| Fan Fiction: | |
|---|---|
| A Minor Meeting With Lucinda | |
| Author | Tsubori |
| Genre | Romance/ Character development |
| Fan-made Characters | Lucinda Leroux
Zephesto |
Description: A brief look at my two villain characters, Lucinda and Zephesto.
A Minor meeting with Lucinda[]
The demon of the winds moved towards Lucinda's mansion, having just completed yet another one of her tasks. He had killed someone, but... they really didn't seem to be related to her in any way. It was strange... How could somone with no affiliation to her possibly pose an issue? He went in the window of his room, taking off his armor wordlessly, now clothed in his skinsuit, walking towards his Boss' room. As he emerged into the hall, he heard to gentle tones of an insturment. Somber, melodic music flooded the halls, and as Zephesto neared Lucinda's room, the tune only grew louder. He reached the extravagant doors, and with a twist of his wrist, the door opened.
He walked into the room, Lucinda with her back to Zephesto, the woman playing the piano. She wore a long, flowing nightgown, adorned with shimmering crystal. She was skillful... Perhaps merely calling her skillful was an insult. Her fingers moved in such a graceful manner that from the most skilled Pianists around Vale, to the most dextrous Hunters at Beacon, he wasn't sure any could replicate her motions. As he listened closely to his boss' music, he began listening to her heartbeat. It was slow. As if a person breathing their last. But... He knew about her semblance. It was strange that she was using it for this kind of pastime...
"Is my music so captivating, Tsubori... Or is it merely me?" She turned her head, not looking at the keys as her music continued. The assassin and bodyguard wasn't really sure how to respond, so he merely went with the formal approach.
"Err... I only wanted to tell you that I eliminated the target you specified." He stood behind her, tilting his head as she chuckled.
"Of course... Had you not, you'd not be standing in my room now. You've never been a man to leave a job unfinished."
He nodded, but his mind was clouded by a question. "Indeed. It may be unusual, Lady Lucinda, but I have a question about my mark."
She looked at him curiously. "A question? From you? My oh my, what a strange day it is... Ask if you wish."
"What exactly was the purpose of me killing that man? He owned a business that... In all honesty, pales in comparison to ours. To call him competition would be allowing him FAR too much credit. Yet still, you commanded me to kill him. Why?"
She stopped playing the instrument before her, standing up and dragging her pinky along the ivory keys as she walked a few steps towards Zephesto. "Well... You noticed he had no relation to me... And was no threat to me... And really, that's the point."
He looked a bit confused, and Lucinda strode closer, her nail moving under his chin, a slow, but oddly alerting feeling. "Not all people that we eliminate can be our foes... If business owners died and we profitted each time... We'd bring on a lot of suspicion, wouldn't we? No, it's better that the profit is spread amonst many to throw any suspicion into doubt."
Zephesto nodded, actually fairly impressed by that foresight. "I see... I have said this before... But for one so ruthless, you certainly carry an air of innocence..."
She responded by motioning towards the piano. "Every being; man or woman, human or faunus, has their outlet. Most people nowadays find that outlet in fighting grimm. But... Combat takes a certain toll on the body. It... Hardens it... This though... Just as battle is an art, to play the piano is a combat in its own right." She sat down once more. "Every key is as if an attack made... And if you do not follow up your opportunity with a flurry of other blows, the first motion was for naught." She played as she spoke, striking one key, followed by sweeping motions with her hands, producing a beautiful array of notes.
"But like with combat, there are some motions that are just silly to do after a different one, and this is known as musical dissonance." She hit a few keys is a row, the sound making the assassin cringe.
"I thought it merely a pastime. Something one learned if they had no desire to fight. A warrior would not have had the time to practice in such things as Piano." He stood beside her, watching her fingers traverse the keys, a faint shred of amazement in his eyes.
She nodded. "A passtime, yes... I suppose you're right. But in the end, what's anything we do but a passtime?" Her eyes wandered the white and black ivory. "In some ways, things are needed... But really, music is needed... It can make a long travel interesting... A fight much more invigorating... Or even..." She leaned upwards, Lucinda's lips meeting Zephesto's in practiced, loving contact for all but a moment. That moment though, made his chest beat heavily. Maybe it was the music. "Even the kiss of a loved one becomes... Something powerful... Enough to stop the most deadly man..." She playfully brought a hand up from the piano, tapping his nose.
The assassin chuckled, a rare face to see from him, as he stepped back, a touch of red lining his cheeks. "God... It's strange that with the nine years between us, you're teaching me things..."
She softly faded her music out, giving a smile, but... nearly a glare with her eyes. "Tsubori. If I had nothing to teach you, you would be leading me, not the other way around."
Zephesto froze up for a moment, nodding. "This is true..."
She then stood, walking towards her bed. Zephesto stayed where he was, not knowing if he was to leave or stay. "Well... I was only up until you returned with news of success... I believe sleep is in order." She shed her nightgown, laying down in bed. "Will you be joining me tonight?" She locked eyes with him.
Zephesto calmly shook his head. "Unfortunately not. I'm especially sore from tonight. I had a small run in with a team of huntsmen, and they actually managed to land a few hits. I think I'll take my leave for now, should I be dismissed." She gave a quick nod, and he bowed his head, turning. "Good night, Lady Lucinda."
"Good night, Tsubori. Excellent work tonight."
He left her chamber, giving a slight sigh as he returned to his room, laying in his bed. What... Was it with that woman? She was in her mid twenties but... She had the wisdom of the most intellectual elders across the country. Some people have it in their destinies to achieve greatness, and as Zephesto drifted into slumber, he affirmed that Lucinda was indeed one of those people.