Trigger: POV
I glanced at my left… then to my right, Malkuth and Yesod were at my sides. Work hours ended… weirdly calm, and that just added to my anxiety.
Of all things that I expected after work, this was not one of them, "So… can I help you?" Both glanced at each other, then back at me.
"We are going to attempt removing Yang from you." Spoke Yesod flatly.
I perked up at that and took the magatama hanging on my neck in my palm, "Suit yourself, not like I can say no." Even if I could tell, this thing did NOT want to separate from me.
Malkuth hummed which sounded… weirdly annoyed, "Yes, by having Gebura cut it from you. Genius plan, really." I froze for a moment.
More out of shock rather than fear, I stared at Yesod for a couple of seconds before finally speaking again, "This is… a very up front attempt at my life." That takes balls.
Yesod grunted, "It is not, despite what it looks like. I believe she has the best… cutting power in the facility, we are simply putting it to use." The way he spoke made it sound like he wasn't trying to put me in the forever box.
Which I took with a grain of salt, "Sure…"
Malkuth coughed into her metallic fist, "There is no WE in YOU, just making that clear." At least she has my back.
Not sure HOW she'll handle Gebura 'the murder tin can' but at least she is here.
"Besides that… since you failed to take into account Trigger and Gebura having bad blood, I had to resort to… drastic measures." Malkuth said, sounding both angry and uncertain.
"I suppose that would be my cue."
A smile formed on my face, I turned around to see Binah standing there.
"Never took you for a person that liked dramatics." My comment got a low hum out of her.
"I prefer the word… theatrics." Binah's words made me smile more, always has to speak ominously…
Yesod seemed to flinch at her presence, while Malkuth was just… uncomfortable.
Yeah, Binah can be a little off-putting, but she is nothing out of the ordinary.
Which reminds me, "Sorry, didn't have a chance to ask Angela about your issue. I did find the black tea, though." When I said that, Binah seemed to be happy for a small moment.
Which was quickly buried in the murkiness that surrounds her emotional spectrum, "Thank you kindly." Answered Binah, with what seemed like amusement… I glanced at Malkuth and Yesod, their stares were centered on me.
Moving on from that… "So you are here to make sure Gebura doesn't look at me like I'm a piece of meat that has to be cut?" Binah gave a slow nod at my words.
I offered my hand to her which she took, "Thanks for that, I really don't want to… well repeat what happened last time."
Binah's emotions made her seem excited, which is probably not a good sign, "Interesting, I came here expecting a rehearsal." I rolled my eyes and gave her a light punch on her… corner? Shoulder? Same thing really.
"Of course you would, even if you act all calm, there is always something that gets you going. I didn't think you'd be a battle hungry person." I heard the gasps of horror behind me. Huh… wonder what's that all about.
Binah glanced at the spot I hit… before doing one of her 'fufufu' laughs. It was quiet and tranquil, but she was amused nonetheless, "We all have different sides to ourselves, no person is one dimensional."
"What about Gonzales?" I asked suddenly.
Binah paused, "Simple doesn't mean one dimensional." She said after a moment of thinking it through.
Nodding a couple of times, I rubbed my chin with my fingers, "True, simple is sometimes better… I'm kind of surprised you even know who Gonzales is." She gave a small awkward nod.
"I wouldn't shirk my duties. Knowing who I may lead in the future is a simple task, and one I wouldn't ignore." She said monotonously… but it kinda sounded curious and respectful, well to me.
"More people could use that attitude." I say with a small smile.
Malkuth finally decided to speak, "It's so much more terrifying to see it in person." She sounded… traumatized.
"This is… bizarre." Nervously... pointed out Yesod?
I looked at both of them with narrowed eyes, "What are you two talking about?" At my question, both remained silent.
"You could say they know of what I did, and are not particularly willing to forget it." Ominous words Binah… but knowing she is an Arbiter, my only guess was that at the very least, she had a hand in the deaths of some people here.
It wasn't hard to put together, really. Binah is or rather was a super cop from The City, which just sounded like hell on earth. The fact she was here… well that means at some point, a law of some kind was broken.
Considering she is a box now, I can safely assume she didn't survive doing her job. Malkuth also mentioned Gebura was their protector before it all went downhill, which would mean Gebura and Binah fought in life.
Which would explain the attitude both Gebura and the others have towards Binah. This was just me assuming things, of course.
I put a hand on top of Binah's box body, "I doubt you are happy about your current predicament too."
It was hard to ignore the growing horror on Yesod's and Malkuth's bodies. Binah gently moved my hand away from her.
"It is a bit annoying." She answered truthfully.
"Right… let's move on, before I lose my mind." Commented Malkuth awkwardly, her hand tightly gripping her pen.
Yesod nodded stiffly, "That would be for the better. Let's meet Gebura before she loses her rather thin patience."
"Don't you mean, nonexistent patience?" I quipped with a hand on my hip.
Yesod grunted and started moving, making me roll my eyes and follow him. Malkuth moving next to me, while Binah followed close behind.
May as well walk and talk, "So since we are people in the known here, I'm going to assume that Binah may have… killed some of you." Wow, I choose the WORST possible option.
Yesod didn't stop, but his steps were definitely louder, while Malkuth was throwing me an incredulous stare.
I was more focused on the amusement Binah was dripping. Honestly, this whole thing… left me confused.
Should I be angry at Binah? I wasn't sure… at least I know to NOT be happy about it. Even if it was somewhat easy to put together, it was also something I never really thought about until now.
"Would it change anything?" I wasn't sure what Binah meant by that.
But I did have a good idea, "To be honest? Probably not." Something about Binah just rubbed me the right way.
What's also not right is to sweep it under the rug… Yesod's steps were still loud, his emotions were a ball of anxiety.
Not that Malkuth fared much better. She crushed her pen in her metallic hands, clearly just as volatile as Yesod was.
I coughed on my fist, "You know, if there is something to be said... better do it now." We reached the elevator, which Yesod opened, making us all go in.
This was a terrible idea… the elevator moved down, and the atmosphere was similar to that of a graveyard.
"Why?" I threw one look at Yesod, interesting question.
Binah didn't even glance at him, "He took most of my mind to make the company what it is today. Judging from what I could remember, it was simply my job to do so."
"What do you remember?" Asked Malkuth, her tone sharp and direct.
Binah didn't try to even glance in her direction, "A murky lake filled with too much trash, it is hard to find something worthwhile."
Malkuth seemingly blinked at what she heard, "What about Gebura?"
I saw a small shine on Binah's eyes, "She was worth my respect."
Was...? I'd like to meet her when she isn't angry, see what Binah finds so respectful about her.
Yesod sighed, "I suppose… he needed to take the knowledge to become a Wing from somewhere." He, weirdly enough, didn't seem happy with his own words.
"And a whole war too…" Grumbled Malkuth, I could feel her anger, a feeling she didn't often show.
Binah set her sight on me, and her amusement increased, "What would you think of me if I told you the details I remember?" Wow… way to put me in the spotlight.
Grumbling at her, I rubbed the bridge of my nose before answering, "I think… we'll find out when you tell me, but I trust myself to not judge you over it." Yesod glared at me, or I think he did.
Malkuth for her part could only say one thing, "Of course you wouldn't…" Almost like she expected my answer.
Binah was no longer amused but intrigued, "Interesting, then when we have that cup of tea I'll reveal that tale to you." The elevator stopped, and we walked out into a… mostly red department.
"Gotta ask, do all Departments need like a theme? Or is it just an aesthetic choice?" All the Sephirah looked at me, Yesod and Malkuth exchanged unsure looks while Binah hummed.
Binah answered first, "All Departments were build with the respective Sephirah that will command it in mind."
I looked around the red and rough surroundings of this floor.
"Plausible enough." With a shrug, I decided to accept the answer given to me… oh, I recognize these emotions…
"What exactly are you trying to say?"
Looking at the end of the hallway, I saw Gebura. A giant flesh blade held on her… corners, and irritation dripping from her.
Before I could be a snarky smart ass, Malkuth spoke, "Nothing that matters right now, Yesod must have told you why we are here for." She grabbed Yang, who was hanging from my neck, and pointed at it.
Gebura glanced at Yesod before nodding, "Yeah, yeah… can't really ignore it." The grip on her sword tightened before looking at Binah.
I have the impression Binah would be smugly smiling at Gebura, "What is she doing here?" That was a surprisingly animalistic growl.
"Malkuth brought her along… seeing as you and Trigger have issues with one another, she took actions to prevent a fight from breaking out." Explained Yesod, who seemed to try his best to not flinch at Binah's stare.
Malkuth giggled… which also sounded very hollow, "Someone had to cover our bases. Unlike you, I came prepared for the worst." I had to hide my surprise but… I think Gebura felt that one.
Did I see her flinch...? Huh, her emotions went haywire for a moment.
"Never would have thought our positions would switch like this." Binah said with a perfect mix of disappointment and mirth.
Gebura was now… dangerously close to me, "Extend that dumb thing on your neck already." Please don't sound so eager to swing your sword in my direction...
Yesod sighed and glanced at Binah, "Perhaps you could use one of your many… items to make it safer for him." Huh, guess he wasn't lying when he said that this wasn't an attempt on my life.
Binah nodded and I heard a loud… clank? It was something close to it, almost like a lock being closed. Malkuth removed her hand from Yang, and it was… just floating there, like it was suspended on air. I moved my head back, the string rope strained, but Yang stood there.
… I leaned back and let my weight strain it, "Huh, that is a neat power." I gave Binah a nod.
Gebura rose her sword up in the air, did it just get bigger?
HOLY SH-
A loud snap was heard and Gebura's sword buried on the floor. I was grabbing the string rope of Yang with both hands, preventing myself from being choked to death.
Not sure WHAT this little pendant did, but it broke free from whatever Binah did and just flew in the air, dodging the sword slash.
Now, the scary thing is that by doing that, I almost got cut in fucking half. Wait, am I falling?
Before I could land on my ass, I managed to move my feet to make an awkward landing. Ah shit, I hit my little finger with the floor… fuck… it doesn't hurt that much… but it's very uncomfortable.
Coughing in my fist, I looked at everyone. Binah didn't seem surprised by the outcome, Malkuth radiated this 'Yeah sure' energy around her, Yesod was exasperated and Gebura was just… glaring at me.
"I… think we can call this a failure…" I said slowly, but Gebura raised her weapon again, making me take a step back and mentally prepare to call one of my weapons if things get ugly.
"Not a failure until I hit it." She stated strongly, making me throw a side glance at Malkuth and Binah.
Malkuth sighed and put herself between me and Gebura, "Or him. If Yang decides to do that again, I'm calling this a failure and prohibiting you from trying it again."
Gebura took a step forward, "You can't just-" She started before Yesod put a hand on her arm.
"You know she can." He answered calmly, telling her to drop it. She growled before… taking a deep breath? Okay.
Gebura left shortly after, not before glancing at Malkuth, "You better know what you are doing." Well, that was ominous.
Yesod sighed, "Seems like we will have to let you keep it…" And now he is leaving too, motherfu-
Malkuth huffed, "I have to fill Angela on this… are you two coming with me?" At her question, I glanced at Binah.
"There are many things that I must do. Attend to the one's under is among them." And now she is walking away…
"Oh right, I'll try to let Angela let you feel things again!" I called out to her, she didn't stop but considering I felt a small spark of joy, I'll say she heard me.
Alright now to talk with… I stopped when I felt something- someone familiar to me. Benjamin was moving through the floor above me… that's Training.
… Time to pay him a visit then, "Sorry Malkuth, gotta take care of something first." I said with a slight smile.
"Don't worry about it, we all have things to do. Later, Trigger!" She ran ahead, making me smile at her attitude…
Said smile quickly vanished, time to put my worries to rest.