Re: Sunday Candy [Closed - Mature]

[Tsumiko]

Tsumiko wasn’t positive what had happened to her armless friend following her relinquishing of his half-alive state. She wasn’t positive, but she had a hunch. Whether Darius had won the soon-to-be showdown, and sent L’Ombra and his cronies to Marigold’s infirmary, or he lost, in which case was sent there instead. Either way, the safest place to be to find out what happened was at the very building they were bound to run to once all was said and done.

While she waited, the songstress readied a little gift for one of the four fine gentlemen that played a role in this show. It only needed a few finishing touches that would come later one. Tsumiko was expecting that the birdie had managed to flitter his way out of any mortal damage, since the ringleader that was L’ was Darius’ primary target. Just enough to disable. The pyro’s ‘heroic’ persona wouldn’t allow him to kill, and especially not after the events predating Marigold’s reign on Twilight Town. Or so her theory went. Only time could tell what had transpired.

And boy, was it a long wait. Tsumiko was sipped away three cups of tea before there was any commotion in front of the building. Havelock wasn’t as stealthy as he thought himself, and the songstress easily picked out his features. Getting up from her seat, Tsumiko was going to be a good citizen and pay for her drink. With an alarming speed and accuracy, the woman took the appropriate munny between her fingers and flicked it at the waitress. At hit the poor girl’s forehead dead center, ricocheted off, and sent the young lady falling to the floor. The sight brought a smirk to her lips as people surrounded the waitress who looked as though she had a fainting spell. But sadly, to baby an annoying brat like that was only going to feed her being an attention whore… She got what she deserved, for the moment.

With that out of the way, the songstress made headway for Marigold’s main building that Havelock had absconded into with dead weight in tow. Entering the building, several sets of eyes were upon her. It was doubtless that at least one of those who recognized the silver-haired beauty immediately patched a message through to the Darkson Queen. Tsumiko had been missing for some time, after all. To suddenly show up, and in so bold a fashion, might have been cause to rejoice. Or worry.

With a pleasant smile upon her lips, the songstress casually walked through the reception area, tipped her head to the receptionist, and invited herself right on in. Already, she was familiar with the building, so finding the medical wing was no issue. Along the way, she went about finishing her gift. The small back device placed close to her lips, any of those unlucky enough to hear her melodic voice was suddenly awash with an intense, burning pain. Many fell to their knees, clutching their chests. Many cried out in agony, faces scrunched. Many still, began to bleed from the nose and mouth, eyes rolled to the back of their heads.

Though she smiled, Tsumiko was not happy. The rage and hatred she felt rolled off her in a visible teal aura. Those being unfortunate enough to touch it, would find their roaming limbs lacerated. She ignore all their cries, and headed towards her destination, which was acquired after a polite stop at the front desk. It was restricted information, but for someone of the songstress’ stature, obtaining the clearance wasn’t much of an issue.

Rounding the final corner, Tsumiko walked up to the door, opened it, and stepped inside. Her song had ended long ago, as to not further damage a likely critical Darius. Inside the room, Havelock stood some way off from a bed that had doctors and nurses surrounding it. They paused to look up at her as she entered, even attempting to tell her she couldn’t be in there. She held a single finger up to them, and strolled over to the man. The arua surrounding her flickered and faded before she made it too close.

“Greetings, Havelock. I see you all got what you wanted in the end.” Tsumiko said with a curt tone, though her smile remained. The look in her eye held a dangerous allure. Holding up the device she had been using to record her voice in a manner for Havelock to fully see that it was, the songstress thrust it into his chest. “A gift of victory for you and yours. I would much appreciate it if good little Swallow also gets to partake in it. Don’t be nosy and listen to it without him, alright?” She now wore a grin that matched her eyes. Oh, how she wanted to just wrap her hands around his neck and suffocate him. Or better yet, steal the very air from his lung with naught more than a kiss. But she could go about doing such an adulterous thing to her love. She was faithful to Gwain, as he held her tattered heart in his hands. “Now, I suggest you leave this place before things get… messy…” She warned him in a low voice and finally removed her hand from his chest to turn and walk towards the doctors.

Dismissively waving her hand, she stared them down with a dark, yet unfeeling gaze. “Same to all of you. Leave now. Your medicine is useless in such a delicate case.” They just looked at her like fucking deers in headlights, unmoving. “Well!? I said to get the fuck out!” Tsumiko bellowed, pointing a finger at the door. This time around, they jumped a little, and the bloodied practitioners scurried out of the room. Sighing, she approached the bedside and looked over the ginger that lay there. The songstress definitely had her work cut out for her. That brute L'Ombra really didn't know how to hold back. Without further delay, the silver-blue haired woman got to work.

[Marigold Darkson]

Marigold's all-seeing eye? Hardly an exaggeration, especially when it came to commotion within her own world. Territory she set about making sure was monitored 24/7, there wouldn't be any doubt in anyone's mind if they asked themselves, if Marigold knew exactly what went down. It had been a handful of months since the restoration of Twilight Town and the additional defense systems were set in place, especially after a certain Songstress had gotten herself kidnapped. Eyes, ears, and mouths in every conversation in every location, the queen was quite the informed woman. It was the whole reason why L'Ombra was even able to figure out who, "Copper" really was. Her uncanny ability to remain prepared for nearly every scenario could be deemed as either paranoia, or a form of sixth sense. Regardless, she had to set up everything for a moment such as this.

Call it a bait, set-up, whatever. Every piece on the board had its position and role to play, which they did so nicely. It could have been handled way better, however, so when L' sent in his report directly to her and made his joke about how bad of a condition Darius was in, she was thankful, but berated him for not following her precise orders. Sure, he was a murderer and hitman who enjoyed his craft, but there needed to be finesse and professionalism, especially if you were apart of the Darkson's. After all, the only real person who had the leeway to maim and torture to a beyond inhumane manner, was Celia. The reason being? Well, most would have to be sent to her in order to find out. Despite that, though, Darius had been retrieved, Tsumiko found, and now Marigold had her role to play. From where she stood, it was going to be quite a long day in a town that never really saw the end of a day...

Marigold had been given frequent reports about the silver-blue haired young woman and how she had been harming her own allies. There couldn't be any of that. The snow-white haired queen decided that enough was enough from Tsumi's erratic behavior and was going to personally see the woman herself. Gwain was obviously notified about it, the poor man emotionally distraught over her loss, only to perk up once he had heard she had been found. Curse her and her softness for family, when she should have explicitly told him that wasn't the same woman he knew and love. Whatever happened and was done to her turned her into a very dark being. It didn't take a genius to feel that killing intent, hatred, and negativity from where the queen stood. She dealt with such feelings on a level only few could ever come to understand.

She turned away from the large window in her office and closed the velvet satin curtains behind her. Lipstick applied perfectly, locks tied up in a neat ponytail and her attire remaining crisp and clean, Marigold quickly exited her office. The woman entered the elevator, took it down to the floor where the medical wing was on and made her way into the area. Her eyes were introduced to the horrors of those affected by the Songstress' work. Mari's brow furrowed and contorted her face into an annoyed glare. Blood seeped from beneath her feet and pooled under her, before it traveled to all those injured. Those who could be saved and healed, were remedied of whatever pains effected them. Many of them groaned but had otherwise felt good as new in a sense. The woman suggested they all stay away from Tsumiko no matter what and explained that she was to handle the situation personally, alongside her brother.

The Queen passed up Havelock and didn't say a word to him, it was unnecessary to do so. Marigold also sighted the other doctors who had likely been operating on Darius, run out from the room which served as her destination. Calmly and with a collected mindset, the white haired beauty easily opened the door and strolled on in. Her golden-orbs had stared down Tsumiko, who had been operating on the young boy. Mari closed the door behind her and took several steps further into the room. Her visage shown was less than pleased. "You got your work cut out for you, you know?" She started, "Disappear, have us search for you relentlessly, and then out of the blue you show back up. But not only do you show up and further had to the havoc caused by the Idiot Three (referring to L's group), you harm many of my subjects along the way." Though her tone was nice and calm, much like the hateful aura that Tsumi exuded earlier, there was that air of queenly dominance that danced off Marigold's being. This wasn't a happy reunion one bit, for the Queen Darkson had been both worried for the Songstress and annoyed by her actions thus far. "What do you have to say to yourself?"

She asked the question easily and with easy strides, made her way over to the two. Darius was in such a mess and who knows if Tsumiko was in the right mind to help anybody. Arms crossed under her chest, there was no few from Marigold over this new change in her sister.

[Tsumiko]

Tsumiko heard the door to the room open, where her first instinct was to turn and dispose of whoever had dared to enter. Though upon sensing who it was, the songstress refrained and continued her task of healing the mortally wounded young man laid comatose on the bed before her. Her quaint humming was calm and marry, her back facing the slowly advancing queen. Already, her hands were covered in blood, and there was a smear of it streaking her face. The sound of Marigold’s had voice had cued the end her of tune, which eventually came to a decrescendo and stopped altogether.

“Oh, I know, Sis. Your men did quite a number on him.” She answered in a pleasant tone, and would continue to use it as she spoke to Darkson Queen. All the while, she carried on with her task of healing Darius. “I didn’t disappear, I was kidnapped. And I would have come home sooner, or sent word of my whereabouts if my captors had allowed it. But that would have made them very shitty captors, indeed, if they had. But as for your Idiot Three, so fitting a name, really, none of this would have had happened if they were kept on a shorter leash.”

Tsumiko’s words were curt, yet pleasant, and held a tone similar to Marigold’s. In fact, the songstress was practically mirroring Marigold’s queenly aura. Though her own was far more sinister. A smile spread across her lips at the snowy-haired woman’s question. “What do I have to say for myself? Why, I don’t see myself in the wrong at all, dear Mari-chan. I’ve only shared my frustration with the good people. Nothing wrong about that.” She paused to take a breath and return to Darius. She had managed to cauterise the bleeding to an extent, after have dig her fingers into the open wounds, and now began on lessening the gaping holes left in his body. It went without saying that there would be scars. “After all, a good friend of mine was inhumanely tortured. Not only that, but my dear, sweet Tsubot was utterly destroyed. I’ll have to go collect her parts later on. Who knows what other things those savages did? In my opinion, they should be put down like the rabid dogs they are. The way I see it, there are one two reasons they yet live: that they are under your employ, and that Darius needed my immediate and… hands-on attention.”

Giving Marigold a nonchalant, sidelong glance, her smile never faltered. Her handling of Darius’ body was far less than careful, had dried blood now all up and down her arms, with splatters on her shirt. And with the smear on her face, it was quite the gruesome sight. With a light giggle, and an awry smile, she returned those dulled silver-blue eyes back to her healing. The wounds were beginning to show signs of closing. “Here’s to hoping they like my little gift…” She added quietly.

[Marigold Darkson]

The scent of blood was probably just as thick as the air of tension, which surrounded the two in the form of their auras. Both of them were obviously displeased with one another and each had been harmed, but Tsumi suffered far worse. Marigold wasn't ignorant but she had to address the well-being of everyone involved, even if it meant appearing as the temporary bad-guy. The Songstress had allowed her song to fade and continued her work upon the horribly maimed Darius Fetch. A grisly sight to those not used to such gore, but the one thing that disgusted her most about that, was how her orders were disobeyed. It wasn't supposed to be like that and so, when Tsumiko struck back and made the claim of her subordinates being on a shorter leash, she couldn't help but agree, and even felt a bit of sting in her pride. A gentle sigh left her lips.

Her words paused themselves and she awaited for the silver-blue eyed woman to finish her bit of explanation, it was only right. She'd be that parent who annoyed the child by not giving them a chance to explain, if she had suddenly interrupted with her own interjections. They could wait. While her sister continued to speak, Marigold couldn't help but see the fact darkness festered in the woman's being. No, it had more than festered, it became so prevalent in her being, that the queen wasn't even sure if that was the same person who had went missing. Who were her captors, anyway? She mentioned them and maybe once it was her turn to speak, Mari could inquire about them. First things first, though, the obvious elephant in the room had to be addressed.

"Forgive my insensitivity, Tsumiko, you must understand that with everything that had happened... Your kidnapping, Gwain's subsequent depression and now this? A bit too much to handle all at once, don't you think?" She asked, but it was mostly rhetorical. "It is not an excuse, of course, but please know that I too have been distraught over your kidnapping and I find myself even more at a loss of what has happened to you." She stated firmly and showed that she wasn't going to give any ground. "I will further admit that I am displeased with how my subordinates handled their mission. As you already know, they were on a strict kill if necessary, but bring back alive objective. They failed it and I will have a few choice actions for them, but on to more pressing matters." The queen had taken a deep breath.

"Tsumiko, who kidnapped you, why did they do so, and what have they done to you?" Her questions asked in a calm tone. "For you to have been gone for so long and just now appear, but in a rather unique state, there's no hiding that you've changed. I have no time for games and I need you to be honest with me."

She cut the crap and got right into it. This was her way of showing that she cared. When all else failed, this was the mode she reverted to when things became this tense. Desperately, she wanted to reach out and hug her sister who has returned, but was that even the Songstress she knew and loved? Yes, yes it was, but darkness infected her. Her light had been tainted and there was a party responsible for it.

For a split moment, her eyes turned over to the fatally wounded young man and how those fingers brutishly worked on said wounds. "I know you're better than that. Try to help this poor boy you claim you have a friendship with." Mari's voice was stern and with how she saw it, the woman attributed it to a person picking at their food.

[Tsumiko]

The songstress masked her seething anger with a simple smile as she went about her work. Granted, her strong feelings on the matter were almost palpable. When the sound of Marigold’s sigh reached her ears, she knew she won that little spat. At least the queen was sensible enough to know and admit when her peons were out of line. And at least she was sensible enough to let Tsumiko finish. To be cut off so suddenly would have only added to her precariously stacked emotions.

Eyes transfixed on what was before her, Tsumiko listened to the woman only after she herself had finished. At the mention of Gwain, she turned her head and eyes to Marigold and softly smiled. “Gwain…? Where is my beloved, may I ask?” She asked in a sweet, pleasant tone, blinking innocently. “To think that the indomitable Darkson’s were done in by little ol’ me going missing for a few weeks… I’m honored. And tempted.” She added the last bit with a giggle, and returned her eyes to the badly damaged leg Darius possessed. She had spent some time on it, but she was beginning to think that it was a lost cause.

Taking the steps necessary to stand at the other side of the bed, Tsumiko smiled at the mutilated body. “This might hurt a little, Dar~ It’s for your own good, so please bare with me…” She said in a quiet, soothing tone directed at the unconscious lad. She gently stroked his cheek, taking comfort in the fact that Marigold had a plan to deal with L’Dorado and his goons, Swallow and Blockhead.

She paused to direct those silver-blue orbs to the queen, smiling brightly. “My, my. Straight to the point, are we? I’d like to say that I don’t know, or that I don’t remember, but we both know that’s a lie. I remember the feeling of every pinch, poke, prod, stab, slash and slice performed upon my body.” The songstress began to round to bed towards Marigold. “It itched, it stung, it burned every inch of my body. Every fiber of my being with writhing in pain. A torture so intense that it began to feel so very sweet upon my body after a time. Haha… I was begging for it by the end. What did they do, dear..?” She asked, standing before the snowy-haired woman. “By what means, I cannot, say, but they tainted me, sweet, lovable Mari-chan. They took this heart of mine, so full of light, and forcibly inserted the cold, tender embrace of darkness within me.” Tsumiko wrapped her bloodied arms around herself and giggled.

“But you’re right. I have changed. There’s no way to dance around that painfully obvious fact. For better or worse, well… who can say? All I know, is that I’m no longer weighed down by innocence. Naivety no longer clouds my judgement. I can make clear, concise decisions without hesitation, and take action without the pitiful need for penance. For example…” She used a hand to gesture to Darius, before coating that hand in dense, keen wind magics and amputating his useless leg. It was a sudden, yet seamless motion. The magicks moved at such a speed that the very friction of the winds were enough to sear the wound closed before Darius could bleed out. He was already lacking quite a bit of it, from what she could tell. First his arms, and now a leg. The assassin was definitely going to get his ass kicked two-fold the next time he and she crossed paths. But on the bright side, at least the boy’s body had three less limbs to pump blood to.

“Hm? I’m sorry?” Tsumiko had caught the queen’s words after the fact, and smiled sweetly at her. “Oh my dear, sweet Mari-chan. You misunderstand. I am helping him. Oh, what’s that saying..?” She pondered in thought, tapping a finger against her lips. “Things have to get worse before they get better? And in Darius’ case, he’s at rock bottom. So the only direction for him, is up!~”

[Sponsored content]