LOG; great in the eyes of someone; NOELLE + ODETTE

[armoring]

who; Noelle and Odette
what; fighting, a confession and death
when; evening time

There was something invigorating after their victory. She was well pleased right now, everything was falling into place. Everything was falling as it should be. And why wouldn't it? They were meant to win, they were meant to be right.

So despite her exhaustion, Odette went down to pay their prisoner a little visit. The sigil had been theirs, there was no longer a need for Noelle.

Still.

It seemed a little cold hearted to just kill her like that, but neither could she be set free. Shame. Odette kind of liked the girl, she was fierce. Unlocking the door, she waved a light on in the room with her powers, nothing electric to allow Noelle any advantage.

"Good evening. How are you today?"

Noelle loathed that polite tone Odette spoke in when she was with Noelle. There was no point in acting sweet when she had kidnapped her. Where was the politeness in that?

How was she today? Noelle was on the verge of attempting to smash through the walls to get out. Sirideán was so worried and who knew how Faramond was reacting along with the rest of them. She thought of Huang and Rosalind, whom she barely knew but it was all this bitch's fault.

"Same as usual," Noelle replied blandly, her index finger tapping her knee. She searched the room with her own senses, desperately seeking any sort of energy to convert into a charge.

Odette gave her a smile, tapped her hand against her leg as she moved around the room to step in front of Noelle. She was dressed in a white skirt and blouse, fitting the heat of summer going around.

Really, she didn't understand why Noelle was so upset about things. It wasn't like anyone was torturing her. "Is the food not to your liking? We could arrange some McDonald's if you prefer... junk food." Odette tilted her head in thought.

"I have a question for you today."

It was frightening that someone as beautiful as Odette was the General of the White Order in Berlin and definitely had power Noelle couldn't fight on par with. But she was too annoyed to even think of the consequences and while following the pink-haired woman with her eyes, she kept focusing for any energy.

She's right here. I could just knock her out and make a break for it.

Her ankle still hurt but was doing a lot better than weeks before. Surprisingly, Odette and her annoying male friend kept her off her feet. It was too weird.

Anyway, McDonald's sounded sort of good but Noelle shook her head.

"I don't care really. Just no more... celery. Seriously." She upper lip twitched. She paused at Odette's last words and said slowly, "What is it?"

Noelle was endearing in a sort of way, Odette didn't mind having her there nor did she give much thought to actually wanting to kill her. It was no fun to just kill her, not yet. Although it might have to be done in future. "Tell me where the headquarters of your order are located." Her tone was soft but firm and she was staring intensely at Noelle now.

Isaiah had the better interrogation techniques but...

She blinked.

A part of her expected Odette to suddenly laugh and say, "I'm joking" but it never came.

Noelle's face was caught between disgust and amusement.

"You really think I'd tell you?" she scoffed and under her voice couldn't help but mutter slang in her mother tongue, "Tabarnac."

"Well, I could make me tell you, but I prefer to ask first." Odette didn't seem phased by the insult. After all, she was sure others out there called her worse things. Much worse things. "You know, we managed to secure the sigil."

"Now it is just a matter of time for the next one and the one after." Odette turned away looking thoughtfully at the wall. "Your cousin is brave, I like him."

She paused again, listening intently. She had just mentioned the Sigil-- Acel-- and Sirideán.

Something wasn't right.

Her pulse quickened.

"What?"

"Acel was a sweet boy, I held him until he died." Odette went on as if she hadn't heard what Noelle had just said. "Your cousin tried very hard to protect him, he did a good job really. It was just an unfortunate situation for him." She looked back at Noelle.

"Technically, you're no longer any use for us."

Noelle's eyes widened and it was suddenly very hot in the room. She felt a little dizzy and turned her gaze to her lap, staring hard and not wanting to look at this monster's face.

Acel was dead. That means they had failed.

"What did you... do... to Sirideán?" she demanded in a low but icy tone.

"What any person in my position would do to an obstacle in their way- remove it." Odette replied in a conversational tone, as if it were the weather than was being discussed and not the well-being of another person. Of her cousin. It didn't matter.

It didn't matter at all.

Even if she didn't give her the location now... it was only a matter of time.

Noelle's fury rose no thanks to Odette's tone and she jumped to her feet, her ankle paining slightly and lifted her arm, striking Odette's cheek on the upper bone and hoping to high hell it hurt her.

She hadn't even realized she had switched to her native language again when calling Odette a disgusting monster but stood her ground, glaring at her enemy in rage.

She took sharp but heavy breaths, her arm still raised.

"What did you do to him?" she yelled, back to English.

Odette looked surprised for the briefest of seconds. It had been years since anyone had been able to even strike her like that and she savored the pain. It was real, like dumping cold water on her. She took a deep breath.

"Tell me where the headquarters are and I'll tell you what I did to him." She lifted her hand slowly and wrapped her fingers around Noelle's wrist, trying to pull her arm down gently and without any force.

Noelle shook her head and pulled away, feeling a tiny charge in her fingertips.

"I'm not telling you anything!" she wanted to know what had happened to her idiot cousin. What had he gotten into this time?

He couldn't be...

She backed away from Odette, still shaking her head.

Odette released her as soon as she pulled back, letting have her space again. "No, I don't suppose you are." She rubbed the bridge of her nose in thought. Maybe she ought to kill her now and get it over and done with.

"But really, it'd be much better if you told me. If one side wins decisively, no one needs to die or be harmed."

Of course, Noelle wouldn't accept that so...

This woman's logic was messed up.

"You're a liar. You realize that? You blow up operas for fun. You go around terrorizing Berlin and now you spew this crap at me?" Noelle clenched her fist, leaning more to her good leg.

Odette was right here.

She could feel the charge in her whole arm. Could she do it? Probably not but...

Sitting here for weeks and not being able to do anything. Noelle hated this feeling of uselessness. It made her nauseous and angry... too many things. She was a Knight for a reason; yet hadn't made any progress or helped out in any way.

This was the least she could do.

Sure it was, her whole set of morals was messed up.

"I've never lied," Odette replied, "The opera was a necessary thing. A training exercise and a gift to someone very dear to me." But then why bother explaining when Noelle wouldn't believe her? Maybe it was better for the knight to believe them to be the monsters. Maybe it made it easier for her to fight.

Odette felt a bit sorry for her, and in those thoughts she didn't notice Noelle charging up her arm.

"You're insane. I hope my General wipes the floor with you." Noelle then sprung forward, reaching towards Odette's face as her hand tingled with electricity. If she got Odette's face and fried it she'd be glad.

"I love your General very much." Odette replied and leaned back lifting her hands up defensively as Noelle sprung forward. Her movement was slow, she had been grabbed by surprise but it didn't stop the energy that came to her beckoning.

That would shield her.

Noelle choked and faltered, and even though she could have gotten Odette's neck she threw herself back and hit the floor.

"WHAT?"

"I love your General very much." Odette repeated evenly. "Are you surprised?" Odette moved to kneel down by her side. She was purposely giving Noelle another easy blow.

"But he is on the other side."

"I don't... believe you." Noelle hesitated slightly. "He isn't retarded to fall for a psycho."

Noelle took the opportunity and lashed out, aiming for Odette's gut. She wasn't strong physically but she exerted herself against the White Order General. Even if she couldn't kill her but injure her to give everyone in the Black Order an advantage.

Sirideán, I'm sorry. She closed her eyes, cringing a bit.

Odette let out a laugh, an amused one. "Yes, I thought so too for a while but." She didn't have a chance to continue as the knight lashed out at her again. So determined.

She felt herself tumble backwards from the blow and her shields rose up automatically, lashing out against the attacking knight. It was reflex and instinct.

"There's a light connection over you." Odette pointed out mildly.

Was she just messing with her head? Noelle couldn't read her but there was some sort of lingering sadness when she had said she loved Faramond earlier.

Damn, those powers of her were pesky.

She looked up quickly so Odette wouldn't attack her while she was distracted and saw some wires a small sort of hole where possibly a light bulb or something had been. Noelle reached for it but didn't feel much of a current passing.

Damn-- I'm not-- she gulped and gripped the wire.

Oh it would be so much easier if she had been, but it was true. Loving someone was a painful thing, especially when they were destined to have to fight you- to the death if push came to shove.

The General brought her hand down, reaching out to slash at her with that invisible light shield of her, making it spring forward at Noelle aimed at separating her from the wire and push her back.

She barely had time to react, especially with that bad ankle and was knocked back.

Something... or things cut into her body and she screamed loudly, laying on her back and panting heavily. Her shirt was now clinging to her and she could smell the strong scent of her own blood.

Slowly pulling herself up, she glared at Odette which most likely looked very weird because she could feel air blowing into her eyelid, meaning it had been cut. As a line of red clouded her vision, she confirmed this for sure.

Noelle's whole body burned and stung painfully. Was this what had happened to her idiot cousin?

Odette was going to pay. Noelle was going to make her.

She crawled her way forward, reaching the wire she had dropped and tugged again as quickly as she could to get the others to fall.

"Heh," was all she could muster and held onto the wires tightly. They sparked quietly and then the sparks began to travel up them. Noelle's body hurt to lay against the hard floor but she held on and leaned her head onto it.

She should have been scared, right? But instead Noelle felt like laughing, even if tears rolled down her eyes. She was too young to have regrets.

"I wish my cousin and everyone could know I'm sorry for this but someone has to."

Odette stared. She stared uncomprehending for a few moments as Noelle laughed and she felt power- power the other shouldn't have. The injuries inflicted were not bad, they could be patched up easily, they wouldn't be too harsh, maybe leave a scar or two now that she thought about it but-

-Odette didn't get to have more of a thought than that.

She wasn't stupid or careless and for a moment she thought of staying where she was and letting it happen. It wouldn't- but then...

No. She had to see this to the end and she moved back instinctively, towards the door.

Noelle could feel her abilities surging but unlike the usual control she had over it, it all kept coming out. She didn't lift her head as the wires cracked and electric waves danced around dangerously.

This was going to hurt.

Odette let out a startled sound from the mouth and shielded herself. She was halfway out the room when it exploded, electricity surging out in one violent bang reaching out to smash and destroy everything in the way. It was not too unlike light, she held it and shielded it and pushed it away despite the fact it hurt, it strained her.

Then there was something warm and wet, as well as pieces of debris and soft debris which bounced off harmlessly, leaving Odette behind in the aftermath. She opened her eyes slowly, survying the damage done to the room.

...Pretty impressive. Odette moved a step, then two towards the remains of the knight. Not that there was much remains.

Her dress a mess, blood and pieces of burnt flesh marred the whiteness of it. The General frowned, sagging a little and sitting on the ground, ignoring the mess around her.

Somehow her cell phone was still intact and she pressed the quick-dial key. "...Mm, Isaiah?" she smiled, "Mm, I'm fine."

"We need to go shopping now, I ruined my dress. Maybe something in black or red would be better, stains less."