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Post By Anime Jason Sat Oct 08, 2005 at 12:11:53 pm EDT |
Subject Adventures In Parodyverse: The Path of the Righteous, Part 4 Originally Adventures In Parodyverse: The Path of the Righteous, Part 4 |
In Reply To Anime Jason Wed Dec 31, 1969 at 07:59:59 pm EDT |
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Adventures In Parodyverse - The Path of the Righteous, Part 4 I am the Hooded Hood. By a strange twist of events, my commentary has taken the place of Faite's at the beginning of this segment. You see, Faite's position will be eliminated. She is the Guardian of the Parodyverse. She was one of many, but now she is the last. What happened to the rest of them, you ask? They died. Not by my hand, I assure you, but a natural sequence of events. The Guardians are becoming extinct because their ward is becoming extinct. You see, the Parodyverse is dying. Sometimes slowly, and sometimes very quickly. There are a handful of us who have the responsibility of slowing it down shouldered upon us. Each day the number of us unfortunate souls dwindles some more. I, the Hooded Hood, have foreseen that there will soon be only two - Faite, and the Hooded Hood. I have therefore determined that it's best for us to form an alliance...because Faite's life depends on it. Faite will not longer act as a Guardian of the Parodyverse. She will assist the Hooded Hood in keeping the Parodyverse stable. She will work toward our goals. Why will she do this? Because she has been made to see that the natural forces she thought she served seek only to destroy her along with the other Guardians. Why do I do this? Why does the Hooded Hood seek to preserve the life of the Parodyverse when he himself considers it to be flawed and in need of overhaul? It's like buying an ancient home that's fallen into disrepair. Beautiful architecture, quality materials, a project someone obviously put heart and soul into. It would be a crime to simply tear it down and start anew. However, it would also need extensive and invasive amounts of work. But when it's done, it will be a shining diamond among homes. I have discovered something...Lara Night's home, which she keeps from the Parodyverse as a closely guarded secret. And it's no wonder - it's a universe where powerful magic and amazing uses for technology and energy are developing without the threat of imminent annihilation. She lives on a world much like ours, only destined for the stars. A place where, if I can only access it, I can quietly, and without interference, gain the power I need for my plans here. Even as she plays petty games of sexuality and jealousy with the Lair Legion my plans for her are at work. Oh, I have no intention of harming or threatening her. I only require her cooperation, as I do Faite's. --- Lara's arms were folded defiantly after she herded Visionary into the bathroom and closed the door. "I didn't know you had a whirlpool bath," she pointed out as the new item distracted her. "Me neither," Visionary dismissed the observation. "Liu Xi must have installed it while I was gone." "I sense you have a problem with what happened with me and Dream," she spoke bluntly. Visionary shrugged. "I guess...I'm a little...well, very jealous. I mean...I thought you would have...you know...chosen someone less...you know." "You mean someone like you." Lara smiled slightly. He shrugged again and looked away. "Vish," Lara began as she sat on the edge of the bathroom counter. "I'm not much of a leader or instigator," she explained. "Especially where sex is concerned. Unfortunately you aren't either. Honestly the next ice age could come and go before one of us takes the initiative." Visionary couldn't help but chuckle at that. "I guess I can see where that would be a problem." "Mmmhmm." She nodded. "That's where Pricilla is perfect for you. She's much more agressive than I could ever be. You need someone like that." "So you just...you were with Dream because he's more aggressive?" Lara nodded. "You and I are a lot alike in some ways." She shrugged. "Sometimes that's great, cause we get along. Other times...not so great, cause we're both indecisive." "What if I say I could...you know...have you right here and now?" His voice trailed off at the end of the sentence. "Vish, you're trying too hard now," Lara giggled. "I mean, what would you think if I said the same to you?" He shrugged and smiled. "I guess you have a point." He sighed and looked down. "I just...I wish I could be more like Dream sometimes, so I could have a chance to...um...do stuff with a really...cute girl like you." "If you want someone like me," Lara whispered to him as she propped up his chin to make sure he looked at her, "This gentleness of yours is perfect, Vish. But I also like someone who will just come and get me." She smiled. "That's what Dream did that I liked." "Why you can't be the one to come and get me?" Visionary shot back with. Lara sighed. "I guess you got me there. We both need to learn to take initiative. It's just...easier not to." "Yeah," Visionary agreed reluctantly. "So you really like him?" "I like what he did," she emphasized. "It was fun. But sadly there's no chance of anything more long term. For that I'd need someone more like you." He seemed to perk up at that. "I hope this thing you have with Pricilla works out," Lara continued, "But if it doesn't...we'll see. I haven't quite written you off yet." "Would you be more aggressive then?" Visionary asked hopefully. She smiled and laughed. "I'll try my best," she replied. He nodded. "Me too," he said quickly. "So are we cool now?" Lara asked with a sly smile. "No more bottled up anger about me?" "No anger," he agreed. "Maybe a little repressed desire, though." Lara quickly slid off the counter and dropped to her feet. She stood in front of Visionary and smiled as she looked at him. "You're a lucky guy," she whispered to him, almost a little sadly. "In spite of my little...hinting...don't let someone like me distract you from Pricilla." "What do you mean?" Visionary asked. "There's nothing wrong with you." "I...can be trouble sometimes," she admitted. "I mean, only reason I did what I did with Dream is because...well, he's an agent of chaos, so he's used to trouble. But you? If you get into trouble because of me you'll be lucky to survive. With your luck Pricilla's relatives would have ties to some international terrorist organization and they'd put a price on your head." "Heh." Visionary chuckled, but didn't reply. He didn't tell Lara that made her all that more attractive to him. "I still wish that--" He paused for a moment, realizing that wishing wasn't going to get him anywhere. "I feel like I could never have someone like you. Because I'm just...you know...me. And I'm not really worth enough for you." Lara smiled sadly and gently held Visionary's chin up. She kissed him, gently at first, but then more intensely, before letting go. "Do you feel more worthy now?" Visionary replied by tripping over the small bathroom rug and falling on his back as Lara giggled. --- "You should have taken Lara's invitation," Liu Xi told Visionary. Lara entered Dream's quarters shortly after he did with the intention of ambushing him to speak to him alone. She was shocked at the answers to her questions. "Wha...? What are you talking about?" Visionary asked. Liu Xi sighed. "Because now she will have her heart broken." "That's what I do," Dream told Lara. "It was just about sex. I only love you physically, Lara...this is the mature me, the new me telling you this. The old me would have just given you all the amazing sex I could till you got bored with me." "She didn't give me an invitation," Visionary told her. Lara saddened. It wasn't anything she didn't expect, but she hoped for better. "I see. So I was only your toy." "She did," Liu Xi told him. "You just weren't listening." "No, I was your toy." Dream smiled slyly. "And I loved it, Lara. It was one of the most amazing experiences I've had, and I'll remember it forever. But now that I'm, y'know, more mature with a girlfriend and all I know when it's smart to end things before it gets too painful." "Why would she want me?" Visionary asked. "And besides, I have a girlfriend now." "I'm used to painful." Lara sighed. "I haven't been able to keep a boyfriend in so long. I guess I just got used to fleeting glimpses of what pass for a love affair and...I don't expect any more than that these days." "Yes, you point that out a lot." Liu Xi smiled. "But I know what you want. I pay attention to subtlety." She nodded toward him. "And the not so subtle that seems to occur every time Lara visits." Lara closed her eyes and sighed. "I kind of wish we could...just for something to remember..." she shook her head. "No, that wouldn't be fair to you, would it?" "You're not supposed to be noticing that!" Visionary protested. "No, it wouldn't." Dream replied. He smiled and added, "I'm glad you have a conscience, though. So many I've shared some fun with didn't. Sometimes it's really tough letting someone down easy. I'm happy that you understand so well." "I'm a young woman, it's natural for me to be curious," Liu Xi told him. "How you manage to hide it from her amazes me." "Understand? Yes. Wish for something else?" Lara shrugged and sighed again. "But you're not supposed to--" Visionary paused, getting distracted for a moment by a stray thought. "Is it really that obvious?" He turned beet red again when he suddenly realized who he was asking. Dream hugged Lara gently. "Hey, I'm not saying goodbye, Lara. I still want to be your friend. I really like you, you're very sweet." "Yes," Liu Xi replied so plainly that Visionary couldn't possibly be embarrassed. "You really should admit your feelings to people. Especially ones you care deeply about." "I guess I'm lonely again. Can I go somewhere and cry now?" Lara asked, only half joking. "I can't just tell Lara 'I feel like I want to have sex with you'," Visionary pointed out sarcastically. He blushed again when the sound of his own words echoed in his head. "What kind of friend would I be if I let you do that?" Dream smiled. He took Lara's hand and led her gently into the hallway. Liu Xi gave him an amused smile. "You've been nearly as honest with me," she told him. "And that's the secret to my heart...honesty. Maybe it's the secret to hers too." --- "Hello, Jay." Lara nodded as she entered his quarters with Dream. By the time she turned around, she realized that Dream was going to leave. "Where are you going?" "Jay needs to talk to someone," Dream said. "He just lost two girlfriends in a row--" "I didn't lose Zdenka, she was never my girlfriend." Dream rolled his eyes. "See? Denial's not just a river in Africa. He needs to talk to you and you need to talk to him." Just as Dream shut the door to Jay's quarters, Lara looked at him, her eyes seeming a little panicked. She had no idea what to say, and she felt like she was invading his private space. "I...I can go if--" "I know what you're here to talk about," Jay began abruptly. "Dream told me about it. No, bragged about it. Nonstop." Lara looked away, trying not to blush. "Maybe it is best if I go." "No, Lara--" Jay took her hand gently, prompting her to look up. "Maybe I don't agree with what you did, but I've talked with you and I've worked with you, and I think I know why you did it." "Cause I was lonely," Lara quickly admitted. "I mean...I worked with you guys, and I've talked with some of you, but...I'm like a ghost here. Most people barely acknowledge my existence. I guess I really liked the attention." She shrugged and smiled shyly as she added, "And it was the kind of attention I've been missing for a while." She paused and let her smile disappear for a moment. "I'm sorry. This is supposed to be your moment and I went and talked right over it." "No, no, it's nice." Jay smiled. "Everyone's either been avoiding me or trying to distract me since I returned from Candia. It's refreshing to think about something else for a change." "Oh." Lara laughed nervously. "Sorry I don't have more to say then." "You did good," he praised her again. "You got me talking to you." "I guess I did." She laughed nervously. "To tell you the truth, I'm not used to helping people feel better about lost love. I'm pretty good with nearly anything except for that." "Yes, Dream told me all kinds of things you're good at." Jay smiled at her to make sure she knew he meant no harm. Lara blushed again. "He's just determined to embarrass me until I can't even look at you anymore." She sat down on the couch in his room, gently shoving aside the newspaper Jay left there. "No, it just means he likes you," Jay told her. He sat down next to her and encouraged her to lean on him. "And you know, I like you too. You have a good heart, even if you do strange things sometimes." "Is that why you're teasing me about Dream?" she asked. She sighed and looked down slightly. "I...I'm beginning to regret what I've done. I mean...you, Dream, and Visionary have such a perfect team dynamic and I feel like I've...crashed the party, you know? Like I had fun, but nobody else did." "Honestly, Dream just got there first." Jay smiled. "If I had as free a spirit, and if Visionary was as brave as Dream is...things might have gone differently." "But I'd still be damaging the whole team dynamic thing," she added sadly. "No, not at all," he replied. "Of course I envy Dream a little, but I envy him more because he's able to do these things without his conscience interfering and I'm not. I'm also jealous that he can eat all he wants without getting sick or gaining weight, and that he gets along with just about everyone except for Mr. Epitome." "And Visionary?" Jay smiled. "He's jealous of Dream, I guess, but...knowing him, he things every girl could be his last chance. He's not terribly lucky." "Oh." Lara sighed. "I kind of feel bad for him now." "Don't feel too bad. He has a girlfriend and I don't." Jay saddened at the sound of his own words. "Oh, well you--" Lara smiled slightly as she spoke to him. "I know you'll find someone." She held his hand gently and squeezed it. "You're very sweet and luck favors you Jay." Jay could feel his heart pounding as he realized that the blonde was sitting only inches from him, her smaller hand clasping his, and she was looking deep into her eyes. He calmed himself a little when he realized that it was the repressed desire he felt for Zdenka boiling to the surface...and whatever might have happened because of that would be terribly unfair to both Lara and himself. He let go of her hand and moved away slightly. "I...I need to move away," he spoke cryptically. "My mind is...wandering." "I'm sorry." Lara abruptly and started to move away. "I didn't know--" "No, it's not your fault," He quickly corrected. "You're just trying to cheer me up. And you're doing a great job. It's just that...I'm very emotional and that's...it's going to lead somewhere where we might start to regret what we do." Lara nodded. "I really should go then," she acknowledged, this time with more conviction. She hugged Jay once and quickly let go. "Take care of yourself, okay?" Jay nodded too and stood as Lara did, escorting him to the door of his quarters. "Thank you for spending some time with me," he said. "You really did make me feel better." "That's one thing I've done right today," she said with a slight laugh. "You've done a lot of good today," Jay told her. "You saved Liu Xi and Visionary all at once. You helped me. And...I guess you gave Dream some happiness. But you can't do everything." "Indeed," a third voice interrupted. The Hooded Hood was standing in the doorway of Jay's room. "What are you doing here?" Jay demanded angrily. He steeled himself and quietly reached for his hats at the same time. "That won't be necessary, Mr. Boaz," the Hooded Hood calmly said. He looked directly at Lara as he spoke. "I require your assistance." "My...assistance?" Lara asked. "Don't listen to him!" Jay warned. The Hooded Hood ignored Jay and reached out, gently holding the jewel that Lara wore on a necklace. "I require one of these," he told her. Before Jay could interrupt him, he decided to elaborate. "Only larger. It is needed to restore balance to the Parodyverse." "Uh-huh," Jay doubted. "More likely it'll help you take over the Parodyverse." "That would be an excersize in futility Mr. Boaz." The Hooded Hood looked behind him, and Faite appeared. "You see...I've already taken over the Parodyverse." TO BE CONTINUED -- Story written and copyrighted (C) 2005 by Jason Froikin, and may not be -- reprinted without permission. -- Yuki Shiro designed by Jason Froikin, based on designs by Masamune Shirow -- Liu Xi Xian and the Psychic Samurai are original design by Jason Froikin -- Lara Night is an original creation by Jason Froikin |
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