for foenix

[snakings]

The gate was making such unnecessary ruckus.

Medusa crossed her arms in front of her and stayed where she was, though she did purse her lips in mild annoyance. Any moment now the gate would leave this particular place and go home; to reach it, he would have to traverse a path that was usually devoid of humans.

That would be where he'd reach his end, in order to be reborn as a Phantom.

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[foenix]

Phoenix lounged against a railing, still watching out for the Gate. The sight of their faces when he appeared was very often the best part of hunting them down; but didn't always offset the boredom of waiting around too long. He had no patience for a lengthy stake-out and decided to just wade in there and kill the Gate if it dragged its feet too much longer. Although the Gates were what he was supposed to be targeting, he didn't see a problem with slaughtering a few random humans as well.

[snakings]

Finally, the Gate paid for its tab and left. From where Medusa stood it looks like he was drunk - which would make things easier. Not that destroying Gates were hard, in the first place, but at least this one wouldn't make a mess.

She smiled. Wiseman would be very pleased should she succeed in turning this human into a Phantom, and so she would ensure that she wouldn't fail.

No matter what stood in her way.

[foenix]

There went the Gate. Time to go.

Phoenix decided he would let it get a little way along the route and then be waiting for it, just when it was least expecting him. He was giving no thought to his instructions that this one was to be turned into a Phantom. That was a lot less fun and more effort than just killing them, and nothing about this particular Gate seemed special. New Phantoms were likely to just annoy him or get in the way.

[snakings]

She'd been on the trail of the Phantom when Medusa sensed something... different. Not another Gate, though - this one felt sinister. Dangerous. Another Phantom, perhaps? But this wasn't a Phantom borne out of her own efforts. No, this one was different.

She paused, then nonchalantly glanced around her. Wiseman wouldn't send another to trail this gate, would he? Not without telling her. Or perhaps--

--there. The one in red.

...how interesting.

[foenix]

Phoenix would be waiting for the Gate just at a point where he wouldn't be seen when it first made its way down the path. The human body was more than weak enough without the influence of alcohol, so the Gate's current condition could only work in Phoenix's favour. He was heading around from the other side to the spot where he'd chosen to wait, when he suddenly became aware of someone else's presence. Whoever it was would have to be taken out quickly in case anything alerted the Gate and caused him to lose its trail.

[snakings]

She already knew where the Gate was going, so even if she lost his trail now Medusa would know where to wait for him next. Or she wouldn't even have to wait - he was alone in his house anyway. No amount of locks would keep her from visiting him if she wanted to.

The Gate could definitely wait. Meanwhile--

"It's a nice night, isn't it?" she asked, appearing somewhere from the other Phantom's side. "Almost very peaceful. I wonder if it's going to stay that way for long."

[foenix]

Why was this person randomly talking to him?

"How the hell would I know? Who are you?" Phoenix glanced quickly down the path in case the Gate was coming. He'd have to get rid of her fast before his target arrived but, as little as he really knew about humans, it occurred to him that this one seemed different. They were usually aimless and difficult to distinguish one from another, while this one wore a bright dress and seemed much more sure of itself than the Gates he'd previously picked off.

[snakings]

...well.

"You don't know?" This one was definitely a Phantom, but it seemed he didn't know she was one. Most of the Phantoms she knew also knew who she was, so encountering one who didn't almost seemed entertaining, in itself. Medusa even smiled because of it, and stepped closer to him.

"What do you know, I wonder?"

[foenix]

"Know what?" Phoenix's irritation was only restrained by the element of surprise, and the need to know who or what he was dealing with. If she knew of him she must be another Phantom, "where'd you come from? You got something to do with the Gate?" He'd been looking forward to killing this one and today he decided she couldn't have it.

[snakings]

"...Gate? Ah. You mean the one coming our way now?"

Medusa turned to watch the human move closer to the two of them. At least the other Phantom knew what he was here for, and not just randomly standing by for nothing - that would have been unforgivable. Phantoms were created in order for other Phantoms to be born, after all.

Then she frowned. "I'd advise you not to act so foolishly. It seemed the Gate isn't alone, after all." True enough now he was with a group of young females who seemed to be following him.

[foenix]

"Huh?" Phoenix moved to look down the path. Sure enough, the Gate had somehow acquired a crowd of other humans. The Gate was first priority, but once that was dealt with it might be fun to have a few more around to play with, "Gate's mine. Wiseman says so. You take care of the rest." Time was running out, and he'd work out what to do about the other Phantom after.

[snakings]

Wiseman had spoken with him? That was unexpected. Was he a Phantom of high ranking like her?

"There is no taking care of the rest." It was clear from his body language what his thoughts on that entailed. "Don't you think it's prudent to wait until the Gate is alone? Then you can do whatever you want to him."

[foenix]

"We'll lose him again if we wait. Isn't it easier just to get rid of those guys?" Or girls ... whatever they were. All humans were pretty much the same to Phoenix and because he'd come out here expecting to be able to kill something, he could feel himself rapidly becoming frustrated at the prospect of that not happening.

[snakings]

She crossed her arms in front of her and glanced at him askance. "Lose him? Of course not. Do you think he'll disappear the moment he's no longer in your line of vision?"

But Medusa didn't wait for him to answer that. "Besides, one of those humans may turn out to be potential Gates. If you spoke with Wiseman, you'll know that he doesn't want those to be wasted because of foolish acts."

[foenix]

"Wasted?" Phoenix knew that his instructions were to turn the Gates into new Phantoms; but Wiseman was aware that Phoenix hadn't been following those instructions, and so far nothing had been said about it, "I just kill 'em."

[snakings]

There it was, her confirmation on just what type of Phantom he was and how he operated.

Medusa inched her chin higher and regarded him coolly. Her words, however, were anything but. "Then I was right," she said. "You are incapable of anything but foolish acts. You will not hurt these humans. I forbid it."

[foenix]

Phoenix was pretty sure that she was insulting him, but his priority at the moment was his desire to crush something human-shaped. He laughed, "what are you gonna do about it?" Although her Phantom form could be powerful it was unlikely to have the ability to regenerate.

[snakings]

"Something you wouldn't like."

She had never before been challenged quite like this. While other Phantoms expressed their doubts about her through more subtle means - and usually because of how young and weak her human features seem - this one seemed intent on angering her directly. It was starting to work, too, as she found his stupidity to be a bit annoying.

Her voice was still sweet and lilting as she added, "I think you're a Phantom who greatly dislikes losing. Stay out of my way and I assure you that you will live."

For now.

[foenix]

Phoenix was too busy laughing (for a fraction too long) to answer her, "ha ha ha. You sure are feisty -" The sound of something down the path distracted him but he couldn't investigate too closely without being seen. The worry of losing the Gate was making his borrowed human heart quicken, and he cursed himself for letting her distract him. Obviously that was her plan, so that if Wiseman were to destroy him she could step into his place, "damn you! I have to catch this guy!"

[snakings]

Medusa placed a hand on her hip and faced him fully. "Then you'll have to prove yourself to me first."

Her change of form was quick; soon she was wielding her staff and Medusa idly waved it around, causing a huge wave of energy to appear - which was directed towards the other Phantom. He would have to be inordinately quick to dodge it.

[foenix]

Phoenix was not quick enough to react to avoid being knocked to the ground, but when he recovered his senses he transformed within an instant, "you crazy? You wanna lose sight of the Gate?" He charged directly towards her.

[snakings]

"Losing sight of the Gate will not be a problem if you know what you're doing," Medusa replied, as snakes shot out from the back of her head. She planned on catching and eventually suspending the other Phantom in air so that he'd have less chance of fighting her.

[foenix]

"And you do?" Phoenix was quicker this time about trying to move out of the way of any attack she might launch. He was stuck in the position of spoiling for a fight yet not wanting to lose his original prey as well as this new opponent.