Christmas for Criminals - Suzuko Tsukino ●

[Neko]

The proxy curled her fingers behind her ears to push the hair away from her reddened eyes. It wasn’t as if she could honestly feel her hair- but the notion felt nice none the less. The small framed woman seemed to be suspended in midair- the tips of her shoes only causing small white ripples to come from the expanse of nothingness around her. As the setting turned to the familiar endless world of grey clouds- her red eyes only briefly looked up to figure out her next target. A flick of her finger and the name appeared. “Suzuko Tsukino.” She murmured- as the world started to take shape around her. Spreading her arms out- her fingers cutting through the clouds that disappeared- the world flickered into play. Theater pieces started to appear- one, two, there- they were counted. Appearing in what appeared to be a thin mist, then a thick white outline- each was colored in as ambiguous garden took shape around them. A girl- a small girl- from Japan, not from where the toybox took place was her target. Small red and blue lines appeared from her back briefly as she stomped her foot down- the sound echoing like a gunshot in an alley. A little assassin she thought of herself. A smile formed on the proxy’s face as she found that work amusing. A little puppet, thinking she could pull the strings. It was cute in a way. The proxy laughed to herself as she spun her arms out with a twirl of her body. Almost spiderlike threads leaped off her fingers as she ended up in a pirouette position- her arms above her head and one of her legs bent. In that position- the sky lit up with color as if there was an explosion and flowers bloomed- different scents hit her nose and she laughed. A disgusting smell that blended together. It clawed down one’s throat like ivy down a wall as she threw her hands in front of her. “Little assassin, little assassin.” The proxy murmured. Leaning forward- the girl drew a line up with one of her hands- a white line appearing. “So, let’s play.” A grin cracked onto her pale face as the white line formed to the girl- the threads from before lacing around the girl’s hands and legs- and one around her neck. They would keep the girl from trying to do anything stupid. Waiting for the girl to get her bearings- the proxy spread her arms out to the side- her palms facing downwards. “Suzuko Tsukino.” She started- not waiting for the girl any longer. She tried her patience. “I am a proxy of Chaos.” A finger curled towards her palm as the threads around the victim’s hands jerked forward. “You’re going to be my playtoy for the evening, little Suzu.” The English suddenly warped to Japanese- using a rather demeaning tone and playful nature, referring to herself to ‘ore-sama’ or as if she was the best.

@Suzuko Tsukino

[Suzuko Tsukino]

Suzu didn't know exactly when she had fallen asleep, the last thing she remembered was drinking her usual herbal tea that usually helped keep the dreams at bay. Though she never would admit to it, Suzu was plagued by nightmares on an almost nightly basis and the herbs specifically meant to help her sleep usually put her into a dreamless slumber. This time however it seemed that the tea had not helped at all when Suzu realized that she was in a garden...her mothers? No, the scent of flowers was too strong to be the same garden she had spent her childhood tending to. They had had flowers certainly, but none as strong smelling as the ones in the garden she apparently was in. Had she been here before? Suzu couldn't quite recall, it almost looked like a Japanese garden from back home but that made no sense.

Nevertheless, it was a garden and that was one of the few things that Suzu enjoyed and would have certainly wandered about and explored it. The moment Suzu tried to move however, she realized that she was bound around her hands, legs, and neck. Pure, unbridled rage filled her eyes as she fixed her gaze on the being who had trapped her. If there was one thing that she hated more than anything else in the world, it was being controlled, to be chained and forced to do something against her will. This was the exact situation she had killed her own father to avoid. Who the hell was this bitch? Why was she chained up like a mad dog? Really, only a coward would bind someone while they slept, Suzu preferred to let her prey know who had defeated them moments before the light faded from their eyes.

Apparently the bitch was a spawn of Chaos. Wonderful. Well, that little bit of information certainly didn't engender any good will towards her. Chaos was the very being that had trapped Suzu in this dull 'toybox' and really, Suzu loathed the god for trapping her here. She only tolerated the god because she was encouraged to have fun and cause as much trouble as she pleased. This was just fine with her and initially it had sounded like fun but this? A hiss escaped Suzu as her hands were jerked forward and the bitch had the nerve to call her a toy. As if being stuck in this godforsaken town wasn't bad enough. To make matters worse, the bitch went on to taunt her in Japanese. If looks could kill...

Normally, Suzu would have attempted to hide her true colors under a kind, compassionate façade, normally she would've played off the insult as if they were talking about someone or something else besides her. However, just like any caged animal when cornered will bite, Suzu had no such qualms of disguising her complete and total loathing of this 'proxy' before her. "Go to hell, bitch,"Suzu hissed out before twisting her hands to grab onto the rope that bound them with the aim of yanking the proxy towards her. The rope on her neck could pose a problem, but if she could get her hands free, or even get some slack then she could fix that with ease, at least in theory. First, she had to find a way to get free and then she'd show this bitch exactly what her toy could do.

[Neko]

The proxy only chuckled as the human’s thoughts filtered to her. Such cursing from a cute face. Her English was replaced with Japanese- informal and insulting. She personally knew nothing of nations outside the Dreamland- or even nations in general- but Chaos did. Chaos’ nature bubbled in her stomach- in her throat. Itching, burning, scratching, and screaming. What was left? Words- words were left, nothing more of English, Japanese- just the choice of what the little angel wanted to hear. “You have a filthy brain.” She hummed a little. “You should really clean it up, toy.” The look did nothing towards the proxy- and she only tilted her head back in laughter as the girl’s hands slid through the spiderlike thread that ‘bound’ them together. The strings still stayed on her limbs- but her hands could not grasp them. She had made sure of that. “Don’t keep trying to fight toy, I am nothing like the innocents you kill.” She had no reason to think of ‘guilty’ or ‘innocent’, but none the less- the term fell from her lips like a drop falling from the sky. The wind that would keep the leaf spinning on the water- had become a turbulent hurricane in Suzuko’s mind- or at least the similarity would be touched upon mentally and briefly in the proxy’s quick and jittered thoughts. She bent down, as if she was talking to an animal, a smile on her face. “I don’t like you. Then again, you’re not much to like. You don’t really have anything good about you.” She wasn’t sure- as she loved Chaos and there was plenty to like about that- but personally- the proxy just didn’t enjoy being treated like she could grab the upper hand. A finicky soul that wobbled around with Chaos’ urging guiding her. “I was going to see if you were good enough to give you another wish or a stronger power….” She feigned thought, putting a finger to her pale lips, before laughing behind them softly. “But you decided to make me man! Bad toy! So, I’m going to play with you! I want you to dig up some stuff. Get your hands dirty- and not with poison or any of that death- no, I’m just bored and want to see you do menial labor.” The proxy lied- not even trying to hide it, but with her unknown mind and unknown figure- it would be hard to tell. “So- toy, are you going to obey, or am I going to use those strings to drag you around like a little doll?”

@Suzuko Tsukino

[Suzuko Tsukino]

The insulting words back didn't temper Suzu's fury in the slightest as she tried to fight against the bonds. She hated this more than words could say; if there was one thing Suzu despised, feared even, it was being bound, unable to do anything. The proxy's next words about the innocents earned a hiss from Suzu as she glared at this girl before her. "And what do you know of innocence,"Suzu growled,"There was nothing innocent about the pests I killed,"she continued, trying once more to fight against the bonds that kept her from clawing the eyes out of the bitch before her.

At the proxy's next words, Suzu simply smiled calmly as if they were talking about tea and not the fact that she had little to no redeeming qualities. Suzu really didn't care what this bitch thought of her, or anyone else for that matter. Humans were little more than worthless insects; if they were 'innocent,' as this girl had said, then perhaps they could have found the time to save her when she needed it. Nobody had helped her then however so why the hell would she care what the worthless beings did with the rest of their miserable lives. Everyone, including this bitch could rot in hell for all she cared.

The next words the proxy spoke didn't appear to faze Suzu in the slightest though she had stopped fighting against the bonds that held her. There was simply no use wasting her strength when it was just a wasted effort in the first place. Being stronger was enticing certainly but she was more than happy with the wish she had made before to heal her old back injury. The scars were still there certainly, but at least she wasn't in any pain as a result of what her father had done. As the proxy continued, calling her a bad toy and demanding she do 'menial labor,' Suzu's smile never wavered. So, this girl wanted her to work, how trivial. She was no stranger to hard work, in fact, in some ways she found it relaxing especially if it was working in the garden they were surrounded in now. If the proxy wanted to 'punish' her for being bad, the girl would have to try harder than that.

Suzu was about to say as much when the proxy continued, asking her if she was going to behave or be treated like a marionette doll. Fear, real fear, flashed in Suzu's eyes briefly before the calm smile returned. She couldn't be seen as weak or afraid, not right now. More than that though, the proxy's words seemed to have flipped a switch of sorts in Suzu as she relaxed. Those words had carried authority in them and as much as Suzu hated it, as much as she wished to fight it, she would obey. It wasn't because she wanted to listen to whatever the proxy wanted her to do. Quite the opposite in fact, Suzu didn't want to be controlled but her fear bound her just like it had when her father was alive. Fear bound her now and left her powerless to disobey whatever the proxy wanted her to do next.

"Of course dear~,"Suzu answered simply,"What would you like me to do first~?"

Words: 563 | Notes: --- | Tags: Neko

[Neko]

The proxy only chuckled at Suzuko’s internal rambling. It was ridiculous how humans seemed so angry at events they couldn’t control. Helpless insects screaming at the top of their lungs like they could actually voice how they felt to the sky. What would the sky do? Rain on them? Honestly, it was ridiculous and she couldn’t see the point- but she wasn’t human. “I know enough.” The proxy reasoned easily. “What makes you the decided of innocent and guilty? Are you a judge or the jury? I think of you as nothing but the executioner. Someone who’s nothing but a job to be told to do. Not one that uses your brains, dear doll.” It was insulting- but the proxy for once was not meaning to be. She felt nothing, if at all about the idea. Judge and jury were rather normal things in her head- Law had always spoke about them and Chaos made fun of them. She knew the general gist- even if she couldn’t comprehend the law and the written words or the idea of judging your fellow men. It seemed strange to her to say the least. Hearing and tasting the fear, the young proxy could only shrug and point to the grassy ‘hill’ behind her. “I want you to tend to that. There’s probably things buried underneath it. Just for what do you humans call the term…for your information? Something of the sort. Be sure not to kill it.” A jerk of her arm suddenly made Suzuko’s right arm fly forward- but no other motions were made. “So get moving. I enjoy seeing people like you actually doing something productive.” To be honest, out of most people she was tasked on playing tonight- Suzuko was the most Chaotic one- but not the one she liked the most.

@Suzuko Tsukino

[Suzuko Tsukino]

The question raised by the proxy caused Suzu's eyes to narrow at the clear insult. So, the bitch thought she didn't use brains just because she knew how to kill? How many clients had she worked for and been told to make it 'look like an accident'? Suzu had since lost count really, there were quite literal skeletons in Suzuko's closet if anyone cared to look, but then humans were just worthless toys to play with in the end. It didn't matter to her who was guilty or innocent, just that they were meant to die. Besides, she was hardly just a killer for hire, there were several people that Suzu had killed just because she was bored and wanted to inflict pain. But of course, nobody could know of her identity so of course they had to die.

"I am nobody's mindless puppet,"Suzu hissed in response,"Why should I care why some insects need to be crushed or who wants them dead? It's just money, and I get to play with the worthless maggots before death takes them. I thought Chaos would approve of such things~,"she continued calmly before asking what the proxy wished for her to do.

Glancing towards the grassy hill, Suzu stared blankly at the proxy as if the bitch had asked her to grow another head instead of dig up a hill. Really? That was it? It seemed too easy and besides, for all she knew there were roots or bulbs hidden in the hill. What could possibly be so important that the bitch would have to threaten her in the first place. The order not to kill whatever was hidden in the hill caused Suzu to roll her eyes. She would kill whatever and whomever she damn well pleased but this thought was quickly banished when her arm was suddenly jerked forward, sending shooting pain through it as a result.

A slight grimace was the only reaction given to the motion before Suzu moved forward to the hill as she was told. There really was nothing special about the hill in question and had the proxy not told her there was something buried underneath, Suzu wouldn't have cared about it in the first place. Grass was a troublesome thing however and would take a while considering how dense the roots were. Thankfully there was a shovel nearby that would allow her to dig up the grass easily enough, even if it would take some time.

Picking up the shovel, Suzu started to dig up the hill; ironically, this punishment had more of a calming effect. Gardening was something that Suzuko was accustomed to and had done all her life, so what if it was because the proxy had commanded her to. It was hardly worth complaining about when there was nothing she could do. The only question was what exactly was buried underneath all this grass. The proxy had told her not to kill it...ironic really considering whatever it was surely had to be dead by now if they had been buried in the hill long enough for grass to grow. Nevertheless, Suzu would dig just as she had been told to, that was unless the shovel blade didn't kill this mysterious thing before she unearthed it. That would be just awful now wouldn't it~.

~~~

Neko

[Neko]

Pale hands reached up to curl a few black strands on her fingers as she purposely looked unamused by the woman’s threats. She couldn’t do anything, so she spat and spat thinking it was going to scare away an entity that she literally had no control over. “You’re the money’s mindless puppet, little doll. You do what they tell you to do for your power. You are nothing but the axe that comes down on someone’s head.” The red eyed proxy smiled but only shrugged exaggeratedly- tilting forward and rolling her shoulders back. “Chaos doesn’t pick one of his children to be above others. Plus, your work is a bit moot since people come back to life unless we wish otherwise. You’re good at causing panic, but only panic. It’s a one note that’s played a lot and never enjoyed after a while- it’s best for the background noise.” It was true. Nothing she particularly did sent ripples in Chaos- it was just a singular drop that let out the same ripples each time. They were not disliked, or thought of as lesser- but they simply ran out as time went on. There was no constant- there was no overlapping. She was a single note. “He likes it- but we always like to torture our favorites, you know? Daddy was good at that.” She purposely used a higher term to address the father in Japanese and used a lower term for her continuously. The proxy quickly darted up onto the hill- floating on air as she did a quick spin on her toes and spread her arms outwards. “I wonder what people would think of you…the ones you were close to.” She started to sway, as if she was dancing to an unknown song. Her body weaved expertly as she danced on the small hill. She however stayed silent- letting the girl continue to dig- only to interject random comments about how her hands were getting dirty or how the doll shouldn’t be so eager to finish her trial. It was around what felt like twenty minutes- before she got tired of waiting. “Boring.” She muttered to herself- standing on her toes- balancing on thin air. Hopping down till she was next to the girl, she hummed softly and poked the ground gently. “But I suppose the thing- under here- “The proxy gestured to the hill as if Suzuko was slow and needed to be reminded. “Likes spending time with you. Even as you’ve grown to be a monster. I wonder…would you like to see them again? Could you face them with all you’ve done? Sinner’s hands?” The proxy covered the girl’s hand that was holding the shovel with her own, and gave some extra force to it when the brunette would dig again. A sick cracking sound echoed- as if porcelain or china was breaking. A scream- a pitiful one rang out and the proxy made a small ‘tsk’ noise. “You enjoy to inflict pain…don’t you? So let’s see if they enjoy it.” With that- a hand shot out of the dirt as the proxy took her hand back- the hand coming from the dirt quickly grabbing onto Suzuko’s arm as it used it to pull herself out- and yanked Suzuko down slightly as it dug itself out of the dirt, screaming. However words soon formed and it was a familiar voice. Speaking Japanese. She smiled as the woman crawled out of the dirt- her face jerking up as dirt smeared her once beautiful and pale skin- a gaping hole in the doll’s face where her right eye would be. It was Suzuko’s mother. Hana. “W-Why?” She cried- words forming on her tongue as tears dripped down the remaining side. “Why did this happen?” She asked, reaching out for Suzuko’s cheek and letting her arm go. “Why Suzuko?!” The woman sobbed- and the proxy grinned at the doll’s real tears and genuine anguish. “Why don’t you tell her Suzuko? Tell her.” The question was vague- but the doll screamed behind her and reached out for her daughter again. “I’ll never-!” the words were cut off as black muck fell from her lips and she choked on her own words. The proxy hummed in fake thought. “Forgive? Forget? Stop loving you? What cliché thing could she have said?” The black haired proxy leaned over to nuzzle the doll and kissed her cheek as she choked on the black acid falling from her lips- contrasting with the ghostly pale skin. Dirt clumped on the gaping maw of her missing eye- like a broken terracotta pot that had been unearthed from the depths. However everything froze- proxy and all- and only Suzuko would remain moving as the Hana doll morphed into Suzuko herself, bawling and missing the same eye, the inky mess falling from her lips as she reached out for her own body. The proxy moved with her, with a smirk on her face as the two disappeared- leaving a spelled out word from beautiful- if not blood covered petals on the hill behind her. P-R-I-D-E Everything would soon go black for the brunette criminal and she would wake up at home. However once the girl awakened, she would find her bed covered in flowers and dirt. Above her would be the head of a porcelain doll. The eye was missing, and her head was the size of a human adult. It was smiling softly- but tears were painted down the side that still had its beautiful irises- and blood colored roses were resting inside the broken side. In between all the roses was a clear glass vial, with murky white liquid inside. Hana never looked so pretty.

DREAM END
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