inhotwater | SHE-RA AU

[Getting caught was... definitely not supposed to happen. They had a plan, here. Get back the captured rebels, get to their escape route, get out. Then things just got chaotic, Edward got stuck behind a blast door and... well, one thing led to another.

It led him right into the Horde's clutches, as it turns out.

All in all, not a good day. But it's okay. They'll come back for him, Edward's sure of it. Maybe not immediately... apparently... but as soon as they get an opportunity, they will.

Surely.

He's holding onto that thought when a Horde soldier drags him down the dark halls. It seems they finally have time to deal with him. Great. Edward just makes sure to pay close attention to the route they take as they head over to... he's not sure where. All he knows it's a dark room (like everywhere else in the Fright Zone) that seems... important, maybe. And then he's shoved, rather roughly, onto his knees to the floor.

Great.]

"Lord Oswald. We caught this Bright Moon rebel inside the compound. It seems he was part of the group that infiltrated the Fright Zone."

[Oswald is...not happy. Not that he's ever been particularly "happy," per say, but that doesn't really matter in the grand scheme of things. At this point, the princess they were holding capture escaped, apparently leaving behind one single rebel.

As said prisoner is shoved down, the light illuminating his throne lights up a bit brighter, and Oswald narrows his eyes down at the slip of a boy on the floor.]

I see. [his eyes flick up to that soldier] Were any of the other members of the party captured. Perhaps, for example, the princesses that were part of it? [it's snapped, an annoyed snarl]

[The soldier swallows nervously and it doesn't take a lot of observation to notice their anxiety. Edward can't help but smirk just a little, taking his amusement where he can get it. Because yes, good. Keep sweating.]

"I-I'm afraid not... He's the only one we found."

[Oswald lets the silence linger for a moment, allowing his displeasure to make itself clear simply by look alone. The tension gathers, practically curling around them, before he finally speaks]

So. You mean to tell me that not only did they manage to rescue the princess who was our prisoner, but all of them get out alive? [his voice can't go that low, but there's something behind the ice blue of his eyes that starts to glow and makes him significantly more menacing.] And all you managed to catch was one measly member of their rescue party?!

"Um... I..."

[This is so very much above this soldier's pay grade. They're just the messenger, after all.

Edward, though, just watches this all carefully.]

Well, gosh, I sure hate to stay where I'm not wanted. Why don't I just get out of your hair and--

[Yeah, that earns him a rough shove back down.]

"Quiet, you." [At least the soldier has some confidence left in there.] "I'm very sorry, Lord Oswald, I... We're still trying to find out how they got away."

[Oswald bears his teeth at that in a snarl] Well figure it out, now! I'm tired of this incompetence! [he turns his gaze back to their new prisoner, eyes narrowing]

Who is this one?

"Y-Yes, Lord Oswald, of course! Right away, sir!"

[This is going less than great for them. Sorry, Nameless Horde Soldier. They quickly gesture at another solider, who nods and runs off to pass that message along. While they... stay to talk about the prisoner, oh boy.]

"Ah... Apparently this is Dryl's prince, sir." [The soldier grabs his arm and lifts him up ever so slightly, so Oswald can have a better look at him. It's a strong grip, it is NOT comfortable...] "He's the one who disabled our security system, letting the rebels inside."

[Edward... decides to hold his tongue for a minute. Oh boy, spotlight on him, he is not a fan.]

A prince. [Oswald's eyes narrow further at that, scrutinizing] That's odd. A prince among princesses. [he rests his elbow on his arm rest and his chin on his hand] Tell me, prince, how does that work, exactly?

[Oh, he is not loving this...]

It works in that Dryl doesn't have someone around to be a princess, so it has me instead.

It's not that complicated.

[there's a mild frown line that appears between Oswald's brows] And you deactivated our security. [he sits back, surveying him again, before turning his attention to the guard] Take him to the cells! I'll decide what to do with him later. In the mean time, figure out how the others escaped and fix it!

Like that was so hard...

[It's muttered quietly and he only barely has time for that much, before he's lifted up again.]

"Y-Yes, Lord Oswald!"

[And with that, the soldier drags him off. It's just more walking, then, before he's tossed unceremoniously into a cell. Looks like... this is going to be his home for a bit, until the other members of the Alliance can come get him.

He just hopes they won't wait too long.]

[Days pass. But only a couple. One and a half-ish. Apparently hacking the system the way that Prince did was more than enough to get them past security, when combined with Adora already knowing the layout of the Fright Zone. Oswald paces in frustration and annoyance, until finally he calls for the prisoner to be brought to him once again--and he'll sit, perched on his throne, looking down as Edward is once more shoved to his knees]

[They're very shove-y in the Horde, it seems. It's not even the same soldier. It's some sort of aggressively physical hive mind.]

"The prisoner, Lord Oswald, as you requested."

[Oh, he's been "requested" now, has he? Edward just... glares silently ahead.]

[sup buddy. Oswald is going to lean back, crossing one leg over the other (the other, specifically, there's a slight metallic glint off of). He'll let the silence stretch for a moment, again, before his eyes narrow]

How did you disable our security system. [it's not exactly a question]

[Edward blinks a little... and then he smirks.]

By turning it off.

[Oh, someone's decided to be a little shit today.]

[Okay--there's a moment, a beat, where Oswald just...blinks. Because what. And then he scowls, darkly, the light from his eyes flickering--going more intensely blue in a moment as his temper sparks]

The system is not made of Etherian technology. [it's half-snarled] How did you know what to do with it?

Oh, please, all technology is the same in the end. It's all just systems, it just took me a second to figure out what made this one tick.

[He keeps the smirk on his face. He's not sure what makes him so confident right now.

Possibly he's in shock and his self preservation has decided to check out.]

Really, your system was pretty much begging to be hacked.

And yet, somehow, you still managed to get trapped by it. [drawled]

[...]

Yes, well, things went a little... wrong at the end. Obviously.

[and Oswald smirks at that, slowly] Obviously. [he hums in contemplation] And what do you....do in the Rebellion, exactly?

Well, let's see... They brought me along to hack your systems and disable your security, so.

...Probably they just keep me around to provide snacks. Yeah, that sounds right.

[That... predictably gets him a smack on the head from the soldier behind him. He winces at that.]

"Watch your tone, prisoner."

[Oswald arches an eyebrow up towards his hairline...if it can be called that. Half of it's hair, sure, but in there, somehow, whether interwoven or simply growing there, are stark, black feathers] Snacks. Then the system hacking is simply what you d in your spare time, is that it?

Who's to say? Maybe I've never even seen a computer before. It might be that your system is so bad it just let me turn it off.

That seems more likely.

[Oswald's eyes narrow at that--and his eyes flick to the soldier behind Edward, inclining his head just slightly--which will cause the guy to give Edward another smack on the back of the head, harder this time]

[Yeah, that gets a little more than just a wince, that kind of. Hurt. A bunch.]

You could've just said you don't believe that, you know...

we're on the edge of greatness

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject