[Idols V★S The Dark Side!!] ...or something like that. (Azure/Intro}

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Soft footsteps echoed on the stone cliffs, the wind their only accompaniment. Two pairs of perfect, idealized feet, padding on the harsh rock while clothed in designer boots – only the highest of brands. The guild was difficult to find, they had said, and they hadn’t lied. The girl adjusted her mask and hat, the veil slipping slightly with the movement of her hand as she ensured that her face couldn’t be seen. Even without such tools, none would recognize her anyhow. The features that arranged themselves on her face were created to be as plain as could possibly be – unless one were to have the ability to peer into the past, her identity was impossible to locate in any sea of memories. The veil was but a precaution, but a necessary one, if she were to believe the rumors of those who resided here.

Peering around the cliff face, she searched for any way to enter the desolate and stony fortress. A hand would move up, drawing tight around the lush red scarf wound about her neck. It was a comfort in more ways than one, out here in this dark, empty land. Glancing over at her brother, the girl frowned. “Hurry up, won’t you? This isn’t the time to be lagging behind.”

Aoba nodded back at his sister, shuffling forward so he was level with her. “Well, have you found any other entrance yet?”

Aoi frowned, then sighed as she glowered at the fortress. “Nope.”

“Well, you do realize that all your problems would be solved if you just… I dunno, knocked on the door maybe?” Aoba scratched the back of his head, looking at the very imposing entrance. He knew very well that his sister never did anything the easy way – probably due to all those dramas she had taken part in. “If you’re scared of being killed upon entrance, we could always send Maino or someone out in front of us.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.” Aoi blew a strand of hair away from her face, the gust of air causing her veil to flutter as well. She disapproved of how uncovered her brother’s own image was, his feature rearrangement the only attempt at disguise, but he had always operated differently than her. “They said it would be hard to get in. Doesn’t that mean we have to complete some daring challenge or something? Something harder than knocking on a door, at least.”

It was rare that Aoba suggested the obvious solution – Aoi was the more impulsive one out of the two, but this was something totally in her character as well. She was extremely dramatic, and seemed to see the whole thing as some sort of fantasy plot instead of something very serious and very much real-life. “Come on, we have to hurry up. Managers want us back by ten. We’re getting our schedules tonight, too.”

“Alright, alright.” Sighing, Aoi scrambled to the imposing door, rapping her knuckles solidly against the Basilisk Fang door. “Hello? Anyone there?”

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Snow drizzled down from a dark overcast of grey clouds onto the rigid Mt. Hakobe, a wasteland of workers and Basilisks. There was little life on the mountain, and even littler in the living. Both the mountain and the townspeople had lived day by day on a schedule; snow at sunrise, mine till sunset, storm till daybreak, and sleep when the last shipment of the day had been made. It was a dull and terribly ordinary lifestyle and way of being for both entities, and despite it being so, neither would let anything disturb its routine. Those who were not strong enough to climb the mountain perished underneath its icy, callous fangs. Others who held no business in the ice-mining settlements were shunned and given the other cheek.

Living the the Basilisk Fang fortress seemed more melancholy than ever before for the growing boy, Ahote. The recent betrayal of Sol and his associates, his even more recent murders and his newly found position within the guild. Although under usual circumstances, such responsibilities would be considered an honor, a title worth wearing, but to the boy, no more than a burden he must now share. If there was any opportunity to have a normal life in society, it had vanished in the darkness of the fortress. Nothing but the guild mattered anymore, everything that did matter was in the guild.

Weary footsteps tapped on the stone flooring as he made way through the corridors and into the tavern of the fortress, which had been so closely placed by the large, worn stone doors that acted as the main entrance to the structure for as long as he could remember. Although a world beyond the mountain was so close to him, he held no desire to leave. Nothing but glum thoughts consumed his mind. He wore a thick, black hoodie with grey sweatpants. His appearance seemed as gloomy as the atmosphere surrounding him. He showed no concern.

What began as small interest in a meal then seemed to twist into something greater, a sight that provoked the boy's inquisitive spirit. A pair of what seemed to be two wanderers, and the acquainted Apollo who greeted them lazily. Ahote paused, figuring that they had interests in joining. He sighed, taking his fleshed hand and running it down his face drearily before making way over to the group with a smile.

"Apollo." he stopped and raised a hand in greeting, the simper cracking his lips underneath topaz hues before turning to the pair, "Takes guts to wander into the snakes' den so casually. What brings you two here?" he queried, eyes sharpening into a soft glare and smile morphing into an uninterested frown.

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“Oh. It opened.”

Aoba watched as his sister’s jaw dropped open in a ridiculously scripted movement, looking as if in the middle of a movie shooting. A complete embarrassment in the body of a model – that was Aoi Itou for you. It wasn’t entirely her fault, of course. It was difficult for them to jerk out of the personalities that had been impressed upon them since arrival in Earthland, after all.

The man who stood before them looked surprisingly normal for what he’d heard about dark guilds in general – terrifying creatures with thousands of claws and tentacles – but he supposed it was more realistic for it to be this way. However, the condescending nature with which he addressed them did fit right in with the stereotype. Ignoring Aoi’s slightly angered little huff beside him, he began to walk in, his sister joining only a beat later. While the decision may have seemed impulsive, Aoba’s hand was already wrapping itself around the red scarf on his neck – one that matched his sister’s. If all went to shit, well, at least there was that.

Upon entrance, the twins could hear the footsteps of another figure tapping down the dreary hall. Dressed in gloomy and depressing colors, the child glared harshly at them with an expression that seemed far too dark for a normal person of his age. “What brings you two here?”

It was a question the duo had obviously expected, marching casually like this into a dark guild, but an easy answer didn’t exactly come to mind instantly. Being creatures that were physically and spiritually incapable of utilizing magic, and creatures that feasted on mages for their power, there was no way for them to learn from a normal mentor without raising suspicion. Instead, Akano, the spirit through whom they could exercise power had suggested they join a guild. Seeing as no legal guild or independent guild would necessarily be supportive of their needs, there was little other option than to approach the darker side of things. It wasn’t really something that could be easily conveyed on your first occasion meeting said dark mages though, and Aoba was acutely aware of the fact.

“We’re here to join the guild, of course!” Aoi, naturally, would pipe up in her usual chipper voice, crossing her arms. “At least, that’s what we were told this was. Doesn’t look like much from here though, to be honest.”

They were really just about the least likely people to enter a dark guild though, when Aoba thought about it. Two teenage idols with absolutely not even the faintest trace of magic around them. He was regretting this already.

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Ahote would eyeball the two new companies, who were both similar in size but not in attitude, as the girl had been more talkative and the other much less. It had been nearly obvious that the pair had been young in age, and though looks could be more than deceiving in a land of magic, Ahote took their appearances at face value and felt himself relax in the presence of his apparent peer group.

At the mention of their purpose, Ahote couldn't help but notice how well he expected their answer. Most days, people came and went from Basilisk Fang, and nothing else. The work in which Famine would pride herself in stayed with her and her alone, nothing ever seeming to change the environment around him. Her tales and his reality often clashed and left him feeling nearly perturbed. His countenance twisted into something wearier than before as cold, metal digits ran through his raven locks, lips parting to release a heavy sigh, "Well, it's what we have. Looks more a prison than a guild, doesn't it?" Ahote jested, his lips quirking up though no laughter filling the silence, for it was not far from the truth. Just a floor or two beneath the stone flooring they stood upon were the iconic dungeons that many would rot in and few would exit. Knowing this, the difficulty in shedding light to this dreadful reality weighed on his chest.

Quickly, his quirked lips disappeared and his usual solemnity returned. Ahote would cross his arms over his chest and tilt his head with droopy eyes, "Well, to begin, what are your names?" he queried with a soft, silvery voice. After observing these procedures from his parents so often, the routine recruitment came naturally to him, though he held no interest in it.  

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There was something very off about this child who had greeted them, his melancholy demeanor and depressed air seeming far too mature for his age. Suppressing the chill that ran down her spine at his dry words, she marveled at how even what was perceived to be a jest could sound so dark and foreboding coming from his mouth. Dark mages really were on a whole ‘nother level of creepy, right? Casting a quick glance to her brother, she could already read the doubts that crisscrossed his mind, his very expression flickering ever so slightly. Although it wasn’t his most advertised skill, Aoi knew that her brother was just as exceptional an actor as she was. Even for someone like her, who had known him all her life, was surprised that even a situation such as this one could cause him to break that image even the slightest bit.

“This kid’s kinda creepy, isn’t he?” The message was passed through the threads that linked the siblings’ minds, pushing the message into Aoba’s head.

“Shh, Aoi, we have to be careful. These are mages, not CEOs and managers.” Aoba’s response was as boring as expected. Sure, there were mages here, but she doubted they could read minds, right? And even if they could, surely they had to be tough enough to take a little jab every now and then.

“Well, to begin, what are your names?” The boy’s voice dropped back down into a solemn tone, the timbre soft and almost seductive in really the weirdest of ways. He seemed almost bored, arms crossed over his chest and eyes drooping sleepily. It was an answer that came easily to them, one that wasn’t exactly correct, but not untrue either.

“I’m Yuno, and my brother is Rino Akaito. We’re both, um, sixteen years old!” It was behavior that was to be expected of someone like Aoi, easily giving up precious information. While she was smart not to give away their celebrity status, the addition of their age was utterly unnecessary to Aoba. Giving her a mental shove, they both awaited the kid’s next inquiry.

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Ahote had almost found their cheerfulness alien, as the atmosphere in this guild was tremendously gloomy with little room for jest and jolliness. Still, it was relieving to have such bright hearts in such a dark place every once and a while, even though it would soon fade.

The threads of his raven hair fell to his droopy, topaz eyes, which flickered with a sudden interest at the reveal of their ages. Having others within his peer group so nearby was just wishful thinking up until now, and found himself even more curious as to why they'd join a guild of this nature. So, the boy's lips would twist into a weak smile, eyes narrowing inquisitively, "I see. My name's Ahote, the son of the woman who runs the place. Well, now that we have introduced ourselves. . ." Ahote paused, ambling over to the pair and leaning down on the girl, Yuno, his smirk twisting into a frown and brows snapping together, "you do know where you are and what you're asking to join, don't you? Do you know what this means?" he would query, his hues drifting from her countenance to her neck, then to her chest and belly. "I'd hate for ignorant men and women to join willy-nilly." he smiled brightly again, far too brightly.

Ahote had never liked changed, whether it be good or bad. Too many people he had grown a liking to had left him, and those he had abhorred never seemed to leave. In just seeing the lighthearted Yuno and and Rino filled him with envy and anger. How could someone ever be so bright? Ahote would never seem to know this. But, while they were here, he felt himself passionate in making them work hard for their cause. Famine's cause. Basilisk Fang's cause.

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Almost instantly, Aoba could see the boy’s eyes narrowing, obvious skepticism as to why people like them would be walking into a dark guild before they curved up again in a weak imitation of a smile. Introducing himself as the son of the guild master, the idol nodded in understanding. It did make sense now, why he seemed so disturbingly mature yet depressed for his age. Living in this place all his life… Aoba suspected his personality would shift as well. Ahote would begin to amble on over, and the summoner stiffened at his movements. Despite the younger boy’s unassuming appearance, he could feel Akano sending statistics through his mind as well. Although he was unable to sense magical signatures, the tsukumogami picked up that Ahote was most certainly more powerful than the twins.

His expression instantly shifted, turning down into a frown and Aoba braced himself for whatever would come next. “You do know where you are and what you’re asking to join, don’t you?” Aoba took a moment to roll the words through his mind, opening the channel of communication between him, Aoi, and Akano. The kid seemed to be scanning Aoi up and down in an almost predatory gaze now, and Aoba instinctively shivered. Aoi seemed uncomfortable as well, and slipped a silent question into Aoba’s mind. Taking over the situation, he would address the boy with a cold tone, managing to finally shift his mindset over. It was always a struggle, overcoming the embellishments to his personality. “Yes, we understand perfectly well what we are getting into. I highly doubt our methods of work and survival would be exactly appreciated by any legal or independent guild, and we understand the consequences with what we affiliate ourselves with by joining.”

Whatever brightness Ahote had so enviously observed would fade away from the twins for a moment, their expressions serious. “Of course, we would understand perfectly if you decided not to accept us, but we will do our best for Basilisk Fang in return for membership.”

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The raven haired youth had little experience in recruiting members for Basilisk Fang, in fact, only recruiting a few members beforehand. Though, never before had his chest felt so light and without weight in doing so. The worry of his absent mother had been vanquished by feelings of work and indifference, and the pressure he once put on himself to resemble that of Sol nearly nonexistent in the brief words he exchanged with the delightful Yuno and Rino.

Ahote's countenance loosened into a simper, his weary eyes refusing to smile in unison with his lips but flickered with awe, as if the pair in front of him were insects and he the curious boy who wished not to harm them, but not to leave them be. Their sudden shift from what seemed to be a usual liveliness had transformed into something far more determined. With this, he made long strides over to the boy, where he would lay is left's metal digits on his thinner shoulder, "Is that so?" said Ahote, who spoke in a nearly hushed voice. His eyes would narrow again and lips would screw back into a frown, "But unfortunately, your best isn't enough, and won't ever be enough." he began to squeeze his shoulder, lips inching closer to his ear, "You must push past your limits, break yourself, and rebuild yourself better than before if you ever hope of having a chance here. But fear not, we will assist you through the entire procedure." Ahote would finish, releasing his grip from his shoulder, his gaze fixed on the boy of similar stature.

The boy had recalled the nearly belittling experience he had here at the guild. Thoughts of never amounting to anything, weakness, and hopes of a future that would never come had reached their pinnacle. But he felt himself twisting such negativity into empowerment and encouragement to do better than the previous authorities had done with him.

His absent smile had returned, and a warmth had flickered in his topaz hues, "But more importantly, what can the two of you offer Basilisk Fang?" he queried, a question almost like tradition to as of new members. He didn't particularly care or held any interest in their response, but found it almost compelling to ask.

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The boy’s expression was strange, the way he peered at the twins with some form of delight across his face, one that felt almost predatory, looking down upon them as if they were simply passing interests that would be forgotten in a second. Stiffening as he moved, Aoi’s hand gripped her scarf more tightly as his footsteps approached them, a harsh smile painting his lips. Luckily for her, however, the child moved past and gripped her brother’s shoulder instead, drawing closer to his face with each movement. “Is that so?” His voice once again took on that unnervingly seductive tone, sending shivers down the girl’s back. Was this something that was supposedly normal in dark mages? The fact that Ahote was only twelve years old certainly didn’t help, but all that fear vanished in an instant when she heard her brother’s thoughts slipping into her mind. “Aoi…this guy’s grip is really strong.” Sparing the boy’s hand a glance, Aoi narrowed her eyes at the amount of pressure she could see he was applying. Barely even listening to what Ahote was saying, red anger filled her vision, and the scarf at her fingertips would shift slightly, Akano growing uneasy with the sudden emotional pressure she received from her keepers.

Finally, the serpent released her brother’s shoulder, the girl letting out a soft breath of relief. Her emotions would undergo an instant shift, returning to default. Ahote’s blank smile returned then, eyes going dull with that depressed aura he radiated earlier. “What can the two of you offer Basilisk Fang?” He spoke the words in a bored tone, void of interest, but the idols knew better than anyone that such a tone could easily be manufactured with a diverting of the eyes and a displacement of where the words would be produced in the throat. Exchanging a glance with her brother and briefly touching consciousness with Akano, the girl would respond this time.

“Well, we’re mages, of course. Not very powerful mages, but as you suggested, we can definitely improve. And, ummm… We’re great for espionage, I guess!” Even as her voice radiated her normal cheery tone, the girl’s face was rearranging itself under the veil she wore, tendrils of flesh and color weaving in and out to form a new canvas. Lifting the sheer cloth, Aoi would reveal a completely blank and flat face, void of any details besides her mouth, which continued to curve sweetly up in a smile. “We have lots of acting experience, no magical signature, and no one would ever know who we are, ehe~”

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Ahote turned to face Aoi, the more cheerful of the two, and simpered softly in return to her surprisingly cheerless smile. At first, their response was insignificant and much like every other recruit's response, though clearly less exaggerated. As they talked on, the raven haired youth felt his interest, what little of it remained, seep away from him like a syringe extracting something. While he did find the pair interesting, he couldn't bring himself to put forth any sort of curiosity than what he had already. That was, until her lips would utter something he hadn't heard anywhere but in his own thoughts and books.

Ahote's simper twisted into a grin, softly clapping his hands together just once,
"Espionage, you say? That's something, for sure. I wasn't expecting people with those kind of abilities." he chuckled, patting Aoi's back playfully, his force much gentler than before. He hadn't thought of using espionage before, or being in scenarios that would require such a skill set in the first place. But it certainly did bring something new to the table, and the boy could appreciate a breath of fresh air. "Well, that's all we need from you two before we can get on with this thing. Or do either of you have anything else to say?" he queried with narrowing topaz hues. Though, he wasn't expecting much more from the pair.

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To the twins’ great relief, Ahote would turn his lips up into a grin, seemingly satisfied with Aoi’s response. As much as he hated it, Aoba had to admit that his sister had done something right this time. The boy would pat Aoi on the back, a gesture that didn’t fit his formerly grave demeanor, his expression turning into something almost…happy? It unnerved Aoba, the sudden change in attitude, but he would just have to accept it. Stepping back again, the Basilisk would ask them whether they had anything else to say, and Aoba hurriedly shook his head. He didn’t want to get any deeper into this mess than they already had – they had fulfilled their mission, and now he just wanted to get the hell out of here.

“Well, we won’t be living here with the rest of the guild, unfortunately.” Aoi spoke up before he could stop her though, her face having returned to the plain expression she had worn before. “We do have to attend school in the capitol, but we’ll be available via lacrima if you ever need us! We’ll try to visit often, too.” It was not a good thing to say, and Aoba was already mentally throwing jabs at Aoi. “No, no, no! How the heck are we supposed to explain what we’re doing to our managers? They get suspicious enough when we go out to feed, and you know the freaking gossip columns’ professional stalkers always have their eyes on us! It’s hard enough to even visit here once!”

“Well, do you expect to be a professional mage without actually doing what a professional mage does?” retorted Aoi, her mental presence tinged with mild frustration, “Grow up, little brother. You’re acting more immature than me for once.”

“Well, anyhow, we do have to leave now – we’re going to be late for an upcoming event. You know where to find us…” Dipping his head at the younger youth, Aoba practically dragged his sister out the fortress, staring down in dismay at his iLac. “Aoi, seriously? The schedule says we have to meet up with the managers in five minutes!” With that, they would conclude their initiation into the dark guild.

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