Meeting of Minds [Matthieu]

[Eluard Verlaine]

A spacious room in an abandoned apartment was brought back from the grave of dust that was the rest of the place. Furnished modestly so that it wouldn’t stand out much if discovered, the only distinguishing, eye-catching structure in the room was a cherry wood table with intricate carvings on its surface. The design resembled a labyrinth of sorts and its walls stood out roughly an inch from the rest of its surface. The labyrinth was constructed to have two entrances and Eluard’s armchair stood in front of one of them, the other resting exactly opposite to it, where another armchair lay. Right outside each entrance was a diminutive statuette, the representation of Prometheus with the eagle eating his liver in eternal punishment for the act that made his legend famous.

Within the labyrinth there were three circles that could be reached differently by each of the opposite start points. One of them was exactly in the middle while the other two were positioned on its sides. The central one was also larger and housed two round slots, one in front of the other and their bases were connected by a thin rope. The side-circles had one slot each. The base of the statuettes seemed to be of a size that appeared to fit perfectly within a slot. Eluard was running a finger over the edge of the table - the wall of the labyrinth, the statuette before him sitting comfortably at the entrance like its counterpart on the other side. He worse a beige suit and a full white mask with smiling lips, his hair pulled back into a low ponytail. He wasn’t alone. Two of his more trusted informants were on either side of him, seated on dark chairs.

They were all waiting for the other armchair to be filled by a certain guest Eluard didn’t especially look forward to meeting. It was hard not to be aware of other information handlers when they operated in the same area and as sharing territory goes between control freaks - it’s never an easy task. Although Eluard liked to be optimistic and entertained thoughts of cooperation, he didn’t like the gloomy air the rumors about the other one came with. A potential mutant with unknown goals and sinister aura wasn’t something to be taken lightly. The worst thing was not knowing if the other did have a mutation, and if he did, its nature. As far as power spreads went, Eluard wouldn’t be surprised if the other had the ability of reading his mind, as inconvenient and unnerving that would be. Even if it may have been a futile effort, the blond mutant kept firm attention on his very consciousness, looking to perhaps sense a possible intrusion.

Eluard and the two that accompanied him carried guns for preventive purposes, the two actually wearing bullet-proof vests underneath their black suits. The masked mutant was more of a daredevil, wishing to remain as harmless hooking as possible in his thin suit with golden cufflinks, obviously made for show and not for any form of protection it might give. An old clock went tick and tock as they all watched the entrance into the room of the long vacated apartment in a building just as abandoned.

[Matthieu Ghautier]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellspacing,5,true][atrb=style, background: url(http://i.imgur.com/NNLwM.gif); width: 500px; padding: 10px, bTable][cs=2][style=background-color: #494949; width: 100px; height: 100px; padding: 5px; margin: 5px;][/style][style=background-color: #494949; width: 340px; margin-left: 125px; padding: 5px; font-family: century gothic; font-size: 22px; color: #e2e2e2; text-transform: lowercase; height: 100px; margin-top: -115px; text-align: justify;]you're the devil in disguise Oh, yes, you are the devil in disguise. You fooled me with your kisses. You cheated and you schemed. Heaven knows how you lied to me. You're not the you seemed. You look like an angel, walk like an angel, talk like an angel. But I got wise. You're the devil in disguise. Oh, yes, you are the devil in disguise. You look like an angel, walk like an angel, talk like an angel, but I got wise. You're the devil in disguise, oh yes, you are the devil in disguise.[/style]
[atrb=style, width: 110px;][atrb=vAlign,top][style=font-family: century gothic; font-size: 20px; text-align: center; color: #e2e2e2;]tags[/style] [style=background-color: #EB9942; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 9px; text-align: center; width: 95px; text-transform: uppercase;]Eluard[/style] [style=font-family: century gothic; font-size: 20px; text-align: center; color: #e2e2e2;]words[/style] [style=background-color: #EB9942; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 9px; text-align: center; width: 95px; text-transform: uppercase;]six-five-eight[/style] [style=font-family: century gothic; font-size: 20px; text-align: center; color: #e2e2e2;]notes[/style] [style=background-color: #EB9942; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 9px; text-align: center; width: 95px; text-transform: uppercase;]*sighs* Matt is Matt..[/style]	[atrb=style, width: 320px;][style=background-color: #494949; font-family: tahoma; color: #e2e2e2; font-size: 10px; padding: 5px; text-align: justify; height: 300px; overflow: auto;]The beast had stalked the streets for a while, searching for any hints about the place and the invitation that he had been send, wary like only those who had reasons could be. His nose thrills wide and a snort escaping him as hooves clopped against the ground with warning notes. Most recognized the sound by now, because there was simply no other horse that walked around these parts and he had become somewhat of an urban legend, at least he almost hoped he was one. The stench that spread slightly from his decaying body made some people who had windows open, close them hurriedly, not even checking what was the cause, or simply hiding. Either way was good for him. He didn't know if he could thrust the information about the invitation, but after a while his curiosity had won out, thus his reason of being here in the slightly lesser known alleyways of the town. He hadn't found himself often here, preferring to stay a bit closer to the places he did know. It was to say that the beast was not pleased by the information that there was someone else who had.. the 'same' goals as him. He had believed himself alone, which suited him just fine, although as long they stayed out of each other's way, he could manage too. He would not allow the other person to spy on him however, luckily he hadn't given anyone the chance to do so. He stopped, making sure that no one was close by, checking by looking for the numbers that signaled another life-force near him. He found none however and bones cracked and shifted when he turned back, his teeth ground tightly together to hold a pained noise back. It was once more a change, adjusting to walk on two legs again after hours of being an horse. It was annoyance and stress that made it slightly more difficult, he decided, there couldn't be another reason for it. He brushed the dust on his clothes away and then stared up to see the first view of the building he needed today. It wasn't hard to find the building, just had to look for writing that didn't move nervously from one side to another. The information was also rather helpful, a scowl tugged at the corners of his mouth and he promptly eased a cigarette out of its package and used a lighter out of the same place to light up the end. A hum escaped from around the stick and he moved up the stairs, head scanning the walls and ceiling for a sign of the one he needed to have. The building was entirely empty, apart for three. He paused to observe the writing, somewhat made difficult by the distance and other factors he wasn't sure off. Matt still didn't understand his ability a hundred percent, but decided that it didn't matter. He liked it well enough, a pause as he stared at the door, before looking at the handle and twisting it. His weight used to open the door further and he walked in. A cloud of smoke obscuring everyone's sight for a moment, before he waved it away and placed his sight on a strangely dressed male. His eyebrows promptly rose up, the corner of his lip twisting upward "If I knew this would be a dressing party." He spoke, barely caring how rude he sounded "I would've put more thought in my outfit." The man stalked forward arrogantly, stopping before the chair he had noticed before. He didn't bother seating himself, instead still grinning and leaning forward. His hands coming to rest on the back of said chair "So, you've finally caught me." He continued, tones still the same as before "What now?" He didn't stare straight at the people, instead focusing momentary at the numbers, seeming to check out the walls and ceiling for any possible danger or recording equipment.[/style]
[cs=2][style=background-color: #EB9942; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 10px; text-align: center; width: 475px; opacity: 0.9;]TEMPLATE BY JOHN OF OTE & BTN[/style]

[Eluard Verlaine]

A waft of smoke preceded the dark haired man Eluard was expecting. Somehow he had anticipated someone older, at least from the flavor of the vague information he had been given. Casualness seemed to be the first thing the other chose to display, leaving the blond wondering if it was driven by power or recklessness. The humorous comment the other directed at him made him experience relief for some reason. Something inside his own eyes lightly smiled, getting up in polite acknowledgement of the other’s presence. The two men by his sides rose up along with him.

Nothing remotely resembling a threat or standard recording equipment could be seen in the remarkably un-cluttered room. The only furniture present was the table, chairs and a few extra couches against each wall. The light source was dim and coming from a high, simple-looking chandelier right above the labyrinth table. “Now you have my thanks for honoring the invitation and I invite you to sit,” Eluard told him in a leveled tone, gesturing one white gloved hand to the seat of the armchair the other was leaning on. “However, if you wish to stand, that’s just as suitable.” With that Eluard and the others lowered back into their seats.

There was a moment during which he only watched the unconventional other, his eyes displaying equal amounts calm and caution with a touch of curiosity. Eluard picked up the statuette that was on the table before him and his eyes flipped down to it. “Those who decide they are able to influence the collective fate of others walk a fine line through the shadows.” His eyes were blank as he stared at the man in eternal torture. “In the end, no matter their intentions, there’s only one finale for them.” He turned the statuette in his hand before his eyes rose up to the other anew. “And that connects them, irreparably and forever.” The statuette was lowered back onto the table with a small thud.

Afterwards, he straightened in his seat and got to the point. “It seems our sources and agents keep bumping into each other. It wouldn’t surprise me if sooner or later a common factor would arise and, in the spirit of profit, would start feeding information from one side to the other.” His eyes were on the table now, drawing a slow course through the labyrinth on the table. “I’m sure neither of us would be pleased by such a situation, unless we were the one directly profiting from it.” Although Eluard hardly shared information about himself with his informants, there were certain things a small number of them did get to know and he didn’t live with the illusion that they were faultless and immune to temptation.

“I hope we can establish a truce of discretion between us.” Eluard didn’t want to be spied on, directly or indirectly through a defective member, and he would extend the courtesy to the other. “Discourage traitorous intentions and don’t welcome them, treat attempts at such with immediate expulsion,” he carried on, his eyes watchful as he looked up to gauge the other’s reaction. “At least, if we cannot agree to be actually useful to one another.”

Eluard's eyelids lowered a little. "And if either of us breaks the deal, it can very well be taken as a declaration of war."

[Matthieu Ghautier]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellspacing,5,true][atrb=style, background: url(http://i.imgur.com/NNLwM.gif); width: 500px; padding: 10px, bTable][cs=2][style=background-color: #494949; width: 100px; height: 100px; padding: 5px; margin: 5px;][/style][style=background-color: #494949; width: 340px; margin-left: 125px; padding: 5px; font-family: century gothic; font-size: 22px; color: #e2e2e2; text-transform: lowercase; height: 100px; margin-top: -115px; text-align: justify;]you're the devil in disguise Oh, yes, you are the devil in disguise. You fooled me with your kisses. You cheated and you schemed. Heaven knows how you lied to me. You're not the you seemed. You look like an angel, walk like an angel, talk like an angel. But I got wise. You're the devil in disguise. Oh, yes, you are the devil in disguise. You look like an angel, walk like an angel, talk like an angel, but I got wise. You're the devil in disguise, oh yes, you are the devil in disguise.[/style]
[atrb=style, width: 110px;][atrb=vAlign,top][style=font-family: century gothic; font-size: 20px; text-align: center; color: #e2e2e2;]tags[/style] [style=background-color: #EB9942; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 9px; text-align: center; width: 95px; text-transform: uppercase;]Eluard[/style] [style=font-family: century gothic; font-size: 20px; text-align: center; color: #e2e2e2;]words[/style] [style=background-color: #EB9942; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 9px; text-align: center; width: 95px; text-transform: uppercase;]six-zero-zero[/style] [style=font-family: century gothic; font-size: 20px; text-align: center; color: #e2e2e2;]notes[/style] [style=background-color: #EB9942; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 9px; text-align: center; width: 95px; text-transform: uppercase;]Don't trust him![/style]	[atrb=style, width: 320px;][style=background-color: #494949; font-family: tahoma; color: #e2e2e2; font-size: 10px; padding: 5px; text-align: justify; height: 300px; overflow: auto;]It looked like he knew what effect he had on the other man, lips not sure if they wanted to be tugged upward in amusement or downward in annoyance. He didn't look old, although his thirtieth year approached slowly but surely. He barely knew the exact date, only knew that it was sometime this year, really. He always told himself that he preserved himself with the smoke that filled his lungs daily. The other stood up and his eyes briefly shifted toward the body, before turning back to the numbers above "Please, remain seated." He continued, feeling a flash of power, even though it wasn't out of the kind of respect that he sought after. He had to break off his staring when he noticed how empty the room was. He couldn't give the excuse anymore of checking for equipment. He shrugged his shoulder "Gotta admit." He spoke, leaning heavier on the back of his chair. He simply didn't trust this situation enough to allow himself in a weaker -at least in his eyes- position. His eyes followed the glove for a moment and his fingers touched the backrest with curiosity "That I was simply stunned, not many seek to invite me." He grinned, morphing his face entirely. It wasn't to say if he wanted to unnerve the other man, or simply warn him. Matt stared back, slowly checking him out, especially because he seemed the type to be unnerved by such male attention and if there was something that Matt loved. It was exactly that. His attention switched obediently away when the other changed his as well, to the statue that the other had decided to pick up "Bravo." He muttered, clapping his hands together a few times in a sarcastic applause "It almost moved me." He knew exactly that he would once die, knew it better than anyone else, having seen people die by his hands and other their hands. That however wouldn't stop him from seeking a way to prolong his life. A yawn escaped him and he shrugged his shoulder to once more signal how bored he was because of the situation here, before narrowing his red gaze. He felt ire spark inside his chest, fingers clenching lightly and then relaxed "I have no interest in you, human." He hissed, after the other had done his entire explanation, a smirk forming again on his visage. He leaned backward then and considered it more, fingers tapping against his arms "So it is really your agents bumping against my... sheep." He chuckled, not calling them agents. They where random people who told him information, most of the time because they where indebted to him. Those poor little things that hoped he wouldn't kill them. Blinking for a moment, he considered the rest of the words, before laughing shortly. His head falling back and then it was cut short, head righting itself again "Sir.." It was spoken mockingly again, fingers intertwining and then he pulled himself into the chair and leaned back, looking even more lazier "I cannot guarantee that my sheep won't spy on you, I cannot control their movements." He checked his nails lazily "But those I do, will not bother you unless I chose so, when they may have useful tidbits for you." Matt yawned again, swinging his feet upon the table and pillowing his head with his upturned hand "A war, huh?" He echoed "Sounds interesting." A careless shrug and then tilted his head so it lay horizontal "But no fear, little fly, my fight is not against you." At the moment, he added mentally.[/style]
[cs=2][style=background-color: #EB9942; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 10px; text-align: center; width: 475px; opacity: 0.9;]TEMPLATE BY JOHN OF OTE & BTN[/style]

[Eluard Verlaine]

As the other’s personality continued manifesting, the look inside Eluard’s eyes gradually dulled and eventually became opaque, as singularly expressive as the mask he wore, only that it reflected blankness, in contrast to the cheer of the mask. He blinked placidly as the other surveyed his appearance, raising one foot to plant its side on the opposite leg’s knee. The mock he was being showered with seemed to have just as little effect, he had already gotten what he sought – the person in front of him’s attitude towards consequences of actions and others.

As the meeting unfolded, Eluard wasn’t sure if to be thankful for the red eyed man’s expressiveness or be worried about his lack of respect for anything other than himself. The way he was called “human” solidified his suspicions that the other could be in fact a mutant. His gaze was on the table, purposefully as little scrutinizing as possible. Although the other probably wouldn’t care, or even could be flattered to know, Eluard was analyzing his every word and gesture and restructuring his decisions based on what he perceived in the behavior at hand.

Thoughts of full cooperation were out the window in the first few moments. Whatever motivations could sprout from such a self-centered, self-worshipping mind couldn’t be good. When the dark haired man misunderstood something from his discourse, he had to point it out. Unlike the other, he was dreadfully dull and monotone in general. “It wasn’t my intention to suggest you control their movements. I just wished for you to expose a rat to me should one of my own people come to you with information on me. Naturally, I would return the favor. I was speaking strictly for the case where one man may be on both sides.”

The other man’s feet were on the table now and Eluard’s eyelids lowered some. The boring spoken and gestured mutant understood there was no need for the labyrinth his guests’ boots now covered. Everything he had wished to know had already been delivered and he wasn’t too happy by its content. It would be a lie to say that he hadn’t considered giving the signal and having his men along with himself aim gunshots at the other man. After all, he was already looking forward to a war and Eluard wasn’t kind of heart enough to reconsider the person before him. What stopped him was the situation itself.

Whoever came into a room with a grin and seemed to speak without a care to not exactly upstanding citizens probably wouldn’t be ended by a few bullets. Eluard had to muse briefly about the usefulness of his overdose anesthetic syringe as well. When he was done fantasizing about all the ways he could attempt to subdue Matt and branching out into all the mutant powers he could imagine that could counter them, he finally spoke. It wasn’t more than a few moments.

“I would strongly prefer not jumping into conflict,” he told the other. “But I will react accordingly if you give me no choice.” He watched the other with anticipation, serious in contrast to his carefree. Inside, he was tensing and preparing for anything. For all he knew this person could have come here to assassinate him for fun. Whatever the case, he would hold on to diplomacy until the very last moment. He really couldn’t afford fighting anyone else right now, he was hard pressed enough to work up resources to interfere with the government’s activity.

[Matthieu Ghautier]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellspacing,5,true][atrb=style, background: url(http://i.imgur.com/NNLwM.gif); width: 500px; padding: 10px, bTable][cs=2][style=background-color: #494949; width: 100px; height: 100px; padding: 5px; margin: 5px;][/style][style=background-color: #494949; width: 340px; margin-left: 125px; padding: 5px; font-family: century gothic; font-size: 22px; color: #e2e2e2; text-transform: lowercase; height: 100px; margin-top: -115px; text-align: justify;]you're the devil in disguise Oh, yes, you are the devil in disguise. You fooled me with your kisses. You cheated and you schemed. Heaven knows how you lied to me. You're not the you seemed. You look like an angel, walk like an angel, talk like an angel. But I got wise. You're the devil in disguise. Oh, yes, you are the devil in disguise. You look like an angel, walk like an angel, talk like an angel, but I got wise. You're the devil in disguise, oh yes, you are the devil in disguise.[/style]
[atrb=style, width: 110px;][atrb=vAlign,top][style=font-family: century gothic; font-size: 20px; text-align: center; color: #e2e2e2;]tags[/style] [style=background-color: #EB9942; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 9px; text-align: center; width: 95px; text-transform: uppercase;]Eluard[/style] [style=font-family: century gothic; font-size: 20px; text-align: center; color: #e2e2e2;]words[/style] [style=background-color: #EB9942; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 9px; text-align: center; width: 95px; text-transform: uppercase;]five-nine-eight[/style] [style=font-family: century gothic; font-size: 20px; text-align: center; color: #e2e2e2;]notes[/style] [style=background-color: #EB9942; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 9px; text-align: center; width: 95px; text-transform: uppercase;]He doesn't want Eluard as an enemy yet?[/style]	[atrb=style, width: 320px;][style=background-color: #494949; font-family: tahoma; color: #e2e2e2; font-size: 10px; padding: 5px; text-align: justify; height: 300px; overflow: auto;]Matt indeed displayed a mask, one with the purpose of fooling the other and it seemed to work quite well, even more than he had expected it to do; or maybe the other showed his own, rather impressive, mask. He acted careless and arrogant, but he was usually not so straight-forward with it. He usually kept to the shadows to play his many games in, not in situations like these. The other seemed to become more serious though and so did he, after a while. That didn't mean that the grin faded away, it only seemed to broaden, showing just what it was, fake. He simply created a contradicting mess. He had let it slip on purpose, but either the man didn't know what to think of him now or he was hiding something from him. It made it more curious, was the other truly a human? He pondered if the knowledge was worth pursuing and then decided it wasn't, at least not now. If the knowledge where to fall in his hands at a later date, it would prove very interesting indeed. He indeed would have been flattered on one hand and hating the observation on the other. But now he didn't either notice it and that was the most likely as his gaze scanned the "wall" again, or chose to ignore it. The man was silenced for a moment, before slowly nodding his head "Of course." He murmured, eyes gleaming slightly as he lowered them in turn and watched the fingers on his free hand "Does that mean that the one that made you aware of me.." He trailed off, suggestion that they should pay for the information. He soon waved a hand away as if discarding the thought "No matter." He continued soon afterward, not really caring if they were. They had given him something interesting in turn, mainly this meeting "I shall provide you with that information, if it is needed." He promised, smiling lazily again. If the man had truly done so, he would have paid, maybe not as badly as Matt and most likely would even have survived it, but he certainly would have felt it. It was lucky for both sides that Eluard had decided not to do anything and simply remained seated and thinking negatively of Matthieu, something that was mirrored by the latter. Even though if he felt that a war shouldn't be started for any cause, Matt would have strongly disagreed. He was too consumed by anger to do anything else, he could not simply forgive them or forget what had happened. Once more not aware of the other thoughts, the grin faded in the few seconds that the other was thinking. The cigarette was put out and he drew another from the pack in his pocket and again lighted up. He usually wasn't a so called 'chain-smoker' but this situation seemed to call for it and maybe he unconsciously knew that he would get more trouble if he didn't try and behave himself. His eyes narrowed ever so slightly again when the other spoke, not liking to be told that he should give up on executing his plans. He didn't say anything however, instead his lips thinned as he pressed them hard against each other. He leaned forward, pulling his legs from the table and placing his elbows there instead "I told you my quarrel wasn't against you, sir.." His mocking tones where once more present "So why see it as an personal attack?" He mused, an intense look in his gaze as he stared at Eluard. [/style]
[cs=2][style=background-color: #EB9942; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 10px; text-align: center; width: 475px; opacity: 0.9;]TEMPLATE BY JOHN OF OTE & BTN[/style]

[Eluard Verlaine]

Eluard’s chin rose minimally, his emotionless eyes trained on the dark haired man before him when he started a remark about the person who had shared the thought of Matt’s existence with Eluard. He wasn’t allowed to offer his thoughts on the matter, for the red eyed other dismissed it soon after. Eluard’s gaze became leveled again. It was a quiet relief for him not to be specifically questioned about that person. He didn’t wish to start off this acquaintance on a ill current and he wouldn’t have punished one of his most loyal associates for simply making him aware of another person who acted under a shroud of mystery. Matt’s promise, offered under that casual smile, did little to comfort him but it was better than refusal. Eluard nodded curtly. “And I will do the same in turn.”

Eluard was quietly smothering the fire of impulse that had fueled his darker thoughts. He had to wonder when he had stopped being the person who sought a peaceful approach to any situation and started considering the gun whenever it seemed more convenient to use it. Eliminating Matt was a double edged blade, mostly because Eluard didn’t know what to expect from him or the chain of people who worked with or for him. There was no reason to assume that he was solely in charge and didn’t have any partners who could come after Eluard to gain some revenge he wasn’t prepared to defend against. On that note, there was no reason to think that this unveiled person before him truly was the elusive shadow he had been tipped about. For all Eluard knew, this could be a decoy, send especially to test him.

The other drew up another cigarette. Was it an addiction? That could be used against him – and Eluard had thought he was done considering ways he could take advantage of the other. He sighed inwardly and pressed his back against the armchair. The fact that he was starting to develop this sort of thinking was both worrying and refreshing. What sort of person would he be in another ten years? If he even survived that long. People who wanted to lead, especially in the underworld, lived with death every day. Every moment he was in the same room with Matt could be his last and he was sure the killing blow would take him by surprise, no matter how much he prepared against it. If they both left this room alive, there would be another such situation and another, until one day his luck would run out.

“I have no interest in your other quarrel,” he spoke to disperse the misunderstanding, sounding as neutral as before. His hands came together again and he rested his chin on them. “You just seemed to take the idea of war so lightly, I felt pressed to explain I don’t take it as casually. So long as you express no ill intentions towards me, it’s none of my business who or what your war is against.” Eluard allowed himself to look away for a moment, idly staring at nothing in particular. “I don’t suppose you would like to share who or what has your unfavorable attention. If by some regrettable coincidence it happens to be something I support, then perhaps becoming enemies is unavoidable. However…”

Eluard’s eyes returned to Matt and his stare mirrored the other’s intensity. “That is not the case at this time.” The piercing ice in the blond man’s eyes receded and they once more became emotionless. “As such, I wish you luck with your quarrel.” After those words, something in his eyes shifted again and gained an edge of eerie friendliness. “Depending on your target, I could even extend my support. Maybe it won’t be very significant, but sometimes even one pawn can mean the difference between winning a game or losing it.” At this point Eluard had decided it would be better to be on Matt’s good side, if there was one. If the red eyed man didn’t wish conflict and would stop speaking of the prospect as if it was actual amusement to him, Eluard would surely do his best not to instigate anything. More than that, he was willing to cooperate where goals met, if they did, and he hoped to whatever was holy that the negative vibes he was getting due to the other man didn’t mean he was some serial killer who amused himself through murder.

Eluard’s eyes narrowed lightly at the thought. That would definitely not do.

[Matthieu Ghautier]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellspacing,5,true][atrb=style, background: url(http://i.imgur.com/NNLwM.gif); width: 500px; padding: 10px, bTable][cs=2][style=background-color: #494949; width: 100px; height: 100px; padding: 5px; margin: 5px;][/style][style=background-color: #494949; width: 340px; margin-left: 125px; padding: 5px; font-family: century gothic; font-size: 22px; color: #e2e2e2; text-transform: lowercase; height: 100px; margin-top: -115px; text-align: justify;]you're the devil in disguise Oh, yes, you are the devil in disguise. You fooled me with your kisses. You cheated and you schemed. Heaven knows how you lied to me. You're not the you seemed. You look like an angel, walk like an angel, talk like an angel. But I got wise. You're the devil in disguise. Oh, yes, you are the devil in disguise. You look like an angel, walk like an angel, talk like an angel, but I got wise. You're the devil in disguise, oh yes, you are the devil in disguise.[/style]
[atrb=style, width: 110px;][atrb=vAlign,top][style=font-family: century gothic; font-size: 20px; text-align: center; color: #e2e2e2;]tags[/style] [style=background-color: #EB9942; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 9px; text-align: center; width: 95px; text-transform: uppercase;]Eluard~<3[/style] [style=font-family: century gothic; font-size: 20px; text-align: center; color: #e2e2e2;]words[/style] [style=background-color: #EB9942; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 9px; text-align: center; width: 95px; text-transform: uppercase;]eight-one-nine[/style] [style=font-family: century gothic; font-size: 20px; text-align: center; color: #e2e2e2;]notes[/style] [style=background-color: #EB9942; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 9px; text-align: center; width: 95px; text-transform: uppercase;]Have some more honest Matt.[/style]	[atrb=style, width: 320px;][style=background-color: #494949; font-family: tahoma; color: #e2e2e2; font-size: 10px; padding: 5px; text-align: justify; height: 300px; overflow: auto;]The other's mask was good, he mused to himself. Very good. He didn't make his habit of trying to read people, but he admitted that it sometimes was useful if one knew a few things, especially if he needed a path to find to deal with them. He learned nothing from the other however, besides that he was very careful. Careful in body language, and most likely in actions too. If his displeasure about an impending war was any inclination. He seemed to be the type that thrived on peace and could live with everyone and everything. For a moment, he felt envy. A deep loathing for the other who seemed to be able to do a thing that he couldn't anymore. He waved his hand lightly again, it mattered little what the other wished to do, but he wasn't that foolish to brush it aside completely "Good." He hummed under his breath. If he had known the other's thoughts, he would've laughed once more. It was understandable though, he supposed. He didn't really act like he was the top of the food chain around here, pretending for the moment that everything was a game. It was actually for that purpose, to make the other doubt. The other couldn't know how he played, couldn't know that he didn't have any partners or was the sole figure in the net for gathering information. The others, the ones he called sheep, where like flies. Some escaped from the net and others where eaten and left useful information behind to allow for a quicker escape. The thought... amused him terribly and he entertained it for a moment longer and seemed to lose some of his attention for Eluard. A mistake that could cost him dearly if he wasn't so sure of himself. That chance would always needed to be taken. Although once Matt promised that he wouldn't kill someone, it usually lasted for a year or three, before he changed his mind and found that he was better off when they where death. It didn't mean that he couldn't give them a scare from time to time. It was preferable that everyone kept themselves on their toes around him, that is if they didn't have a death wish. Matt hummed ever so lightly, leaning forward and taking his legs from the desk and seating himself normally again. His head lifted to the side again, showing his curiosity "Really now.." He murmured, trailing off when the other continued. His eyebrows knitted together for a moment. He then grew serious, well, more serious than he had displayed thus far and leaned forward. His own fingers intertwining and he lowered his reddened gaze toward it "Take it lightly?" He echoed again, before shaking his head slowly from one side to another in the negative "No..." He continued speaking, voice gaining a slight growl in irritation "I do not take it lightly at all." He couldn't take it lightly that they had taken his brother away from him. That they thought that he would be able to forgive humankind for this. They didn't know him very well. A short pause, that quickly lengthened until it started to become unbearable "The humans." He finally replied, hands balling into fists this time in the first display of true emotion "The government especially." He couldn't take the word 'labs' in his mouth, not even after all these years. It still pained him. He gathered himself soon enough though and another sure smirk curled the corners of his mouth, hiding the pain and the weakness. He lifted his head lightly "Are you?" He questioned, the muscles in his shoulders tensing. He knew that he wouldn't be able to shift right now, it had been too short ago that he had done so. The muscles still ached slightly. His head lifted again and then shrugged his shoulders "What help could you offer?" He spoke softly, voice to just above a whisper as his hands balled into fists again. The amusement had faded for real and he puffed more smoke in the air and glanced above their heads again and lifted his head to the side in a curious gesture. He had long since learned that he shouldn't depend on anyone and it was still there, it had saved him a lot of times and he wasn't about to push it aside for anyone who thought they could win him over with words of support. He gave the other nonetheless the benefit of doubt at the moment. The dance wasn't over after all. He seemed to know the ulterior motive and maybe appreciated it, at least he allowed the man to extend the invitation to him and took the 'bait'. It didn't help that he was still suspicious, would the other man stop him once he knew that he tried to destroy something that would most likely cost a lot of lives.[/style]
[cs=2][style=background-color: #EB9942; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 10px; text-align: center; width: 475px; opacity: 0.9;]TEMPLATE BY JOHN OF OTE & BTN[/style]

[Eluard Verlaine]

Eluard was oblivious to the hate he was drawing from his company, quietly relieved that his offer for mutual disclosure of potential treachery between their “factions” was accepted. Matt wasn’t wrong, Eluard was precisely the kind of person that ferreted out a way to maintain diplomacy even in the unlikeliest of circumstances. It was a very delicate task and one wrong word was all that was needed to tip the carefully built equilibrium that allowed for peaceful relations. There was a natural lucid quality to Eluard’s eyes even when he was being casual, something quietly alive in his eyes, the effort he was putting into analyzing the situation and how best to respond to it to suit this very balance coming naturally to him.

Whatever Matt was thinking when his attention drifted away like a bored ducking Eluard couldn’t know, although he dearly wished he could discover new mindreading powers. Because the ball was metaphorically in the other’s court, all he could do was wait and see what came next. After a pause during which Eluard counted the seconds that slipped by (for lack of anything to do beside observe Matt and because his mind needed something to do unless it started heavying with sleep) the dark haired man adopted a normal position on his seat. Although Eluard wouldn’t have cared even if the other opted to sit on his head in a reverse yoga position, he did register the previous gesture’s intent or desired effect – to show that Matt was the boss here. The very fact that he was in the room was something to be thankful for and he wasn’t going to take orders or suggestions from anyone, not if it didn’t run along his mood. That was what it looked like.

The angle of Matt’s gaze and the tone in his voice were condescending, but, like everything else, had as much effect to stir the calculated Eluard as a microscopic bug jumping around the table to catch his attention. He wasn’t exactly sure what the other was trying to achieve by constantly insulting him, but he did hold a little curiosity on the matter. When Matt suddenly became more focused and less prone to throwing about careless gestures, Eluard watched him with the same polite, neutral posture and expression that he had displayed throughout most of the encounter. The hint of a growl that flavored the other’s words was under great scrutiny. At this point, contradiction began and that meant something Matt had displayed previously had been a lie, or was this the lie? Eluard held back his initial response for it wasn’t tactful enough for the situation. Pointing out someone’s inconsistent words/gestures never was.

There was a pause again and Eluard did not break the silence it spread between them. To his sides, Eluard’s men shared a brief look. When Matt’s fists clenched, the gesture was so unexpected after the lull in conversation that it nearly startled Eluard. Nearly. And he didn’t know what to think. The confession had come so abruptly and with such flawless delivery, that Eluard was inclined to believe Matt. Somewhere deep down under so many layers of pretense that it was as good as inexistent, Eluard held a great resentment for the government. For the first month after they had led to the death of his wife, it had burned like a great pyre for everyone to see, question and sometimes feel. It was such an irrational thing that drove him from his subconscious now that it didn’t really need display anymore. That’s what Eluard told himself.

But he was wrong, for he did display it, very briefly and simply, although the manner of its portrayal was obscure. He simply stared a little at the table, unseeing, his focus regained when Matt asked him a question that could be answered in many ways. What if he was? The risk Matt had taken in telling him this, be it true or false, weighed between them. If Eluard had worked for the government’s benefit, the most pertinent reply would be pelting Matt with gunshots while he was so close and (apparently) unarmed. Eluard didn’t know the other’s angle or how true or not his words or displays were, but the glove had been cast and he had to either accept it or deny it, whatever that meant. The blond information dealer wasn’t sure he liked the situation the crimson eyed other had landed them in.

With a sigh – his own acceptance of revealing something, while until now he had managed to keep himself neutral, Eluard leaned forward a little and planted his own elbows on the table, hands coming up to rest his chin. There was a new quality to his eyes, a calmness, or serenity, that wasn’t there before and he kept his gaze on the central spot of the labyrinth carved into the table. “No.”

The simple word was accompanied by silence and tension. Of all the unexpected scenarios, perhaps the one Eluard had thought to happen less was for them to actually be on the same side. It could still be a ruse and he could as well have given himself away, but he accepted the risk, momentarily aware of the mask on his face, with smiling lips, as elegant as sculpted marble in a king’s garden. When the question of what he could offer came, he had to think about it, because there were so many answers to choose from. There was no more mockery in the air, and the simple-ness of the question, offered in a tone that was almost sympathetic to Eluard’s unexpressed distress over the possible honesty in their conversation, did something to lighten his opinion of Matt, even if Eluard took it as self-deception.

Then Eluard’s eyes rose from the table and they were no longer cryptically neutral but simple and honest. He didn’t know what sort of person Matt was, since he shifted display from moment to moment, but he found himself reaching out for this potential ally. Although Eluard preferred (or was that just what he told himself in order to soothe his conscience that he was still a “good” person?) to handle the matter with the government in a way that would see as little casualties as possible, he was ready to burn the whole establishment to the ground if that was the only way to ensure mutants would stop being poached from the streets like animals. And it wasn’t because of his vindictive feelings towards them. Of course it wasn’t.

“An army,” he told the other, watching him straight in the eye now, newly alive with his own demons. “An army that can take down the government. Mutants, and many, over the course of time.” He collected himself from the table and stood straight, something hardening in his eyes. “And myself. I have spent the last three years collecting codes, gathering files and everything else essential for an endeavor of attacking the government in this country at its core. If we’d manage to take over the establishment and seize all power, then a new order would begin right here and right now and from it we could spread, like wildfire consuming dry forests, to the other countries.” It sounded like he had turned into some ambitious conqueror from an age of chaos and the sharpness of it was in his eyes.

For the moment, the peaceful Eluard was gone, replaced by this porcelain reptile, hungry to consume what had speared it in the past. “Don’t wound what you can’t kill” was an apt saying and the two men, each plotting to eat what had ailed them in their own way, were a good example of that. “How do you plan on doing it? What is your strategy?”

[Matthieu Ghautier]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellspacing,5,true][atrb=style, background: url(http://i.imgur.com/NNLwM.gif); width: 500px; padding: 10px, bTable][cs=2][style=background-color: #494949; width: 100px; height: 100px; padding: 5px; margin: 5px;][/style][style=background-color: #494949; width: 340px; margin-left: 125px; padding: 5px; font-family: century gothic; font-size: 22px; color: #e2e2e2; text-transform: lowercase; height: 100px; margin-top: -115px; text-align: justify;]you're the devil in disguise Oh, yes, you are the devil in disguise. You fooled me with your kisses. You cheated and you schemed. Heaven knows how you lied to me. You're not the you seemed. You look like an angel, walk like an angel, talk like an angel. But I got wise. You're the devil in disguise. Oh, yes, you are the devil in disguise. You look like an angel, walk like an angel, talk like an angel, but I got wise. You're the devil in disguise, oh yes, you are the devil in disguise.[/style]
[atrb=style, width: 110px;][atrb=vAlign,top][style=font-family: century gothic; font-size: 20px; text-align: center; color: #e2e2e2;]tags[/style] [style=background-color: #EB9942; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 9px; text-align: center; width: 95px; text-transform: uppercase;]Eluard.[/style] [style=font-family: century gothic; font-size: 20px; text-align: center; color: #e2e2e2;]words[/style] [style=background-color: #EB9942; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 9px; text-align: center; width: 95px; text-transform: uppercase;]one-five-zero-zero[/style] [style=font-family: century gothic; font-size: 20px; text-align: center; color: #e2e2e2;]notes[/style] [style=background-color: #EB9942; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 9px; text-align: center; width: 95px; text-transform: uppercase;]Damn you Norbex! See what you made me do! XDD My muse is still cackling gleefully.[/style]	[atrb=style, width: 320px;][style=background-color: #494949; font-family: tahoma; color: #e2e2e2; font-size: 10px; padding: 5px; text-align: justify; height: 300px; overflow: auto;]Even if Matt had known everything, it would've been doubtful that he would've cared for something like that. He was the type to let everything pass him by and only react when it involved him directly, like now, it seemed. It could be said that it was wrong and foolish and would get you killed quicker, but it had made him survive for this long. He nonetheless slowly shook himself, loosening the muscles to lose the ache that bothered him from the transformation. He wasn't afraid that he would be attacked, but slowly realized that it was better to be wary than to land somewhere in a ditch to rot away. He was getting more aware of those sitting next to his conversation partner, while he was alone and hadn't taken anyone with him. While he wasn't afraid of three 'humans', it would be bothersome nonetheless. The shapeshifter would have been amused if he had known the other's thoughts, it didn't really serve anything, apart for conveying that he was done playing and went down to the matters that where important right now. Like the war that he had every intention about starting, even though there were some mutants who wanted to do different. He called them foolish. His eyes moved slightly, once more searching for something that wasn't there, even ignoring the numbers above their heads. He blocked it out and lips pursed together. The mutant was hesitant to allow the other to help him, but he knew that he also couldn't handle this alone, no matter how much he wished it. He had to accept the hand that was extended out to him and that was something difficult to swallow. His fingers moved and traced the 'walls' of the labyrinth, eyes following them absently and then narrowed again. Once more, the answer had to wait or pulled out of him with a lot of force. The other didn't show much reaction to his growl, not that he had expected it. He didn't expect a lot from the other man, a foolish creature that maybe thought he could be controlled? He still didn't know what to think of the other man and thus refused to linger too much on it, although sometimes he turned and twisted in the hope of getting some personal information that he could use if the situation called for it. He had been rather tame now though. Nonetheless, it soon returned to him being controlled and that thought alone nearly send him growling softly again. Sometimes he thought he would've been better off as a predator instead of an equine. Also the slight insults had stopped, but that would never stop him from thinking so, which wouldn't have come as a surprise. Even now he was imagining how it would be if the crimson out of their body would stain the room. It would be beautiful, although in the end it always became the same brownish dried substance, that was an ugly color. He did miss things at times, but he didn't miss the look that had been shared and muscles tensed unconsciously to do anything in a matter of seconds. It soon returned to normal though and those men relaxed again and Matthieu found that the wariness in him faded as well after looking between the two and thinking how he could dispose of them as quick as possible. His seated position and the table where a hindrance. Well, as much as it ever did. His cigarette was nearly done for and he frowned at it, he usually didn't smoke this much and it annoyed him. If the man had told about his own problems with the Government, Matt would've rested earlier. But silence was kept and the dance kept playing out. Yet as the other didn't tell about his wife, he didn't talk about his brother. It was a private matter that no one else needed to know. Even though he found that he couldn't cry anymore, talking about it made his throat tight still. It was to say that he hated the feeling. He never had experienced something like that and here he was, a bitter man who approached his thirtieth year. The silence kept stretching and once more he found himself tensing, feet shifting lightly to jump into action. It hadn't helped that Eluard had stared at the table, found himself uncomfortable by it. He wanted to do something, anything to resolve this and yet there was something else that made that he stayed in his chair. His hands clenched around the armrests. His eyes narrowed lightly and he looked away as well, somehow an unconscious action to give the other some privacy again to pull himself together. He never had done well seeing anyone else show emotion. It had only gotten worse when he got older really. His eyes again moved when the other mutant pulled himself together and his lips nearly curled up in a light grimace. Matt's change was abrupt, the tension that had build collapsed under the reply and shoulders sunk and his eyes briefly closed. If he hadn't such a tight control of himself, he also would've sighed and smiled. His game of showing a mask wasn't done yet however and he looked straight at the other man again "Excellent." He commented, that eliminated the other as a threat, somewhat. He leaned back, shifting his weight and then was back in his previous position of leaning forward. His fingers intertwined once more and eyes once more simply observing. His thoughts now finally running over the possibilities of using Eluard for his own goals. Because he would use the other, most likely like he would be used sometimes in subtle ways. Once more that sparked dislike, but if he gained something out of it, he could pretend not to notice. His question required some thought and he was willing to provide a pause for the other man to do so. His attention wandered again, although with force. He actually never had liked to keep his eyes from possible enemies. That was why his eyes sometimes moved to check upon their positions, only to move quickly away again, for it to return after a minute or two. Eluard's eyes rose and he was in time to catch that gaze and saw the honesty. Well, that was a good thing, he pondered. His lips nearly curling up into a faint smile. Their game was truly ending now, their testing of each other done, at least for now. He was sure that soon they would go at it again and that it would never end. And there was the difference between them, Matt would level the whole complex down, not caring who he destroyed in the process and yet he would've mourned every lost mutant. They hadn't hurt his family after all, not like the normal people did. Those truly deserved his hate and he would show it to them, gleefully. He was alone though and that would make it difficult for him, yet he was sure of himself that he could do enough damage to help some of those captured and experiencing the same fate as him. This time he leaned back again, taken by surprise and it showed in his eyes. An army? He could put a few uses to them, he knew. He slowly smiled, the expression gleeful but not outright cruel yet. He liked the thought, he liked it very much. The other stood up and for a moment he tensed again, but the other spoke again and his eyes darted away for a moment. Codes. Codes of the building? That would make sneaking in even easier. His eyes lifted up again and stared straight in Eluard's. The smile kept spreading and he laughed softly then "I like that." He spoke up, although he wouldn't keep controlling it for very long, he believed. They would put him down like a rabid dog when he proved to be too much to handle by those who would call themselves leader of this new order. He knew his fate, but that would not stop him from trying to prevent it. His strategy? He had honestly hadn't thought about that, eyes lowered once more, staring at the spot where Eluard had been looking toward moments before "My strategy?" He echoed in a soft voice, quickly thinking. A plan was forming "Hnn, I would kill the guards." He plainly stated "Let myself be seen, draw those out who wish to see me captured and killed." He continued with a voice that was still soft. His eyes moved upward "If you have the army, they would level everything down however they see fit, otherwise I'll do it single-handedly." It wasn't only arrogance, it was a fact that he stated. He knew the building, forever branded in his head and knew some of the weak points to cripple it. It wouldn't be too difficult for others to pick up where he left off. [/style]
[cs=2][style=background-color: #EB9942; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 10px; text-align: center; width: 475px; opacity: 0.9;]TEMPLATE BY JOHN OF OTE & BTN[/style]

[Eluard Verlaine]

Matt seemed pleased with the turn of events and Eluard was simply determined and driven by his secret passionate thirst for vengeance. Plused by the spreading glee on the others’ face, he entertained the cold-hearted notion of bathing the streets in government blood, or having them suffer in eternal fire for the mutants they had killed, the children they orphaned, lovers they stole and countless others they kept to torture with their insane experiments. For a moment he had no thoughts for the innocent and no destruction would be enough to satisfy the grief buried deep inside him. He had thought the years would soften the pain of loss but it was as real as ever.

Eluard stared, unseeing, at the center of the labyrinth. It was supposed to represent the theoretical joining of forces between the two people now currently seated on the armchairs and right now the information dealer was ready to commit to the thought. He was painfully aware the other seemed full of hatred that he recognized in his own heart but also of something else - the difference between them. When Matt started explaining his one man plan of action, apparently, reality started piling on his shoulders In stages. Eluard closed his eyes for a few seconds, fighting with himself on the inside, trying to remind himself who he was, who he wanted to be. It was no easy task now that the option of war was so wholly embraced by someone else.

When his eyes were open again, the calculated expression was back in place and his rational mind was ready to answer. “Not to impugn your skills, but taking down the government, and possibly others from different countries afterwards, is hardly a task any one man could achieve.” Eluard didn’t know what extraordinary ability Matt possessed but he couldn’t think of any that would be infallible. He was sitting again, one of his boots risen to rest against his other leg’s knee, both of his white gloved hands on the armrests. “Even if you did manage to take control of the building, that wouldn’t be sufficient.” The blond man’s eyes were sharp with thoughts he had considered many times. “We can’t let anyone who would come to retaliate at a later date escape. It would be impossible to capture them all in one attack, so we’d need a reliable force to later protect our position. It’s obvious the attempt in itself, if successful, would draw the attention from other countries. These people are not as easy to defeat as they would seem. Many of their operatives are being enhanced to the point they can rival mutants readily. One could even call them artificial mutants. We need to have a care in how we deal with them before and after we capture the building.”

Eluard raised a hand to his face, lightly keeping a few fingers on the side of his mask. “We’ll need to know exactly who’s on duty that day. The mutants who will go for the operation will have to be packed into squads with specific purposes. Some to distract, some to disable devices, some to deal with the inevitable resistance and some to watch back so we’re not taken by surprises.” The blond mutant better adjusted the mask on his face and allowed his hand to come back on its armrest. “We’ll need to figure out how to approach the general population about what we’re doing, it wouldn’t do to appear we’re the criminals in the matter, that would just give us leadership without a following crowd and our position would likely crumble in time.”

Eluard looked to the ceiling briefly as if there were so many aspects to this whole matter that he didn’t even know how to present them all. Some part of him feared Matt didn’t care for any technicalities and all he was interested in was the satisfaction of defiance and battle itself. Silently, he hoped this wasn’t the case. The blond man waved a hand. “I will leave such considerations for when they are due. For now, our main concern would be acquiring the proper support for such an undertaking. The army I was talking about.” He purposefully left out the fact that he was also trying to come up with a less violent approach to the whole thing for it wasn’t exactly what the fire inside him craved and he wasn’t ready to make that decision right now, much less try to convince others of it in case it was a diplomatic approach. He hardly believed Matt would be amenable to such suggestions as well.

“In any case…” Eluard sat straight in his seat, his blue eyes on Matt. “I’m pleased you decided to join me today and look forward to collaborating with you in the future.” There was more friendliness in his tone than had been there initially. “If there are no matters you wish to bring up, I’m interested in keeping in touch. I’ll be sure to inform you of any new developments and come to you when an operation against the government seems suitable. I would also like to know if you decide the time to strike before I do. If there's anything else I could help you with, do not hesitate to ask."

[Matthieu Ghautier]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellspacing,5,true][atrb=style, background: url(http://i.imgur.com/NNLwM.gif); width: 500px; padding: 10px, bTable][cs=2][style=background-color: #494949; width: 100px; height: 100px; padding: 5px; margin: 5px;][/style][style=background-color: #494949; width: 340px; margin-left: 125px; padding: 5px; font-family: century gothic; font-size: 22px; color: #e2e2e2; text-transform: lowercase; height: 100px; margin-top: -115px; text-align: justify;]you're the devil in disguise Oh, yes, you are the devil in disguise. You fooled me with your kisses. You cheated and you schemed. Heaven knows how you lied to me. You're not the you seemed. You look like an angel, walk like an angel, talk like an angel. But I got wise. You're the devil in disguise. Oh, yes, you are the devil in disguise. You look like an angel, walk like an angel, talk like an angel, but I got wise. You're the devil in disguise, oh yes, you are the devil in disguise.[/style]
[atrb=style, width: 110px;][atrb=vAlign,top][style=font-family: century gothic; font-size: 20px; text-align: center; color: #e2e2e2;]tags[/style] [style=background-color: #EB9942; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 9px; text-align: center; width: 95px; text-transform: uppercase;]Eluard.[/style] [style=font-family: century gothic; font-size: 20px; text-align: center; color: #e2e2e2;]words[/style] [style=background-color: #EB9942; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 9px; text-align: center; width: 95px; text-transform: uppercase;]nine-zero-zero[/style] [style=font-family: century gothic; font-size: 20px; text-align: center; color: #e2e2e2;]notes[/style] [style=background-color: #EB9942; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 9px; text-align: center; width: 95px; text-transform: uppercase;]Dat Matt....[/style]	[atrb=style, width: 320px;][style=background-color: #494949; font-family: tahoma; color: #e2e2e2; font-size: 10px; padding: 5px; text-align: justify; height: 300px; overflow: auto;]It was a pain that Matt knew all too well, even though it wouldn't seem like it. He just seemed driven for a thirst for vengeance because he was sick in his head. It couldn't be denied that he was sick though, but there were actually reasons for it, he wasn't just a cold-blooded murderer as many would've expected. Although his hate had twisted into something unrecognizable as the years went on. His goals had faded from only killing those who had hurt mutants, to every human and then slowly mutants had been included as well. How or why this had changed, was unknown, even to himself. He also wouldn't be able to answer when exactly it had changed into this, not that he cared. He simply couldn't care anymore, he believed, hadn't bothered to try (like so many other things) anymore. A short silence stretched between the two of them again and he allowed it once more. He hadn't anything to say either way and that allowed him to look away and pay attention to other things. His red gaze briefly moving to the two men flanking the informant. He leaned back, staring at the 'wall', observing the changing numbers above their heads. Sometimes it jumped and twisted around, maybe because they changed thoughts? He didn't know, that part was useless to him. The only part he liked was the shape-shifting. His mind realized how stupid he had been, for a moment, if the other suddenly decided to betray him after all... Well, he would be screwed. He pinched the bridge of his nose and let out a puff of breath. Matt smiled ever so faintly, the first nearly positive emotion that he showed "Maybe so." He agreed with a light nod of the head "But it would be a start.." He continued, lifting his head to the side again and checking his nails once more, before moving his full attention back to the other man "It would...." He spoke, voice turning softer, nearly a soft purr and eyelids lowering until only a faint glimpse of red could be seen "Enable mutants to see..." He continued, fingers tapping against his stomach, having moved again "That the Government isn't as strong as they want to make everyone believe.." The rest made him lean back, it was not something he thought about, again didn't want to think about. He only cared about the revenge, not the careful planning that could go in it. A light hum and then he shook his head ever so faintly, looking down and pondering upon it. His eyes flickered back up when he heard about these... artificial mutants "Bastards.." The word escaped his lips in a low growl. They kept disgusting him more and more and he would be glad if he finally could erase everyone and leave everything like he wished it. It wouldn't be easy though, he knew that. He knew it well enough, not that he would let himself stop because of that fact. He would try and keep doing his best. Once more a light movement of the head "I could've told you that..." He murmured ever so faintly, once more a smirk curled the corners of his mouth upward "But most likely they have changed quite a bit..." Another tap against his stomach, way too amused. The rest of the words made the smile disappear and he slowly nodded his head in agreement, eyelids lowering again as a thoughtful expression twisted his features lightly. His eyes then moved upward again, this time the grin came full force "Oh, but we are criminals." He purred ever so faintly, shifting his weight in the chair, but didn't elaborate what he meant with that, if he even had given a meaning to it. It also could be said just to say it and annoy the one across from him. Another faint nod "I think you already have most of it covered?" He lightly questioned, there was no doubt that the other would manage to do it. He didn't seem to hate everything like he did and he almost could pretend that he felt envy for the other man. For a moment he wondered if he didn't hate everything and anything. His hands suddenly eased out another cigarette and quickly put a fire to it, inhaling the smoke and nicotine that it gave free. The unconsciously tense muscles relaxed again "Or am I seeing things wrong?" Something in his voice had changed ever so faintly as well, becoming calmer as well. Although there was still a faint aggressiveness to it, one that couldn't be thrown aside with a simple thought. It belonged to his nature, was his nature. Then everything changed again, blue eyes were on him again and red eyes moved back as well, a light eyebrow raised. He let the other speak and then sighed ever so faintly and started digging into his pocket. He didn't know why he had bothered getting one, but maybe a cell phone was handy for something. He tossed it to the other man "You can enter your number, if you have one..." A light shrug, it didn't matter. If the other decided to keep it, it didn't matter. He wouldn't mourn the loss of a stolen object. A light movement of the hand, showing something akin to agreement. He agreed to laying low, at least right now. [/style]
[cs=2][style=background-color: #EB9942; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 10px; text-align: center; width: 475px; opacity: 0.9;]TEMPLATE BY JOHN OF OTE & BTN[/style]