdammit. It'll take some finagling with the old man but...let me check.
...
Be quick.
...
Okay I was able to do some fast talking. Eight hours. Be the middle of the night.
...
Acceptable. I will meet you at the rendezvous position on the beach. You have the equipment I asked for?
...
I thought I was going to have at least another day, KB. It's not quite ready yet.
...
Is the mask at least usable?
...
Almost.
...
Finish it and bring it to me. I must not be identifiable.
...
What about your tail?
...
Leave that to me. Do not fail me, D.
Maul cuts communication and begins to make preparations. He can slip out the back easily enough without attracting Bowser's attention and be long gone before he realizes Maul is gone. After that, it won't matter.
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It appears your "Friend" is attempting to abandon you. It would seem he snuck out of his home to escape you. I am following from a distance. Bowser goes around the house to find that Maul is indeed leaving, staying far behind and hiding better than last time to at least some degree. Meanwhile, Mogoom stalks, from afar as he has been doing, hiding well as he does so.
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The Dathomirian quickly makes his way to the beach, but not to the main dock. Rather, he crosses to the opposite side of the island, which is sparsely attended at the best of times but now with the end of the world only a few days away, and in the middle of the night, to boot, it's completely deserted...or is it?
As Maul drops down onto the beach, Bowser or Mogoom will see a small rowboat pulled ashore. Farther off, in the distance, barely visible in the gloom, a large ship waits well away, obviously from where the rowboat came from. Two figures are sitting in the boat. When Maul drops down, one figure looks over...at which point the second figure in the boat pulls a knife and sticks it in the first figure's neck.
Maul watches impassively as the murder takes place in front of him. When the first figure finally slumps over dead, the second rises and begins to cross the beach; Maul meets him halfway. His confederate is tall, thin, and lanky, though the general bodyshape suggests an Elezen. He's cowled however, which makes identification difficult. He's carrying what appears to be a briefcase he pulled out of the boat after killing his compatriot.
He and Maul seem to be engaged in conversation their conversation hushed, but unless Bowser or Mogoom wants to risk getting closer (which in Bowser's case would be a bad idea, given the lack of cover on the empty beach) it's currently impossible to hear what they're saying.
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"I have no idea. Had I known we'd be doing this kind of activity today I would have prepared better. Hearing what they are saying will prove difficult. However, I am not entirely without what I need." Mogoom puts on a black suit. "I will do my best to learn what they are doing. Until I do, remain here, your Majesty. Come closer only on my signal, which may turn out to be a scream of terror." Mogoom travels closer, camouflaged by the night, silent as he flies above them.
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"-man's holed up in his compound with about twenty men. A few guys've slipped away, guess to be with their families or some shit like that." The cowled compatriot is saying. "I tried to keep them onboard, telling 'em things will get better like you said but they didn't buy it. A few of those guys would'a been useful."
"Do you know where these families are?" Maul asks. The cowled figure nods. "Then we know where to make our examples."
"That's cold, blooded, Kay." A pause. "I like the way you think."
Maul motions to the case. "Show me."
The figure holds up the case and opens it. There's a glint of something inside but Mogoom can't get a clear look at it. Regardless, Maul runs a hand over it. "It'll fit just fine, but the stuff like that HUD you were asking for and the synthesizer aren't quite finished yet."
"Those will not be necessary for the time being." Maul replies dismissively. "You will do the talking. Leave the rest to me." He reaches up with both hands and places something over his face. Another movement suggests the mask-if that is what it seems to be-is being affixed to his face. This done, Maul flips up a hood that to this point has been left down. The suggestion is that the mask and hood combined completely obscure his features, horns and all.
The Elezen whistles. "I wouldn't want to fuck with ya, Kay."
"Few do." Maul-or "Kay", apparently-replies, his voice more muffled.
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"Yeah, but not every time."
"However do you mean, Lord Bowser?"
"We're in a time loop, I'll fill you in later. Basically Baha Blast and the Summoner Lady won and this guy wasn't there for the fight. I'd love nothing more than to beat his ass into the ground. But when we actually beat the dragon, I'll need this guy. He fits nicely into my plans. And if he doesn't cooperate we'll have dirt on him soon. It’s probably better if you stay back though.”
"Hey!" Bowser called. "Spiny Shell Face!" Bowser uses Berserk, becoming a wild beast attacking the Dathomirian and his ally.
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As Bowser charges, Maul turns to face him; he is indeed masked. With the hood, and his body completely covered by loose, black clothing that allows for ease of movement, there would be little to identify him if Bowser did not already know who was behind the mask.
"You have made a grave mistake, lizard." Maul snarls. At first he reaches for something at his belt, but then seems to think better of it and instead pulls the long, thin sword hanging on the other side instead.
He readies an [Enhanced Counter] and waits for Bowser to close the distance. The Elezen swiftly backs up to get away from the fight.
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Mogoom, however, moves to the Elezen, who seems unprepared for combat, armed with a dagger. “You weren’t considering leaving, were you? The party has only begun!” He brandishes the weapon, indicating skill with it.
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Landing, his feet skidding a little on the sand, he rises quickly, only to see that Bowser has retreated fully into the shell. Once again his hand begins to drop to his belt. His regular sword might not be able to pierce that shell but the-
"Kay!" The Elezen continues to crawl backwards away as Mogoom menaces him with the knife. The knife that he used to stab his compatriot earlier was tucked back into his belt, and he can't reach it without letting Mogoom get close enough to use his.
With a snarl of annoyance at how completely sideways this has gone, Maul ignores Bowser for the moment and charges Mogoom from behind. If he reaches the Moogle he'll unleash a [Shooting Star] combo on the Moogle, which will likely not end well for him.
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Tucking into a roll despite the ringing in his head from that punch, Maul comes up facing Bowser again, sword and dagger now in his hands.
"Why?!" He spits angrily through the mask. "Why do you of all people care what I do?" Months of careful planning and preparation for this day...up-ended in a single afternoon by this scaled oaf! How? How could have found out? How could he have known any of this?
...unless perhaps this had already happened before? No, the thought is ridiculous, but here Bowser stands, standing between Maul and his goals. At the very least this buys him some time.
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Maul manages to send one of Bowser's swipes wide thanks to a well-timed deflection. As the Koopa staggers, he follows up with a spinning kick to Bowser's head, hoping to knock him back, and perhaps knock enough sense into him to be in a more talkative mood.
And if he can achieve the former, but not the latter, well, Maul may have an answer for that too, but he does not wish to reveal that particular trump card too early if he does not have to.
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"Hey!" The Elezen cries indignantly, but is ignored.
The names Bowser rants off at Maul mean nothing to him and he fails to look impressed. "Are you truly suggesting that my absence will mean life or death for the rest of you?" He spits. "I am only barely trained in a single asterisk yet and you expect me to believe that if I am not there, Bahamut wins? You say you don't care what I do, yet here you are, ruining months of work with your whining about me. The only reason I have ceased trying to kill you is because I'm starting to think it won't matter; none of this will." He reaches up and removes the mask, letting it fall to the sand. "You truly weren't joking about these time loops, were you?" He asks. "It's the only way you could have known I had no intention of being at the battle. I still do not. And I won't in future loops, will I? Because I have no memory of the loops as you and apparently every other "hero" do. Unless you plan to do this every loop, which would be a waste of time I'm sure you could spend doing something more productive to actually save the world, what exactly do you hope to accomplish here?" Maul's no stranger to anger, but he's learned to use it expertly, with precision, not...unrestrained and unchecked like this oaf.
He spreads his hands in a conciliatory gesture. "Perhaps there is a way we can come to some sort of arrangement." He says finally. "One that will allow me to in future loops move forward with my plans without having to worry about your blundering." And now he actually does approach Bowser, with a sneer. "You have plans of your own, don't you? Plans the other "Heroes" would not approve of, or I suspect you would not have confronted me alone tonight. So...let us make a deal, shall we?"
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“An arrangement. I’m glad you said that. I can see you already have plans to do, whatever you’re doing, and you’re already trying to cover your tracks. Which means you don’t really care if people think what you’re doing is “right.” I need someone who can do things on the shady side, scratch that, someone who could watch the world with their only thoughts are of how you can rule the ashes. So, how would you like to be a supervillain?”
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"I have been known to walk on the Dark Side of things, yes." Maul replies, smiling thinly. But then his smile turns into a scowl. "A...what?" He asks, annoyed. "That sounds like a term invented by a child." After a moment however, he waves his hand dismissively. "Go on, what exactly are you proposing?"
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“A supervillain. I come from a world where clouds have faces, don’t tell me what’s childish. Anyway, yeah, you act like you’re some kind of comic book villain. You go make mayhem in the cities, you do evil. Then some hero shows up to stop you, a Hero of Light, probably, and it creates conflict. People love a good story, and you help me tell one to Vaikuntha. You do this, you tell me what you did, and I sell the story to Vaikuntha. Leave that to me, just remember to do villainous acts that sell some newspapers.
“While you do all this you can keep up whatever it is you’re doing on the side. Make it seem like, whatever you want it to seem like, or don’t. I don’t care, just put on a show. Once I have what I need to get out of this, and I can start my REAL plan, all you gotta do is figure out a way to pretend to lose. Then go back to whatever you were doing in the shadows. Except when you do you’ll have some more money to do it with. Do we have a deal?
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Maul folds his arms over his chest, thinking. "You need someone to commit crimes and make a spectacle of it. You hope to profit from this..." He thinks for a moment. "...Yes, this is acceptable." He says, finally. "It dovetails into my own plans more than I expected." He taps the discarded mask with his foot. "I assume I shall need a false identity and it just so happens I already have one of those set up." A pause. "Very well, I accept your terms. I shall give you the stories you want, provided you can give me a suitable..."super-hero" to face."
He puts his hand to his chin. "We shall need a way to resume this conversation and get me up to speed when these time loops are finished and Bahamut slain." He thinks for a moment, and then looks up. "When the rest of you have finished your work with Bahamut and the flow of time resumes, contact me again. Arrange a meeting; threaten to reveal my plans if you have to. I will most likely try to kill you before you can do this, BUT...tell me everything you say is true and swear it "by the shadows of Malachor"." Another thin, mirthless smile. "Malachor" is a name he has mentioned to no one here in Vaikuntha; Bowser of all people uttering it will be proof enough that Maul needs to listen to him. "And then we can...work out the details of this arrangement and make it more permanent. Agreed?"
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Mogoom bows, “Farewell, Mr. Maul. Do enjoy the end of the world.” He follows Bowser, and they leave Maul.
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"What the hell, Kay?! We had a fucking deal, do you not-"
"I remember." Maul says evenly. "And we still will."
"Don't tell me you actually believe that shit about time loops." The Elezen spits. "You just got played like a damn fool Kay, and so did I. I can't believe I thought trusting you was a-what the hell is that?"
Suddenly there's a noise, like energy crackling that Bowser does not recognize, followed by a constant, low humming. "What the FU-" is all the panicked Elezen has time to say before an electronic "whooshing" sound is followed by a wet-sounding death rattle. There's another crackling noise and then all is silence and darkness.
May 13th
In the early afternoon, Bowser and Mogoom stand at Maul's doorstep, knocking at his door. Then, they wait, in hopes that Maul will answer the door.
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Maul's appearances around the Curti Center since Bahamut's death have been sporadic; often disappearing for several days, if his absence is noted at all. As he mostly keeps to himself and tends not to interact with the others outside of group missions-which there have not been many of these days-it rarely is. As always, he returned to the Curti Center early in the morning, several hours before the sun rose. For the time being he still needs to try and keep up the facade that he's one of them, absence during the fight with Bahamut notwithstanding. It's an arrangement he doesn't expect to last, but he'll make use of it while he can. Diocletian should be able to hold things together for a few days; after his performance in Kiddillon there may be many who wish to cross him, but to do so would risk the wrath of his new "enforcer".
A bit of obfuscation on Maul's part, of course. Perhaps if he'd been more visible with the Crimson Dawn things wouldn't have gone the way they did after Dryden Voss got killed. Well, lesson learned. Maul will keep a closer eye-and tighter rein-on Diocletian while still maintaining the appearance of servitude. For the time being, at least.
In the mean-time, there's work to be done. He has a custom asterisk to design, and a trip out into the Dream Width to plan, amongst other gears currently in motion. But those can wait for the time being. For now, everything is under-
A pounding at the door causes Maul's eyes to snap open from where he sits cross-legged on the floor of his bedroom, meditating. After a moment, he rises and heads for the door. It's probably Miles, looking for something.
The door opens and it's with some surprise that Maul sees...the big turtle one standing on the other side of the door. That's...unexpected. They've never interacted before.
"...Yes?" He asks finally.
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"Let's just get to the point," says Mogoom, "We know, to a certain extent, what you've been doing. We are aware that you have a mask and are engaging in... questionable activities. As you may know, we have a newspaper known as the Koopa Times, and I should like to inform you that would be very happy to reveal publicly what we know."
"But," adds Bowser, "It doesn't have to go that way. I'm sure you've learned of the time loops that happened after the Apocalypse at Sen Riqaeux. During these loops, you and I made a deal. When we did, you told me to come back to you after the loops were over. You also told us you'd try to kill us. But I promise you, by the shadows of Malachor, that what I'm telling you is the truth." Bowser holds his claws at his sides in a pose suggesting he's ready to attack, if the need arises.
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Once inside he listens. His expression never changes from the one of mild contempt as Bowser rattles off what he knows, or thinks he knows, or about this supposed deal. Maul's heard of these time-loops; there's been enough chatter on the MogNet about them, and from enough people for Maul to assume that they did indeed happen and for whatever reason he has no memory of them.
It's not until Bowser swears by the shadows of Malachor that Maul's eyes widen in surprise. He's never mentioned that name to anyone, much less his connection to it. The shadows are a good touch too; Malachor is not a planet that gets much sunlight.
Maul's expression turns appraising, and he folds his arms over his chest. He makes no move to attack...yet. "And what deal is it that we supposedly made?" He asks quietly.
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After a moment he moves away, in thought. "An interesting idea, and yet I cannot help but notice that Vaikuntha seems rather short on actual "superheroes" at the moment." He observes.
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