I'd kill for you and eat the flesh.

I see that none of you gave your thanks to Mother.

And now my head is crowded with voices that are not hers!

( Locked to Discordia )

Mother...I don't understand. Why? Is it because Wrath wasn't a part of him?

[There's some laughter, but it's completely devoid of humor.]

He was a good brother. How could you take him away along with so many black sheep? He wasn't like them!

[Some silence, and then his voice becomes firmer. Almost...angry?]

I'm tired, Mother. I'm tired of losing the flock. I'm tired of never hearing your voice, of never finding you. If you don't want this place, then why have I been stuck here?

What am I supposed to do when you never give me the chance to really prove myself to you.

Tch.

I guess that makes me Mother's favorite.

(It's nearly impossible to tell that the video function has even started at first. It's too dark to see the movement, but the snarling can be heard loud and clear. Any of those who've encountered Shadow Creepers will be able to identify them by this sound. There's the cracking of twigs...at least they're in the forest, and hopefully away from people.

Those with sharp eyes might start suspecting that it's video after all. The darkness seems thicker in some sparts, seems to move. And it moves too fast to be a natural darkness, which is gradually chased away by light. Running, followed by an animal's squeals and the thump of something being taken to the ground. The Creepers are hunting for their remnant summoners. But they're not alone.

A crow squawks above, waiting for any scraps that the monsters leave behind. But something isn't making it worth the wait. Another cry and it takes flight. But the wings continue beating and the caws are more frantic. The loudest is accompanied by a sudden cracking sound. It's like several twigs being broken at once. And then a slurp.

Finally there's something to see...unfortunately. The lower half of Kadaj's face comes into view, highlighted by whatever natural light there is. His pale skin looks even whiter...the bird's blood that stains his mouth even darker.)

Wrath. I have dinner.

It isn't like it matters.

((Kadaj's voice is softer than normal, like he's trying to placate himself more than lecture the black sheep.))

The important thing is that we still have Mother. And as long as she exists, we'll return over and over and over again.

Someday her flock will be whole again. It's her will.

Nothing can change that.

((The video function clicks on, but no one's visible from the angle. The interior of a room is being shown, one that's familiar to many of the residents. Someone is stepping deeper into Sunde's main room, which is conveniently empty. Lives are spared because of it.

The footsteps against the wooden floorboards are soft and measured, stopping only when they reach the bar. A gloved hand reaches down and picks up a bottle. That alone doesn't tell one much. How many people here wear gloves?

There's something written on the label -- Elena's. Do not drink. This means you, Dean!. A soft snort before some of the liquor is defiantly poured into an empty shot glass. Not for the purpose of drinking though. That gloved index finger dips into the liquid, which steadily turns from amber to black. And it spreads when the contents are poured back into the bottle, one poison defeated by a much stronger one. It uncurls and invades like something alive.

Lots of people might wear gloves, but only a special few can do that.

He retreats to the shadows in the corner of the room, Mother's imagined voice in his ear telling him to be patient. And soon she arrives, looking tired but accomplished, forever proud in her suit. The bar and its residents are quiet. She can finally relax.

The blond Turk pours herself a drink from the bottle. Any changes that she might've noticed are hidden by the darkness of the room. It only takes a single shot.))

Welcome home. Sister.

((The last thing the video feed shows is Elena's expression as she realizes where she's tasted this before.))

((The recording begins with the sound of shaky laughter. Someone is having a good, unstable day. Which, for Kadaj, is rather redundant.))

Surely you can all see it now? Mother has reunited my brothers and I to prove once and for all exactly whose will will decide the fate of this land. And as our gift to her, we'll carry out this will, and anyone or anything that opposes it will be turned to dust!

((Kadaj's voice rises but levels out before he begins the next leg of his sermon.))

I haven't lied. Everything that I've said has come true. Loz is here. Yazoo has returned. We have brought others into the fold, those who are tired of lies, tired of being confused, afraid, and alone. Together we will make right all of crimes that were committed against Mother! And this time the guilty will have no escape. We'll return again and again--

((A pause. His voice is even softer after this, and just a touch sad.))

We'll be the sons that she wants. The sons that she deserves.

My brothers and sisters and I will be loved for it.

((The soft laughter returns.))

And the rest of you will die for it.

((Recording ends.))

More and more black sheep are being culled, including the greatest liar of them all.

Sister. What a glorious moment this could've been for you! But instead you turned your back on Mother and chose to become his puppet. Such wasted loyalty.

I hope you see now that it's much better to be Mother's puppet. No one can cut those strings.

Brothers. I'll be taking a walk. I want to enjoy the view.

"Ha ha ha ha! That tickles!"

Tch.

"Ha ha ha ha! That tickles!"

Wrath, I--

"Ha ha ha ha! That tickles!"

((It's a shame you can't see Kadaj putting a gloved hand over the toy's mouth in an effort to shut it up...))

Wrath, I have a new doll for you. I was told that it's a popular choice for little brothers. So you can stop carrying around that pathetic--

"Ha ha ha ha!

Get here and accept it as soon as you can before something terrible happens to it as well.

...That tickles!"

((The words are printed in a store window, and Kadaj reads them aloud with much approval.))

Mother's day. Show her how much you care.

((There's a soft chuckle at that.))

What a wonderful city. Giving Mother her very own day...it's the least we can do when she's done so much for us!

Surely we'll find more of Mother's flock here.

Brothers! I've found another one!

((OOC: Video post coming soon~))

Sometimes I'm amazed at how long I've been able to tolerate this place. Not that it really matters. I'd just keep coming back, again and again. As long as fools still exist.

((A pause. An unhappy realization.))

Only sometimes they come back too.

((Huff.))

Loz still hasn't arrived. Yazoo hasn't returned. Now Wrath and Sephiroth's minds are filled with confusion. Poison ((He begins to speak rapidly, impatiently.)) I wish Mother would just hurry up and--

My wishes don't matter. But when Mother's are at last fulfilled, these gods and kings will be erased once and for all.

Brother. I don't know what a cherry tomato is and I don't care. Please stop talking to me about them.

Mother's flock will not be touched again.

((For once...that's all he has to say.))

((Some aren't afraid to be out in the fog, but that doesn't mean they shouldn't be. The video function is triggered accidentally when the communicator hits the ground. The echo of a gunshot still rings in the air, but the damage has been done.

It's hard to tell exactly where Kadaj is, but he's in a sitting position. His right eye is open, the pupil narrowed into such a tight slit that it's almost lost in the bright green iris. The light fades, and the pupil suddenly dilates.

There's just a hole where his left eye should be. The viewer is spared the gory details, with only a wet darkness being visible inside the wound. Kadaj's head tilts to one side, his lips parted as if he died with Mother's gospel on the tip of his tongue.

The fog swirls around him, cloaking him from sight. But when it rolls back again, "11/21" has been carved into his cheek. The welling blood darkens the numbers before it rolls down his face.))

I can smell the rats again. Or maybe it's the same as last time and all I'm really smelling are the masses that don't have Mother's blessing.

At least there's one less black sheep's stink in the air.

Everyone seems so frightened. Really, what's the big deal? Mother will make this place a blank slate, and then all that you fear will be gone.

Until then, you can always come to her church. But be sure to quench your thirst at the door.

Wrath. Are you somewhere safe?

Where is She? Where is Yazoo?


Whoever has taken Mother and my brother, I suggest you give them back now. ((A chuckle, razor thin and without genuine amusement.)) There's no negotiation, I'm afraid I must insist.


((The laughter fades, and when he speaks again his voice is louder, angrier. There's the loud crashes of things thrown and sliced in half, the snarls of summoned Shadow Creepers.))


Return them to me now! How dare you touch Mother's flock! Do you think you can interfere with Mother's will? Do you think it changes anything at all! All you're doing is prolonging your own suffering!


((There's a long pause, Kadaj is slightly out of breath now, but calmer.))


That's right. Mother's Will will be carried out because I still exist. My brothers and I will return as many times as it takes. So really, there's no need to shout, is there?


((Another brief chuckle and the transmission ends.))

Mother...?






((OOC: Warning: Kadaj will be desperately seeking what he's missing on the inside -- namely, Mother. So he's likely to attach himself to any female with 100 yards. Congratulations. It's a boy. ♥))

There were rats? I didn't even notice! ((A chuckle.)) Maybe because there's not much difference between them and all the little vermin who don't have Mother's blessing.

Mr. President. Are any of your employees missing? If there were rats I'm sure they were in need of a little snack.

Brothers. Let's celebrate.

((His voice is soft, the post likely accidental. It lacks it's usual evangelical pitch.))

It's just not good enough.

((Ignore the silver-furred cat ears. Kadaj is, despite the dark red of dried blood from earlier attempts to pull them from his head.))

As long as fools exist, the nightmare will keep returning.

You've accomplished nothing.