War of the Thorns, Part 1 [Social][Adelina]

Shinagawa. The closest thing to a safe haven for ghouls. At least one would think so. Unfortunately there were two factors that made this statement fallacious. The close presence of both the CCG and Aogiri Tree. Adelina knew the CCG well. They were the enemies of ghouls after all. Their close proximity in Minato made occasional incursions an expectancy. Yet Adelina recognized that Aogiri was not without flaw either. It's why she tried to establish a presence in the 19th Ward in an attempt to stay away from all the fighting. Sure ot increased her run ins with members of the CCG due to her eating habits, but at least she could enjoy her time. 

The ghoul would be dressed in a black hooded jacket that covered the top of her honey blonde hair and settled at the back of her kneecaps. The sleeves settled around her wrists as her nails were painted a mountain purple. The edge of the jacket seemed to have white-colored runes on them. Beneath the jacket, Adelina wore a pair of black leggings with a solid cloth top that did not show too much skin. The brown boots she wore almost rose up to her upper thigh as numerous leather straps in various diamond shapes decorated them. Finally Adelina had two pieces of accessories on.

The first of the two was a pentagram necklace of which she had many different types. Each day she would pick a different one of her collection to not be seen with the same necklace back to back. The second of the two was a mask. Starting at the base of her neck and slowly creeping up past her nose, about half of Adelina's face was covered with the decorum of a skeleton printed onto it. Sure she was in Aogiri territory, but she still liked to have a certain degree of anonymity. It was this desire to remain anonymous that kept her alive all this time. She accepted that to fade into obscurity would allow her to feed freely or at least without much difficulty. 

As Adelina walked through the streets, her brown eyes scanned the perimeter of her heightened vision. The streets did not nearly have the same level of volume as her home residence in the 19th Ward. After all, the 19th was neutral territory. Fair game to both Ghouls and Humans alike. This was Aogiri territory. CCG would likely be swarmed and devoured alive if they came in here guns blazing. Residents of this ward at least had houses and roofs to protect them. The CCG had no such luxury here. This was admittedly the appeal most of the time. There was the other 15ish percent when the CCG decided to try and reclaim the territory.

During that time it was an utter warzone. The streets were littered with bodies. Houses were destroyed. Families torn apart. It was utter chaos. Thankfully Aogiri was able to drive the CCG back and maintain their territory. Of the few groups she saw strolling around, she had to wonder how many were ghouls. How many were humans? It had been a few days since she met that Investigator in the 19th Ward. A few weeks since she fed. She bit her lip under her mask, deciding to bide her time and simply wander the streets. Perhaps an opportunity would present itself later.

Traveling through the depths of Shinagawa, Adelina saw much that she expected. Houses still in the process of being rebuilt. The homeless sitting in alleyways, defeated. The occasional ghoul feeding on the men and women of the Ward. Being in the territory of Aogiri typically made Ghouls far bolder. More willing to slaughter and feed in broad daylight. Adelina had to admit that while understandable she personally would never hunt in broad daylight. To her feeding was almost akin to a ritual. An intimate one that could only be shared between her victim and herself.

One the Ghouls, knee deep in the corpse of what appeared to be a teenager not older than 13 years of age, looked up at her as she was staring. Adelina could see that his eyes presented with the kakugan normal for Ghouls. Even if he was not presently devouring this poor soul it would not be very difficult for Adelina to tell that he had recently fed. Either that or he had just finished using his Kagune. As she was not moving, she could hear a slight snarl emerge from his lips. He seemed disturbed by her presence as Adelina continued to look at him. She proceeded to listen to him bark at her.

"What are you looking at bitch?! Never seen a Ghoul before?" Adelina watched as she noticed small bubbling under his clothing. She watched as two tendrils emerged from the back of his waist. Two tendrils that were more akin to lashes that were tipped with sharpened daggers. She smirked at him as she gave her own retort. "Of course I have. I will say this is no way to talk to a lady. Did your parents never teach you manners young man?" She hissed herself with vitriol as her own eyes lit up with a kakugan. Both of her sclera became pitch black as her shifted to a scarlet red.

Veins began to enlarge around her eyes as she continued to hiss. Her voice was smooth yet there was something underneath it. Disgust. "Of course I may have to each you manners darling~" She smirked as she chuckled for a moment. "Though that will end in my discarding of your corpse. You aren't even worth enough for me to feast on. Would you still like to pursue this~" She licked her lips as she placed her hand on her hip. There was a certain intimidation that emanated from her form. She could sense it from this Ghoul. Something within him. The mystery of her capabilities caused him to look down. "Just go..." 

Her lips carried a smirk as she sauntered down the side of the road. She was very pleased with herself for the moment. She had successfully intimidated a Ghoul with simple threats and her presence alone. Though she had to admit. There was something rather appealing behind the idea of getting to have her intimate moment with him despite being a disgusting example of vermin. She sighed as alas she did not come here for that. Instead there would be an opportunity here. One that would take precedence. She needed to first reach the meeting place, however.

After ten or so minutes of travel, Adelina found herself deep within the territory of the 9th Ward. Soon she would see two peculiar figures. One was clad in a dark cloak while the other was dressed in a form-fitting outfit that simply clung to her curves. Adelina smirked as she licked her lips, looking at Setsuko. It seems that this is where she needed to be. The meeting for prospective members of Aogiri. As slowly began to approach as the woman manifested a Kagune from her shoulder. Soon Adelina would look upon a shield that formed along her limb. 

She would grin a little. She knew Kagune well and could easily identify it as a Koukaku. A largely defensive type that left much to be desired in agility. It was the counterpart to her own. She felt some attention shift to her as the man, covered by his dark cloak, turned to her general direction. His voice was coarse and deep. "Well. It seems that one of the other ones has arrived." A deep chuckle could be heard from him for a moment. "You have a desire to join the Tree as well?" The Ghoul continued to stare in her general direction as Adelina tilted from side to side, giggling.

Her voice would be as sultry and smooth as usually. "Of course~" She licked her lips again under her mask as the Ghoul sneered. "Well. The other one has already explained herself. What do you bring to the table?" Adelina chuckled as her hand came above her eyes. She began to shift it in front of her eyes, covering them for a moment. By the time that her eyes had been revealed once more, her sclera had turned as black as the night while her iris turned a scarlet red. A slight bubbling could be heard from beneath her top as it soon expanded, the sound growing louder.

Like the sound of crackling electricity, two large wings began to form on Adelina's mask. Growing past her head and sinking down to to her ankles. The Kagune pulsed a pure yellow color as purple tendrils and highlights adorned the center and edges of the Kagune. Adelina spoke with a step in her voice. "Well I like to think that I have a way with words~" She looked at Setsuko for a moment, winking and looking her up and down before continuing. "I have an affinity for electricity, my very body adapting to its energy as my Kagune conducts it. I am rather agile and have the benefit of range due to my Kagune. I also like to think they are quite fashionable~" She chuckled and placed her hand upon her hips, showing off some of her curves primarily to Setsuko.

As the electricity crackled and discharged in small local bursts around Adelina's Kagune, she smiled briefly. It was refreshing in a way. To be in broad daylight and unleash the full capacity of her Kagune. She could finally spread her wings. The static electricity briefly flowed through her body in a small burst, filling her with bountiful energy as she stood next to Setsuko, hopping up and down gracefully. She needed to make a good first impression after all. Aogiri was a major organization, the natural counterpart to the human's CCG. It was only natural that they were selective in their new recruits.

Though her desire to join Aogiri Tree was her true purpose for coming here, she would not focus on the recruiter for now. Instead her gaze fell upon Setsuko who was occupying her attention for now. She smirked under her mask as she heard Setsuko speak. "You're quite the Ghoul," Adelina gave Setsuko another wink as her eyes met hers. Immediately the ghoul was intrigued. she spoke with some degree of amazement. "Only one eye.." She smiled as she began to approach Setsuko closer very leisurely and with largely non-aggressive movements. She was merely approaching.

Her eyes focused upon Setsuko as she began to verbally tease this Half-Ghoul. Her voice was sultry and utterly promiscuous. "Well aren't you just a fountain of compliments~" As she began to trail around Setsuko, walking around her in a circle, her Kagune would harmlessly crackle. There was no discharge, merely the sound of electricity static. It was almost as if a predator were analyzing her prey. Studying it. Sizing it up. Though there was some admiration to it. If Setsuko's eyes descended upon Adelina, she would likely see the Ghoul checking her out from head to toe. 

Finally Adelina heard the Half-Ghoul probe her. "Certainly an interesting little set of tricks you've got there. Question is, like, how effective are they in a fight? You don't mind if I ask your name, yeah?" A light yet chilling cackle erupted from Adelina's lips as she finished her circling, arriving where she had originally started. Across from the recruiter and next to Setsuko. She spoke with interest. "Oh dearest. I would be remiss if I didn't say that you are quite the treat yourself~" Adelina loved what she was rather adept it. She ways to get into others' heads. Clever ways to get under the skin of others.

"As for my combat abilities, well.." She chuckled and licked her lips briefly. "Any good student of a craft knows that there is much to learn. For now let us just say that I am competent. Though I will say that I was able to hold my own and defeat an Investigator in combat recently~" It was as Setsuko asked for Adelina's name that she bit her lip, smirking. Oh this one was proving to be all that she hoped for and more. She leaned forward, her crimson iris focused up Setsuko's. "My name will be revealed soon enough. Though if you would like to know it, I'd certainly be willing to share it over a lovely dinner with you~" She giggled for a moment and winked once more as she turned to the recruiter once more before giving her own probing question. "Though I do have to admit. A Half-Ghoul among us. What a rare honor indeed~"

To say that Adelina was playing with her food would be the biggest understatement of the century. She was a ghoul. A wolf among sheep. Unlike some who were too afraid to bask in the glory of their own ability, Adelina relished it. She was nourished by it. Even a few moments with the girl would reveal the obvious truth. She was a villain. Plain and simple. Unfortunately for Setsuko, she was going to be on the receiving end.

Before she continued toying with the poor girl, however, she had to set herself apart. This was, after all, a time to prove herself to Aogiri. What better way than to claim the defeat of an investigator, the age-old enemies of ghouls? Of course, she wasn't particularly specific about the ability of the investigator. That wasn't the point. This was all in an effort to make herself appear as a bigger monster than she actually was.

Naturally, this was a good start in asserting herself. A soft chuckle arose from the representative of Aogiri. "An investigator? Is that so?" Adelina gently nodded her head, a grin forming behind her mask. "Yep. They were a little young, but their fear was exquisite. Sometimes, that alone, is better than the meal." Just like that, Adelina continued to reveal her true colors. She was not some sympathetic beast that merely clawed at others to survive. She was a vicious and cruel woman. A sadist who took utmost pleasure in her victim's suffering.

Now, however, it was time to pounce on Setsuko's question. The girl asked for her name. Adelina was certainly going to have fun with this one. Like the teasing person she was, she toyed with the half ghoul a little. It would be obvious that the dinner invitation would be a bit of a double entendre. It would be a joy to see how Setsuko would react to this little insidious comment. 

"Please, the honor's mine. It's not often that I meet someone understanding the significance of my kind." Already this was getting interesting. In a single sentence, Setsuko had both captured Adelina's interest and her scorn. She was a tease, but she was also a predator. To have her quarry bite back. Ooo. This was enticing. "Huh... this girl really thinks she's better than me?" Almost as if having the ability to read her mind, Setsuko would answer her question. 

"That said, though; if you're looking to play hard-to-get like that, don't expect me to chase tail. Your name means not nearly that much to me as to even begin to consider the time someone like you values." For a solemn moment, Adelina stared at the girl. She was speechless. Then finally, a single word escaped the girl's lips. "Magnificent..." 

The yellow wings that sprouted from her back suddenly cracked violently. It wasn't enough to hurt anyone, but it would certainly make the small hairs of anyone nearby stick up. Her voice, initially filled with wonder, would change into something much darker. She slowly approached Setsuko. While her movements would be slow, there was an intent to them. Almost as if she were deciding whether to pounce on the Half ghoul. 

"Well now. It's been a long while since I've met someone with some bark." Her Kagune continued to crackle like a rising storm and her kakugan almost seemed to grow even darker with a more pronounced scarlet red. "I wonder though... can your bite match it? How much has your heritage diluted the ghoul inside?" She licked her lips as she attempted to tease out any emotion from the girl. Even more salivating was the fantasy of getting to dig into this half-ghouls' flesh. Would Aogiri allow this? That was yet to be seen. 

Constantly pushing and prodding Setsuko, Adelina was eagerly awaiting any response. How would the half-ghoul react? Would it be cowardice? Perhaps it'd ignite a fire within her? The suspense was practically murder. A deep breath later, Setsuko crossed her arms and finally spoke. "If you're looking to find out, keep fucking around n' we can make that happen, 'kay?" Adelina's eye would not move even an inch from the girl before her. 

Adelina was, or effectively saw herself as, the model ghoul. A brutal and vicious supremacist who did not shy away from even the slightest hint of violence. She saw her heritage as a gift. She was pure. Half-ghouls on the other hand were tainted. The smell of humans clung to them rather prominently. Some found it appealing or even interesting. Adelina was repulsed by it. Knowing this, one would likely expect the girl to be furious with Setsuko, but that couldn't be any further from the truth.

The ghoul paused for a moment, staring deeply into Setsuko's kakugan. Suddenly, a soft chuckle arose from her lips. It would soon evolve into laughter. Adelina gently rubbed her head and spoke out in a rather pleased tone. "Wonderful. I'm happy to see that your blood isn't as thin as I thought." Her mood would almost change entirely. The thunderous roars that emerged from her Kagune slowly began to die down to accompany it. 

"I'm definitely going to keep my eye on you~" Accompanying the pleased tone of her voice would be a hint of her flirty nature. With that, Adelina turned around to walk a paces away from Setsuko. After all, she was here for a singular reason. She'd turn towards the Aogiri representative, a hand resting upon her hip. "So then, you satisfied? Or do we have to some test to prove ourselves?" There would be a hint of annoyance in her voice as she practically expected Aogiri to expect more than just their own claims. Would they subvert expectations?