Operation: Recruit

[kingofblackmoon]

Seated on his throne in a Dark Kingdom modeled to look a great deal like the Black Moon UFO, Demando holds a crystal in his hand. It projects a holographic image in front of him, which he watches intently.
~*~
If the people listening notice Rubeus has a very slightly smug look on his face, they don't say anything. After all, his words make sense

Comments

[kingoftruth]

"Lies." The voice is firm, confident, and the glare that accompanies it is just as sure. It is backed by the appearance of Kunzite, the leader of the infamous shitennou, and a man who will not tolerate such rebellion in the Golden Kingdom. There's a sneer directed at Rubeus as Kunzite makes his way to the stage upon with the rebel stands, and prepares to draw his sword.

"Any foolish enough to believe in such wicked deceit will join in the fate of this man. We shall make his execution a public affair, for your benefit."

[kingofblackmoon]

Demando straightens in his seat as soon as he spots the shitennou arriving, his face gone from that self-assurance to decided irritation. It'd be fine to make Rubeus a martyr - what better way to prove Black Moon correct? - but he can no longer afford to be so careless with the Ayakashi Sisters already gone and Saffir captured. (Acceptable pawns, the sisters. But his brother...)

The crowd breaks up quickly, most of them simple everyday sorts glad to hear a message of hope- and equally glad to save their skins once Kunzite and Zoisite are there to make threats and take names. They'll take the name 'Black Moon' with them, though. And there will surely be some who go further, who seek them out.

Rubeus does not flee with the others. He sneers at Kunzite and Zoisite once they're alone.

"I'm here on the prince's orders," he says deliberately.

[kingoftruth]

"You are here on the orders of a coward who knows that the only way to satiate his desire is to cause war between two kingdoms who have been at peace for as long as history can remember. The prince of this kingdom is not your Master, but mine, and you will die in the name of the true prince of the Golden Kingdom."

Kunzite pulls his sword from its sheathe now, nodding to tell Zoisite to remember the faces that had been gathered. While none have committed treason by merely listening to Rubeus... they will be watched, closely, after this. Any who do... will be dealt with swiftly.

[nemesissapphire]

For a moment Safir wonders whether the surroundings really did just change in front of his eyes or if it was just his imagination. (Neither is too good of a thing, considering this would take a lot of imagination. Obviously someone hasn't really heard of the Nexus yet.)

He doesn't pay too much attention to the hologram except to note that Rubeus is on it and is giving some sort of speech somewhere, although he doesn't register the exact words- Demando should be lucky that he doesn't, considering the things Rubeus is saying wouldn't be too great in Safir's eyes.

"Nii-san?" Safir steps forward, slightly curious as to why Demando would be watching Rubeus giving a speech.

[kingofblackmoon]

He freezes when he hears it. He doesn't even dare trust his ears. Is this some trick? What will he see when he looks up, what's really here?

Because it can't be-

"Saffir!" It really is. Or at least, it certainly looks like him. Here, in the flesh, and unharmed. How is it possible? Has God not forsaken him after all? Is this some deviltry, or some miracle?

"Saffir!" Demando finally overcomes his shock enough to stand up. He closes the distance between them and reaches to engulf Saffir in a close, firm, embrace. "Brother."

[nemesissapphire]

A reaction this enthusiastic isn't what Safir expected, but who is he to complain in a situation like this? He loves brother love, after all, and happily accepts the hug, not bothering to question the nature of the reaction yet.

He really can't help but smile. "Nii-san," he repeats, this time with the smile. Because if they're not going to get further than calling out to each other he might as well carry it on.

[kingofblackmoon]

Demando's still not smiling, too overcome by raw emotion. A person he wants to protect above all else, a person he wants to give a beautiful life to once all this is over and they rule the land, a person he didn't even know the fate of for certain, is here. The months he's lived with the chilling fear of what they might be doing to him, how they might be hurting him, all swept away and he's here.

"You're here."

[white_polaris]

She was unaware of where she suddenly had been transported. She remained calm as she looked around, wondering where the Nexus had taken her from this time. Truly, her patience was thinning with this constant movement without her own permission. But it could not be helped. The Nexus had a plan, or so she hoped. She turned her head and gazed at... Oh dear.

Was she on the Black Moon ship? She gazed at the Prince, tilting her head and watching him.

[kingofblackmoon]

The beautiful heiress of the beautiful moon, in one of her incarnations. His eyes widen in disbelief. She is standing before him, with no trace of fear or hesitation, as if she doesn't mind his closeness.

"You are most welcome here," he tells her. With everything that's happened, perhaps Saffir is - was - right it's less love and more of a mania.

[white_polaris]

She smiled at the Prince. This one... no, she did not think this was the one from her own universe. An alternate then. She nodded her head to him.

"Hello Prince. I thank you for the welcome," she responded as a proper dignitary.

[kingofblackmoon]

He has quarrels with her rule. She has done nothing to help him, by which he means helping Saffir at present. His followers - those left to him - blame her for what they call insanity. And yet... No matter what form, no matter what alternate, no matter whether past or present or future, she is the beautiful heiress of the beautiful planet and he does not hate her.

Perhaps it's insane after all.

Demando rises from his throne, and steps slowly but purposefully towards Sailor Cosmos.