Skip Navigation
Into a Dark Corner [Amaranthus; Career]
|
|
Post by Bell the Floramon on Sept 16, 2019 1:06:55 GMT
"Alright, thanks for today!"
Amidst the dark streets of Tenebrous, the oddly cheerful voice of a Floramon seemed like a breath of fresh air. Some might say that she managed to land right back on her feet: she managed to find her way to Tenebrous, and thanks to a few good connections, managed to land a job at a local bar. This was her third day on the job, as well as her first payday: with an apron slung over her shoulder, covering a small bag strapped around her back, the Floramon stepped right out the side door into the alleyway.
As it clicked shut, and after taking a few steps away, she'd bring a hand up to her sinus, shaking her head. "Fucking hell, what am I doing here..."
Indeed, how did she end up here at all? Just a year and a half ago, she was a respected, if controversial, researcher - but after everything came up with the D-Reaper? Well, her work was called into question. Her projects were cancelled, her funding pulled, and she was forced to take her work into hiding, to share her research with sketchy underground groups... and, eventually, had to watch her life's work literally blow up in smoke.
She tried to re-establish her research, only to find that Whitewater was looking for her. And from then on, she found herself on the run: buddying up with some tamer, pretending to be their partner, and even trying to steal some poor digimon's armor spirit. Nothing panned out.
She was reduced to nothing. Just a drifter out in this dead-end town with nowhere to go.
"... Tch... one thing at a time, Bell." She stood back up, shaking her head. "You have to sleep somewhere."
Amaranthus |
|
|
|
Post by Amaranthus on Sept 16, 2019 10:46:05 GMT
"Did I stutter…? WHERE is my money, turkey?"
Amaranthus was not having anything of it today… She honestly couldn't believe what some people thought they could try getting away with! Even as she strangleholding a Deramon against a wall in an alleyway nearby, she scowled at the nerve of this guy. As the plant-bird hybrid seemed to struggle gasping for air, the demoness gritted her teeth as she held onto their neck. "I did MY part, yet you think you can scam me too like those hoodlums? Maybe I should just throw you back to them… I'm sure they'd LOVE to have a piece of you." she threatened, sneering at the princely Digimon.
She might have been a demon, but she ALWAYS upheld her end of the bargain. She wasn't asking for much, just a fair payment.
"G-Give me some time! I-I'll mail your b-bits soon, just let me go!" the bird desperately called out, almost on the verge of turning blue (well, bluer than normal). To his relief, the Mephistomon X relaxed her grip as she unceremoniously dropped them.
"You better, less Thanksgiving is coming early this year." Amaranthus warned the bird one more time, watching as they proceeded to make a mad dash back out into the streets. Sighing, she pulled out a small stogie and lit it using the flames that represented her eyes before sticking it into her mouth. "... Man, am I going soft or something?" the demoness mumbled to herself as she too stepped out of the alley, sighing.
Guess she wasn't the only whose mood was somewhat sour. Amidst the motley crew of thugs and all-around shady folk wandering Tenebrous, the Floramon stuck out like a sore thumb. She wasn't the type to stick her nose into other people's business… but they did look quite out-of-place in this dark city. The demoness walked up to the floral Rookie with a curious look, twirling their parasol idly while occasionally letting out a puff of smoke. "You lost…? Topside ain't too hard to get to if so." Amaranthus asked with a bored tone, briefly flicking a bit of ash to her side.
|
|
|
|
Post by Bell the Floramon on Sept 16, 2019 23:04:48 GMT
The atmosphere of this place was quite interesting to try and get used to.
Here Bell was, getting off of what felt like an ordinary shift as a bar waitress - but less than three minutes later, a panicked Deramon sprinted on past her left side, like he'd just stolen the Holy Grail and was making a run for it! Briefly, the Floramon was concerned that someone was going to bolt after him, but after a few seconds, she just gave a tired shake of her head and pressed on. She wouldn't get far, though, before she would pass by a rather well-dressed goat Digimon.
The Floramon kept her head down, knowing better than to willfully get involved with demon types, but when she was addressed? The plant came to a stop, and let out a low sigh. "Man, I wish I were lost right now." The 'cheery' tone that Floramon were known for was completely absent in this Floramon's voice. Despite her species, Bell's voice alone betrayed the frustration of the past several weeks.
She bit her lip. She didn't believe that she was about to fucking ask this:
"Where's the best place I can crash without getting shaken down for my bits?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Amaranthus on Sept 17, 2019 20:29:57 GMT
Tenebrous was certainly not much a place that one might call... normal, but that was what Amaranthus supposed was part of its charm. A city of hoodlums, lowlifes, and those whose pretty faces belied other intentions... her kind of city honestly! Still, people didn't simply stay down here usually just for kicks... there was always a purpose to come to the City of Night, and this Floramon was making it quite clear that she wasn't here because she wanted to be.
"Hmm. Can't even show your face up topside, huh? Man, I would be lying if I said I'm a little surprised to hear that coming from you." the Mephistomon X whistled, briefly blowing a ring of smoke away before gazing back at the Floramon... a delectable taste of despair emanating off the plant Digimon and tickling the demon's tongue.
Still...? She had some sympathy for the flower. Heavens knows she didn't choose this life from the get-go... circumstance lead to this murderous life of hers, going from place to place solving job after job. She might have been a sadist, but she didn't take joy in the misery of those that weren't her enemy. "Theres a motel ran by a Babamon on northwestern side. It might be ugly and uncomfortable, but toss her some extra bits than needed. She's pretty receptive to generosity like that and might even cook ya some breakfast. Hehehe... Just don't try and screw her out of her money. Rumor has it she turned the last guy who tried to do that into a Sukamon."
Amaranthus soon courteously bowed to the Floramon, chuckling warmly to herself. She could see someone who was down on their luck... someone that in Amaranthus's eyes was a potential customer. "Pardon my rudeness... Call me Amaranthus. Some call me a murderer... but thats such a very narrow profession. I'm more a jack-of-all-trades... whatever one's heart desires, I might be able to help if they are willing to pay a paltry fee. Bodyguard, assassin, even a miracle" she spoke before reaching into her corset's cleavage, pulling out a card with a heart insignia on it that matched her cuffs. "Of course, I'm just advertising myself... I can see you have other things to worry about... but I won't invade your privacy any further."
She might have been a demon, but she always let people come to her...
|
|
|
|
Post by Bell the Floramon on Sept 17, 2019 22:41:36 GMT
Couldn't even show her face topside?
Oh, the Mephistomon didn't even know the half of it. The Floramon's gaze shifted away from the demon's own, clearly frustrated by the situation. Despite this, though the plant managed to keep together and work up the courage to ask her question. And, perhaps surprisingly, Amaranthus returned an answer.
A deadpan, helpful answer, with no jokes or gimmicks to go alongside it. Just go northwest - basically, hook a right at the end of the street - and look for a motel ran by a Babamon. Any initial surprise the Floramon had to the demon's explanation didn't show on her face, the Floramon returning a nod of thanks. "Appreciated. Hopefully she had something for extended visitors."
Honestly, that could have been it. Bell, flat a voice as ever, would walk on by - until the demon introduced herself. 'Amaranthus', was she? The Floramon stopped, looking slightly over her shoulder as she listened to the Mephistomon's deal. A murderer, a mercenary, an assassin - someone who would do anything for a fee. It was a bit leading, yes, and with a sigh, the Floramon would give a wave over her shoulder and press on.
... For only about a foot, before she stopped on the spot.
"Amaranthus, huh? If you're going to give your story..."
The plant turned. Honestly, she didn't know where she was going with this, or what she felt. Maybe she just felt kinship with another flower's name, or maybe she really was digging at the bottom of the barrel. "I'm Bell. Professional botanist and researcher, and a member of Whitewater's former D-Reaper research group before it dissolved. I continued my work independently, but my place of research was found out. Two years ago I could pick almost any grant I wanted, but now, I'm just another Digimon in the dregs, looking at 20-40 cycles if the wrong person gets a whiff of me."
Despite the weight of it, the Floramon seemed oddly calm, composed. "So don't worry about shaking me down like some Deramon."
With a flick of her arm, she let slip something that she'd hidden in her left hand: a small wallet, purple with a gilded stitching, that looked quite similar to a certain turkey's crown. Watching it skip against the ground, she sighed. "Guy really had nothing."
|
|
|
|
Post by Amaranthus on Sept 19, 2019 21:16:23 GMT
You sometimes couldn't judge books by covers... She didn't get the vibe of innocence that most Rookies had from this girl. Then again, you couldn't be innocent and be stuck down here. Honestly she was surprised that they seemed receptive to her suggestions. "Well, it beats bumming with the Numemon, or taking your chances out in Old Terminus. I'll least give ya that." she chuckled, though least gave a sympathetic look. She might have been a monster, but she wasn't heartless.
She was content enough to least spare the Floramon's time, but she paused as they began to speak to her directly… the demon's flaming eyes seemingly squinting in curiosity. A woman of science, hmm? An unlikely individual down here, but the mention of that despicable red force that has plagued her homeland for sometime now piqued her interest. "The red moss… Hmm? A birdie once told me that it had bloomed rather destructively in recent years… Making the Dark Area even more a hellhole than it was. Luminas got into some reeeal trouble making a bad situation worse I hear." she mused, flicking a bit of ash into a nearby waste bin
Still, she felt like she didn't get the whole story... but the message was clear. Bell has taken some dark avenues to try and survive… ones enough to sentence her for a long time. "Yeesh… Some of the hooligans I deal with get thrown in the slammer for less than that!" she ended up exclaiming, her impressment with the floral Digimon growing with the reveal of that Deramon's wallet… something that caused her to break out in laughter.
"Hahaha! Not bad! I took you for a daisy, but you seem more like a rose… a particularly spiky one." she complimented Bell, though her tone would shift to a more mellow and… serious one. "I'm curious though... why tell me? I honestly do not give off much a vibe of being trustworthy honestly... do you worry I might give you away?" the demoness asked with a genuine sincerity. Either this gal was not as bright as she seemed, or was MUCH brighter… and honestly? She was willing to give them the benefit of the doubt.
|
|
|
|
Post by Bell the Floramon on Sept 19, 2019 22:26:35 GMT
Yup - Bell nodded at the mention of the 'red moss' out in the Dark Area. "Honestly, the start of it kicked off a lot of projects - until Luminas and Whitewater decided to backpedal and pull all the funding when the same thing happened out in the desert. No matter how low the risk was, they didn't want another one of those 'remote nests' popping up."
The Floramon gave a sigh, shaking her head, casting her gaze away as Amaranthus mused at her potential sentence. Honestly, Bell was guessing - but the number she pulled out of her head was pretty close to the right number. She let that float without comment, keeping her focus on the Mephistomon's reactions.
On seeing the wallet, the Mephistomon laughed - and when addressing her earnestly? The demon's tone switched to a curious and serious one. Through all of this, Bell's own expression still remained composed, and on hearing that question, Bell took a moment to gather her thoughts.
"Well, to put it simply, nothing's going to change how I want it to if I just leave things as they are. I'll be some no-name barkeep for years until Whitewater forgets about me - and at that point, my form'll be so decrepit that I won't even want to be on the surface. So even though its a gamble, I have to find someone who can help me."
"... And its not like Tenebrous has the best pick of the litter for that. Hoodlums, thieves, rowdy and strict business owners - they'll all turn in someone with more trouble than their worth, perhaps after stringing me along for a while. No... no, I need someone who actually has an idea of the reins on this place. And then I look at you."
"Well-dressed. So confident with herself that she gives away her own damning information on the street, as if this were broadway. And bored enough that she's entertained with some straggling leaf in the wind."
"So, it boils down to this... either I'm right and I can see what you can do. Or my best guess is wrong and I'd be fucked either way."
|
|
|
|
Post by Amaranthus on Sept 25, 2019 8:12:59 GMT
Amaranthus was not terribly surprised that cities like Whitewater and Luminas would do something like this… The moment something looked like it could go wrong, people were prone to fall back to primal emotions like self-preservation or greed… leaving people like Bell in the crossfire. "Spineless pricks." the Ultimate level muttered in her breath… even she disgusted by the matter.
Bell's story though while was a unique one, its ulterior tones were ones that were far too common these days. Fate having it out for someone, forcing them down roads that might otherwise be avoided if things were just a touch better. "Fufufu… You really have been driven into a corner… haven't you, dear? To seek someone like me…? That kind of desperation isn't typically seen by the average folk. When even the worst you can think of pales to your current situation…" she whispered… on one hand a playful and almost mocking tone to the demoness's voice, but soon shifting to a more serious tone as they offered the Floramon just what they desired. A hook baited with hope. "I can help you… perhaps more than you might expect? Your clock can be turned back. With my help, you will be able to leave this cursed place forever a free mon."
Amaranthus was not doing this out of the virtue of her blackened heart... She was a businesswoman after all, it just so happened that dealing as a devil was part of her job description. She damn well knew that the flower was a smart cookie though, which lended to her being a tad more… honest with them. "... However, there is a catch. Every exchange must have a price. It is a price you can pay, I assure you… but the all-important question is, will you be willing to pay such a price?" she ended up speaking, smiling sinisterly as she gingerly twirled her parasol.
It would be quite clear that bits weren't what the demon was implying payment was… though would even that dissuade Bell? This was the tipping point in Amaranthus's eyes...
|
|
|
|
Post by Bell the Floramon on Sept 25, 2019 22:08:02 GMT
"Trust me, speaking to the choir here." With a frustrated sigh, Bell shook her head. Just how were they supposed to solve the problem if they weren't willing to take any risk? Sticking one's head in the sand wasn't going to solve a damn thing.
At least, that's how Bell saw it.
As Bell wrapped up her story, honestly, she didn't know what she was expecting. It wouldn't have been surprising at all for Amaranthus to say 'Well, how am I supposed to help' or 'Touch luck' or something like that. But, somehow, Bell managed to not only keep the Mephistomon's interest, but even heard the demon extend an offer. For the first time in their conversation, there was a flicker in Bell's eyes, a flutter of hope finally rising from the depths of her heart.
Of course, there was a catch. On the mention of that, Bell closed her eyes, and took a deep breath - a long, relieved breath outwards, as she finally felt the tension of this conversation leave her frame. A price? "A price I can pay..." So, servitude? Data? Something else? Whatever it was, Bell didn't really have an option to argue.
Not without knowing the terms, anyway. "... Let's discuss this further in a better location. Interested as I am, this probably isn't a discussion we should be having in the open. But once we're there, I'll hear your terms."
|
|
|
