Board Thread:Role Plays/@comment-25389303-20161009134004/@comment-25389303-20161202194007

As Blanc brought the Bullhead down towards the top of the tower, Diaboli threw open the cargo doors. The wind quickly tried to suck him out, but his unshakeable grip on the side of the door kept him in his place. He was expecting a group of Smiler's subordinates to be waiting for them, perhaps reinforced with some Cavalier units - but no. Instead, a single dark figure stood alone on the weathered concrete, staring up at them.

Once they pulled up alongside the tower, the four of them stepped off their ship and onto the tower - Blanc quickly pulling away and flying to a safe distance. The figure made no attempt to stop them, and stood silently and patiently as they walked closer towards the centre of the circular rooftop.

Walking closer, Diaboli realised the figure was clearly not human. Wreathed in sickly dark green shadow, the being that stood before them was one of pure poisonous smoke and fog. The creature raised its arms, as if welcoming their arrival. But Mizuki was having none of it. Raising her arm, a spikey glyph of white and black suddenly burst to life.

"''Bone!" ''she commanded, and the dust caster on her wrist suddenly fired a short burst of blended white dust directly into the glyph. Is it passed through it, the granuals expanded and hardened, forming a spear-like projectile that shot forward and tore straight through the smoke being's chest.

The creature looked down at the large gaping hole in its torso, but after several seconds the smoke began to fill the wound until it had returned to its usual shape. Some of the smoke forming the creature's head darkened, forming a crude, jagged smile. Before Mizuki tried again, Diaboli placed his hand on her shoulder and stepped forward.

"There's no point hiding, Smiler. Running now won't save you!" he called loudly.

His words seemed to have an effect, as several moments later the smoke being began to condense - pushing in upon itself until finally, it separated - revealing a tall, thin young man dressed in a smart green suit, a trench coat, and a fedora. What was most striking about his appearance, however, was the horrible, twisted grin that was permenantly etched into his skin - the scarred tissue having formed a nightmarish smile that the wearer couldn't remove even if he wanted to.

Diaboli didn't pity the man, however. And his next words were proof enough of that:

"Finally decided to confront me like a man, have you?" he goaded, taking several steps towards his former best friend. "It seems you didn't learn from the last time what I do to those who betray me..."

If Smiler was fazed at all by the threats, he didn't show it. "''Oh, I think y-you'll find I'm quite aware of what y-you're capable of." ''

Smiler's voice was even more painfully distorted in real life. Every word sounded like it was tearing up his vocal cords, only to be corrupted by echoes, screeches and grating noises. As he spoke, Smiler ran a finger over the dead scar tissue on his face.

''"I w-was hoping Blanc would be h-here. Where is s-she? She was always smiling when she w-was around you. I h-hated her for that. I hated t-that she couldn't s-see you for what you really are." ''

Diaboli scowled at the mentioning of Blanc. "You should worry about yourself before others, Smiler," he growled.

As he spoke, metal armoured plates began running down his left arm, locking together to form a long mechanical whip-arm with teeth-like blades running down the outer edge. The whip snapped angrily in the air, creating a loud snap as it broke the sound barrier. Smiler appeared to have to hold himself back from recoiling from the sight of the Hand of Charon, but once he did so he began to laugh.

''"And what of you, d-doctor?" ''Smiler questioned, turning his attention instead to Nobel. ''"You should have s-stayed home, safe in that l-little lab of yours. Instead, y-you decided to challenge me?" ''

Smiler drew his signature knife - Occam's Razor - and pretended to slit his own throat with it. "Once I've finished with y-you, I'll be sure to pay that pitiful wife of yours a visit. D-don't worry, though - I'll m-make sure she dies 'smiling!" '