2196/Inter-Departmental Rivalries

Inter-Departmental Rivalries
Date of Scene:	03 January 2025
Location:	Obsidian Tower
Synopsis:	Glimmer is SO MAD that Horde Prime is here on earth that she has to try and clothesline him about it. Everything only gets worse. Then Catra shows up followed by Riventon, and somehow HE is the voice of reason. Drama so good you know Double Trouble was involved.
Cast of Characters:	Double Trouble, Glimmer Brightmoon, Catra, Takashi Agera

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Double Trouble has posed:
When they took on this new role, Double Trouble knew it was going to be challenging, but what they didn't realize was how. It was relatively easy for them to pretend to be Horde Prime. There were very few people in Tokyo that could tell they were faking, and only two of them worked in the building. They knew how to handle Catra, and Glimmer? Well she was easy too. No, what was frustrating them more than anything else was bureaucracy. A corporation fueled by dark energy had the most horrendous procedures and policies, and unlike every other director, Horde Prime didn't have much staff. Not yet.

That's why Horde Prime, Director of Horde Enterprises, was in the copy room making copies for a meeting. And it was very clear that He was displeased about this situation. He had conquered countless worlds across galaxies and here he was making copies. The indignity was infuriating. But the copies had to be made. The dark machine of bureaucracy had to be fed, and until He bothered to recruit some lackeys, he was the one to be doing it.

Glimmer Brightmoon has posed:
The first sign that something was wrong was, likely, the yelling. The 'Ahhhh!' that seemed to be getting... dangerously closer.

The next thing that was likely concerning was that it was a familiar yelling. And the footsteps. Oh, it seemed it was finally time.

It was likely a little more surprising when Glimmer came running into the room and... she had a new look. Oh, she'd likely even recognize it. It was the look she had in the dusk zone, when she was pretending to be a 'horde' soldier. It lasted about ten seconds. Except she didn't have lil white specks in her hair anymore, now they were black.

And she didn't teleport, she leaped into the air and she tried to CLOTHESLINE HIM!

"LISTEN HERE YOU MASSIVE SHIT!" she yelled, her eyes glowing with dark energy.

Double Trouble has posed:
Double Trouble was actually a rather good fighter hand-to-hand. They were surprisingly strong and fast and that worked out in their favor. But Horde Prime was not the sort of person to engage in such tawdry behavior as fisticuffs, and so instead of giving Glimmer the beating she was begging for, Horde Prime simply stepped aside and let her leap up and try and clothesline the copier He was standing in front of.

"Tsk tsk," He says with a shake of his head, His voice calm, cold and cutting. "First your office, and now this. Facilities is not going to be very happy, Princess." He starts backing away toward the nearest office intercom. The better to page security with. "Then there's openly assaulting a Director..." He shrugs.

"Or, you could come at me like a Queen, and use your words," he says with a shrug. "The choice is yours, Ms. Brightmoon."

Glimmer Brightmoon has posed:
Glimmer Brightmoon whiffed the shot! Leaping into the air, she... uhhh... well, the copier machine was going to have to be replaced. Riventon was NOT going to like that.

She whipped around, glipping her hair back, dark magical circles appeared in her hands. "Oh, like a queen? You should know *exactly* what kind of queen I'm like, Horde Prime. After all, we had a whole discussion about it!" She put both her hands together and he'd be able to see the magical circle forming, before a dark energy beam erupted from it.

Magic. Etherian magic. Not runestone. On the upside, he'd likely remember... she was nowhere near as good at that kind of magic. A lot less dangerous.

But she was very much still dangerous.

Outside the room he could hear some people bitching and metal shutters going down. Great. Another office spat.

Double Trouble has posed:
Except the Horde Prime that Double Trouble was pretending to be had never met Glimmer Brightmoon. The Horde Prime that contacted Double Trouble was looking for her because he needed her for the Heart of Etheria, and she wasn't there. So they knew that they weren't really lying when they lied and said, "Ms. Brightmoon, I don't know what discussion you might be referring to. This is the first time we've ever met, aside from the holo-projector."

He's not quite to the panel when the beam fires off. She telegraphed the shot, it's not hard at all for Horde Prime to step out of the way. Unfortunately the dark energy beam shoots right past Him and hits the comms panel. So much for calling security. He sighs, and looks back toward her. "I honestly do not want to deal with the paperwork of calling security down here anyway, Ms. Brightmoon. What exactly you hope to accomplish with this futile property destruction is beyond me. Perhaps you can explain."

Glimmer Brightmoon has posed:
Glimmer Brightmoon pulled her hands apart, the magical circles still around them. She opened her mouth, then paused. "... Wait, what?" she asked. Looking up at him. Her eyes narrowed a little. "You... don't know..."

Blink. Blink blink. She opened her mouth, then paused. "No. You *have* to be screwing with me. Or... a mind game... or..." She trailed off.

"... First time we've met? I... heh... heh heh heh... So what happened to 'Horde Prime knows all'? No. This... has to be... you HAVE to be screwing with me... I..."

Then she blinked. "Fine, Horde Prime. You want to play that game? Let's play." She pulled both hands back, before she made a circle with her right hand... and a rune circle that Double Trouble, at least, would recognize... the antithema to everything they were.

Unfortunately for Glimmer... they'd drawn attention.

Catra has posed:
It's already been a rough enough new Years for Catra -- see also the sky exploding and overloading her senses -- and she is entirely not interested in drama tonight. But when does she ever get what she wants? The entire office tower is noisy at the bst of times; sure if she used her illusory disguise it'd take the edge off, but that's all it'd do and she doesn't want to wear it when and where she doesn't have to. So instead, she's been in one of the training rooms, working on her swordplay. Not so much the stanses -- she's gotten those down pat. No, she's been fighting drones with the safeties removed. That did the trick for a while.

Now, she's walking through the halls; Powersend is carried openly, but even though the blade is manifested she has it in a scabbard (she wanted to try something new). And of course her path takes her past where Glimmer is busy yelling at someone and fighting. Or at least was. Have things simmered down? Maybe. Briefly, the feline considers just shoving her earbuds in and ignoring the problem.

Glimemr was... kinda nice to her recently, though. Strangely. Weirdly. And she made promises that Catra can't explain.

So instead, she wanders in the direction she heard all the yelling from; and so a little sweaty, sporting a few minor injuries from the training drones, and carrying her sword, all while dressed in her Horde jumpsuit and just lacking her Force Captain badge, Catra walks into the conversation between Glimmer and someone she doesn't recognize.

Well, he does seem awfully similar to Hordak.

"Okay what's going on," she demands, shifting the sword to rest scabbard and all on her shoulder. "New Years Party was on the eighth floor. What's all the yelling about?"

Takashi Agera has posed:
    Riventon wasn't really a stranger to the Dark Generals around him getting in fights. Mostly he stayed above or below it - but when you put a bunch of people in a confined space, subjected them to Corporate Office Politics, gave them Dark Energy, and made it okay and even tacitly encouraged for them to fight for superiorty - well, you got a system where it happened periodically.

    But in this case, the trouble, as he picked up, wasn't two people he didn't care about, and it wasn't something he wanted to watch - but one of his people and someone who wasn't what they seemed - and who he didn't want to get caught out yet. Which meant he had to intervene - especially as Catra also appeared. He didn't know what business Catra had with this but had to figure even if she didn't feel the same way Glimmer did... she'd help her.

    Riventon needed to interfere, and... he needed to do so in a serious fashion, but he'd had to intervene nearby before, and there was a LOT of residual Dark Energy around the tower.

    Which meant Riventon arrived between the two of them. And then Riventon arrived. And then Riventon arrived. And by the end of it there were a dozen Riventons between Glimmer and 'Horde Prime' - each of them putting their hands out and creating a barrier on either side of them.

    And when they spoke, all of them spoke at once. "Alright, enough of this." the Riventons said. And then little problems would appear - a drooping eye, a hand that was slowly moving towards the ground - ah, most of The Riventons were made of Dark Energy, drippy, ink-like Dark Energy. There was just a moment for them to respond before most of the Riventons began -pop- into vertical lines of dark energy - first bars and then a curtain separating the two sides.

    Okay, how to explain this to Glimmer - how to make her back down? "Glimmer, stand down. I can work with you about this but it doesn't start here throwing things around." he warns.

Double Trouble has posed:
Once He was certain Glimmer wasn't going to try to blast him again, Horde Prime started backing away toward the exit from the room. She clearly had no restraint, and He wasn't about to actually try and fight her in close quarters like this. Surely if she did enough damage, somebody would notice. He just had to survive, and then He could pull rank.

Unless Glimmer managed to cast a truth spell...and then ask a clever enough question that they couldn't answer it truthfully without exposing them. When Double Trouble saw the glyph, well, there was a flicker of fear, but no genuine worry. She needed control for that magic, and she was clearly under the influence of dark energy, so that was likely control she lacked. It made it easier to play the role, for sure.

"You certainly weren't on Etheria when I arrived," Horde Prime said, and then Riventons. One was expected, two? Three? So. Many. Riventons. That boy sure did like to show off. Horde Prime waited until the copies had all disappeared before turning to regard the remaining man. "Is this how you control your subordinates, Riventon?" He scoffs and shakes his head. "Clearly ineffective. Just look at all the damage," He says gesturing around. "Who is it that keeps giving you reports?"

And that's when He notices Catra. Another person this Horde Prime has never met, but at least she also hasn't met him. It's so much easier. He looks at her, at her uniform, and he smiles. "I'm Horde Prime. I think you knew my Little Brother. He called himself Hordak? I read about you on Etheria, before I came here."

He looks thoughtful for a moment, and then an evil smile forms on his lips. As if he could have any other kind. "Riventon, I am sure that Precia will agree with me when I suggest that you should focus your efforts more on your research, don't you agree?" He looks toward Catra and smiles. "I'm the newest Director on the Board. Horde Enterprises. Both of you will be reporting to me from now on."

Glimmer Brightmoon has posed:
... What... the...

"How?!" Glimmer asked. HOW? HOW SO MANY RIVENTON? HOW?! WHAT THE HOW?!

Wait. CATRA?! Oh, screw that. She teleported and--

OH! WAIT! SHE CAN'T TELEPORT ANYMORE! She inched a little so she was between Catra and Horde Prime, at least. She gave a growl, but slowly she lowered her hand, making the dark magic circle crack and pop.

"Fine, Riventon. Know this, Horde Prime, I'm watching you! The moment you step out of line, Riventon won't be there to save you. I'm not scared of you."

She was TERRIFIED of him.

Of course, she had... about to stop. Riventon got her under control.

AND THEN HE JUST HAD TO GO SAY THAT, DIDN'T HE?

And Riventon would be able to SEE the fury. "OH YOU KEEP YOUR DIRTY HANDS OFF HER!" And then she put her hands together and just, an ERUPTION of dark energy, forming a spear of magic RIGHT at Horde Prime. On the upside, the... building's walls weren't... that important, right? And blowing through the wall wasn't...

... This was *fiiiiiine.*

"And if you think for one second I'd EVER follow you then you're as DELUSIONAL as you are EGOTISTICAL!"

Catra has posed:
Riventons.

So many Riventons.

And standing in the doorway, a deeply nonplussed Catra, standing there with her turquiose eye twitching. "That's... my trick," she grumbles, watching as Riventon after Riventon after Riventon all appear. And then, almost as quickly, disappear one by one. Well, at least she can keep her illusions stable. But what was that, nine, ten Riventons? Well fine then, she's just going to have to work on scope. Ten Catras shouldn't be outside the realm of possibility.

But right now isn't the moment to be thinking about strategy, as things have clearly not settled down. Catra steps back, ears laying flat against her head as she summons dark energy of her own; it just sort of smolders, with black wisps like smoke rising off of her as she watches what's going on, and her veins glow a faint purple.

"Alright, what the hell," she growls, setting her feet and holding her sword at her side, one hand on the scabbard and the other on the handle. "So you're Horde Prime, hunh? I heard all about you." Her eyes narrow to slits, "Give me a good reason not to ignore everything Riventon just said and send you back to the Board, neatly sliced." As she growls, her leeps peel back to show her teeth, and as Glimmer edges in front of her she just... edges in the same direction, keeping a straight line between her and Horde Prime.

Oh but wait. Both of you will be reporting to me from now on. Hold up. Catra's eyebrows rise, and her stance loses a measure of its aggression.

"...Yeah, I was only a few months away from kicking your 'Little Brother' to the curb when I ended up here," she states. "Why don't you ask Riventon how good I am at taking direction. Go ahead. I'll wait."

Takashi Agera has posed:
    Riventon's eyes narrow. Oh this was a mess. Double Trouble was... causing trouble, and Glimmer was part of it, and here was Catra. But on the other hand, Riventon couldn't exactly spill the beans here, not in front of the other two. For one thing they'd be annoyed he wasn't telling them already, and it'd blow the whole plan and who knows how much trouble it'd be... oy.

    Riventon turned to regard Horde Prime. "I don't think that's necessary at all. Besides, I'm sure Precia will be loathe to give up Obsidian's top energy earner and the girl who helped me push her goal from a possibility to an inescapability - Catra's gathered the energy that Glimmer has assisted me in using for Precia's goals, and I made Precia very well aware of that. So I'm afraid you'll have to be content with your robots." Riventon says, coolly. Just what the hell was Double Trouble trying to pull?

    "With all due respect, of course, Director Horde Prime. But, I speak for Director Precia and I take orders - and transfer requests - only from her." Riventon said, giving Double Trouble a glare.

    It's extra annoying, therefore, that in the moment, Riventon also has to turn again to face the girls, and thanks to Axion's quick calculations, send a burst of his own Dark Energy, a gushing blast of Dark Energy like a firehose of liquid at the attack Glimmer makes to redirect it away from 'Horde Prime'. "That being said, Glimmer - you can't go around attacking Directors, even if you have personal grievances against them." Ugh, just when things were going so damn well, too. "I just told Precia what a great help you were - don't make me walk that back."

    "Catra, please stop making the recently filed transfer request from the Director look so appealing to agree to?" he says. "I just went to bat for you over Joker." he lies. "At least pretend a few moments of appreciation until that's old news."

Double Trouble has posed:
Sometimes when they really commit to a part Double Trouble oversells their own capability. They make threats they don't actually want to carry thru on. It's for the character. Or the drama. They are loving the drama. It's just that, well, Horde Prime is not. That's part of what makes it so delicious.

But they don't have a good way to make good on threats like Horde Prime would for real. He didn't send over any mind control devices, so Double Trouble knew they were going to have to get creative. But then Riventon...was actually useful. It was perfect. Horde Prime could even be mad about it.

He looked at Riventon with the deepest disdain and shook his head. "Yes, of course. It does not matter," he said, waving his hand. Then he looked across the room a the destroyed copier, and his copies. He looked at Glimmer, and scowled. "But since your employee destroyed the copier while I was making my copies," he says, reaching into a pocket for a USB drive, which he tosses toward Riventon. "Have one of your subordinates make copies and get them to me within the hour."

Then he turns to leave through the doorway Catra is still standing in. He's got another thumb drive and is going to go find a different copier. But Catra is still in the way. So he smiles. "Yes, well, he was a defective clone after all. I appreciate your ferocity and independence. What I read in your files was quite impressive."

Glimmer Brightmoon has posed:
Glimmer Brightmoon couldn't believe it. For once Catra was a snarky bitch and it was to HER benefit! YES! She could appreciate this! More of that, Catra, helping me with my problems and not causing more!

Of course, as she did all that, Riventon proved that he was less helpful. Seriously?! Why couldn't he jus let her... She growled and lowered her hands. "Fine. FINE! I won't attack him again unless he starts something. With me *or* Catra," she said, snarling at him. When she looked at Horde Prime? Oh, there was such burning hatred in those eyes.

Awwww, she used to look at Catra like that. Remember those days?

"It's hard not to be a bad batch when you come from a bad source engine!" Glimmer snapped at Horde Prime, visibly fuming. Note to Riventon, Glimmer did not handle her dark energy the best. Also, she had no idea what a 'source engine' was. She was just... gluing those words together. Then looked to Riventon and... sighed. Holding her hand out. "Give it to me. I'll make his stupid copies from a stupid printer so I can then chuck them at his stupid office because he's a stupid director."

All the efficient loathing and hatred... of a spiteful kindergartener.

Catra has posed:
Catra does not, immediately, relax, when Riventon tells her to stand down. Her eyes narrow, and her knuckles tighten around the hilt of her sword and the scabbard containing it. She peels her lips back once again, showing those sharp, feline teeth; even her claws are out, on both fingers and toes, as she hunches forwards, muscles tensing, tail poofed up and ears flat, dark energy gathering around her like a swinling numbus of building rage, eyes narrowing to mis-matched slits...

"Fine."

And then Catra is just turning around, and walking out of the room; she's not leaving, she's just standing in the hallway. Powersend is back to languishing on her shoulder and she leans against the wall, using one hand to pop her earbuds in her ears and turn on some music with her phone. It starts playing much too loud, of course, but that doesn't seem to be bothering the Etherian; or maybe it's the point.

But she's still standing where she can see into the room. She's still watching Horde Prime. Well, everyone really, but Horde Prime in particular, and her tail twitches, the only thing giving away the possibility that her sudden, outward calm doesn't run all the way to her core.

Takashi Agera has posed:
    Riventon looked between the two warring sides - and Riventon catches the USB drive. He's seething and it's visible he's just barely keeping it under wraps. But he supposes it's pointless to ask why someone named Double Trouble is giving him so much grief.

    "No, I'll do it." Riventon says, putting the USB drive in his pocket. For all he knew it was something DT wanted him to have - or something that was going to 'dramatically' blow up whatever it was plugged into, just for giggles. "Besides, when you cause problems around here, I'm always the one who has to clean them up. Why would this time be any different?" Riventon asked, giving Glimmer a frustrated, exasperated look. "Just get out of here and go play video games or something." he says, trying to wave her off. "I've got enough of a headache now."

    "So, if we're all done wasting energy, wasting breath, and trying to look varying degrees of tough in front of each other, can everyone go back to their respective corners PLEASE." he asks. "I'm asking everyone. This isn't your home, it's mine - and you've all wrecked it enough today."

    Riventon probably wouldn't be talking this way to a Director, except... it's Double Trouble. It's Hinoiri Kirara's friggin' theyfriend. He can't forget that. Also, he thinks Horde Prime looks ridiculous anyways.

Double Trouble has posed:
Horde Prime looks especially ridiculous in a copy room. The only thing he should be making copies of is himself, not some presentation. And yet there he is. And he is just as done with this as Riventon is. "I couldn't agree more. This entire interlude has been one huge waste," he says.

He gives Glimmer a long look and then just smiles before turning and walking out the doorway, his eyes meeting Catra's for a moment before he keeps on going. He has a few more turns and at least one elevator ride before he gets back to his office. But before he's out of earshot he calls out. "Get me my copies!"

Glimmer Brightmoon has posed:
Glimmer Brightmoon was, admittedly, a little smug that Catra was barely giving Horde Prime the time of day... she was less smug that Riventon thought she only made messes for him to clean up. "I..." she started, then stopped. Finally, she lifted her arms up and nodded. Quiet. Waiting for Horde Prime to leave... And sticking her tongue out a his back for only a moment.

Once she heard his order, she sighed again. "Sorry, Riventon... I... sorry." She then turned and headed towards the exit... but...

As she passed Catra, she did give her a little smile. "Thanks for uhhhh... not letting him get to you," she said sheepishly. "I'm going to go get something to eat from the caf--" Paused. Paled. Memories of 'It's food!' flashed through her mind. "I'm going to head out, get something from the yakisoba place. Wanna join me?" She then glanced back towards Riventon. "We can grab him something, too." She'd made... such a mess.

She then glanced towards the sparkling printer. If she oculd have just landed ONE BLOW it would have been SOOOOO worth.

Catra has posed:
Catra watches Horde Prime leave. Glimmer's words fall on her ears, but her brain just sort of... lets them pass unhindered, all the way to the other ear and straight back out again. Didn't let him get to her. Yeah, sure; given that everyone she's talked to about Horde Prime said they've met him, and he's supposed to mess her up in some epic fashion. He just decided not to today, apparently.

Didn't let him get to her indeed.

Catra just stands there, holding her sword and listening to the music blasting in her ears, for almost a full thirty seconds after Glimmer invites her out for food. You know what? Food is good. She thumbs her phone again, not turning off the music but turning it down at least, so it's not entirely obnoxious to anyone within six feet of her. So. ...Yakisoba place?

"Yeah," she mumbles. "Sure."