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avalaughs2022-07-01 02:04 am
TEST DRIVE MEME ⚔️️ 21
| QUICK NAV: |
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A ⦿ Soaking in Your Arrival
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palm-sized baby octopi working together to try to heave a single person out of the water. No matter which you get, they all seem to have unique personalities, but animal mages may note that as a species, they all seem to think of the otherworlders as fun little playthings. These little otherworlders are so funny. | |
B ⦿ The Caravan to Camelot
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Once everyone is wrangled up to the top of the White Cliffs, the handsome owner of the Rent-a-Ride, Archimedes, will distribute smart phones and a pair of ear buds and tell them to "Check the Shit Box." The "Shit Box" refers to wardrobe more formally known as the Wardrobe of Finding, a hammerspace-like wardrobe that opens to each person's items and pets when the person touches the handle. From there, Archimedes directs everyone to settle in groups into modernized carriages pulled by horses and gives them a basic explanation of why and how they've been brought to Avalon: The rest of the universe is frozen in time and your character has been brought here by a familiar that was able to bond with them. They'll have to learn magic to help save their own world from destruction, but first they've got to get them to Camelot. It is here that you have the first opportunity to decide who they will be in their new home. You'll have about an hour to wander around here, meet and greet, and pet the horses before it's time to go. |
These carriages use fae technology that combats weight, so your character will be able to get in regardless of whether they're light as a feather or weigh two tons. The carts have air conditioning when it's hot, heating when it's cold, and a mystical shield to protect from bugs and rain. There is also a mini-bar that pops out of the console. Characters can use their smartphones to connect to Camelot's internet service, avalononline (AOL), to chat with other characters, watch dumb videos, learn about the world, contact Camelot Support (they'll answer any questions they can for you, from how to use a smart phone to where to find quests and resources to learn more about your magic). Be careful if you decide to use your phones while in the caravan-- if you don't use those earbuds and start forcing everyone to listen to your nonsense, Archimedes may make you walk. | |
C ⦿ The Red Spring | |
The journey from the White Cliffs to the City of Camelot is a long one, and the first evening you arrive you'll end up spending at the Red Spring, a booming resort town. Newcomers get free inn rooms for their one night stay on the way to Camelot, containing two twin beds, a bathroom, a mini-fridge and microwave, and a TV equipped with a couple of entertaining video games and movies. Don't want to relax in the room? Take a dip in the communal hot spring. The waters have restorative properties that help horses and travelers recover quickly. It is known to relieve stress, improve energy levels, and mildly accelerate healing. It may be a little chilly when you get out though, so make sure you don't slip rushing back indoors when you get out! |
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D ⦿ Light it Up | |
| With the sun and moon temporarily gone, some fae have put forward a solution to fight the dusk off for a little while. They have made special lanterns holding a spell which, when powered up with any kind of magic, activates a small energy field large enough to comfortably fit up to five people. This field takes its form straight from the magic-providing person’s mind - so whether they're feeling homesick or just really want to be stuck in a deserted island for a while, the lantern will make it happen! Naturally, all of it is an illusion so nothing is actually real... but it feels very real, especially to the person providing the magic. The lantern will not make illusions of other humans or animals - just places, buildings, and flora - and those taking part will be able to move around and explore… but be careful not to get too excited, or you might just end up moving your real body and knocking another person out of the illusion, or falling out of it yourself to a very disorienting awakening. |
If you don’t mind being crowded together, the energy field could squeeze in up to ten people, but the risks of someone being nudged out accidentally go up as more people enter. After that, anyone else who tries to step in - invited or not - will find themselves repelled by an invisible wall around the outside of the illusion. There is, however, a time limit on this. While the spell can last up to twelve hours, it's advised that the lantern isn't used for more than a few hours at a time. If this guidance isn’t followed, it’s possible that after the lantern is deactivated the people who took part will keep seeing the illusory scenery around them for some time afterwards. If a person uses the lantern for the whole twelve hours, the illusion will continue for up to three days in the form of intrusive, imaginary objects and buildings that only they can see, or even faint shades of people from their own worlds. | |
E ⦿ Getting More Familiar | |
With Elphame and Camelot in better relations than ever thanks to the efforts of Otherworlders, Queen Elphame and King Arthur are working closely together to accomplish the next step of her plan, despite some tension about her not sharing what she intended to do with the Fisher King from the get-go. But they're talking now, and the place that everyone needs to go next is a place only familiars can reach. The first thing that needs doing is a little bit of magic practice before anyone can go on the full mission. This will be much easier for those who have been here longer, bonded with their familiars longer, but will certainly not be impossible for those who have just arrived. Team up with another person to help balance |
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your brand new and unstable magics to accomplish what amounts to changing bodies with your familiar. Result can be unpredictable if you step outside of the lines with this spell, depending on which part you mess up, so players should feel free to come up with their own mishaps based on what each of the above ingredients for the spell are should they wish to go that route. Once you've managed to become your familiar (and your familiar you... good luck with that), you need to practice being your familiar. Get the hang of moving, the hang of your familiar's characteristics, voice (or lack thereof), and how to function as them. Exactly how to do that will be a personalized experience based on what your familiar is, so there's no clear means to practice... which means it's a good time to send you on a softball, but useful quest to practice before the real thing! Each of you who have done this should head into the Brocéliande and look for silver flowers that look like daffodils. Within them are drops of what appear to be water, but those drops are actually enchanted glass spheres only visible to familiars. Be careful- the silver daffodils are guarded by skunk-like spirits that spray knock-out gas, then they will drag you to a random location in the forest. You really could get lost very easily, but don't come back without your sphere! Those will be super important for bringing back the sun and moon soon. | |
• All test drive prompts are open to anyone in the game at any time to create your own logs with, as the events within are considered game canon as long as the characters are currently in or join the game during the application period. If new players do not want their TDM to be considered canon, they should state as much on the OOC intro once accepted. |
4B
His mood's a tensed coil.]
What's the "Grayi"?
[Laying his weapons out. His icy White Amaryllis blade; his own, white wakizashi; several glass-looking "marbles"—which he'd been told act as light-shields; three more charms as small mascots, his polished moonstones filled with ice, or soothing, single-use Healing spells; tucking two light-beads away. The last ones his keepsakes.]
Here. [Passing the rest to him,] These beads are for light-shields. [Then, tossing one as demonstration, watching the other through shield's glow,] We can trust them. [And here, between his fingers, producing stiletto-length needles, cold steel dipped in toxins, an unkind choice for such a boy-scout, who may have fostered an idea or two from those a little less savory, who's turned from softness when he needs to. He has, in truth, developed some shocking new tactics; surprised himself a number of times.] I can throw these pretty far by now, but they'll only cause poisonings. [Yes, "only"; unconcerned a bit, maybe, when his spells keep the antidote.] It should slow them if it comes to that. [Keeping his eyes away... then, handing off charms to him,] You should hold onto these...
[Still not finished; searching what's packed for more weapons, things more useful, maybe.]
And these—
[One last present: a round, small pouch drifting up to him, holding condensed orbs of Flashfreeze; blizzards trapped in smooth crystals, small "bombs" of Absolute-Zero formed as self-made explosives.] You can use them like my Flashfreeze. [His strongest ice spells.] You'll turn anything to frost with these. You just follow up with your flame's attacks. Just make sure you've got some distance first...
[There'd be a big blowback.]
You can watch the fireworks after.
[Shifting over to him; then, lighting glow from stretched fingers,] I can shore up your defenses next. Add my armor if we need to.
/casually changes font colours so the birds are easier to tell apart
[Arashi, despite being the tallest person in the room, seems discomfited by the kasha's predatory looks, slightly leaning away from the table, whereas Lambrini is unfazed as ever, going so far as to smirk back at the hellcat. When Hijikata first introduced Shoto to her earlier she cooed "Oh my, he's already a big boy, isn't he?". But like the others she pays attention when Shoto explains his arsenal, and her eyes go increasingly wide.]
Wow! Toshirou, your squire is a one-man army!
[Hijikata usually complains when she calls him that - she pestered his given name out of him after finding in his Shinsengumi ID in his uniform jacket's pockets and not being able to read the Japanese letters -, but this time he skips his bitching, because hell if she isn't right. That's his resourceful Shoto!!]
Isn't he? But let's all remember that this is supposed to be an arrest mission, okay? So don't go blowing anyone to smithereens unless it can't be helped!
[Arashi carefully picks up one of Shoto's light shield marbles.]
You made all these items yourself? That is very impressive, Shoto-kun.
[Hijikata, partly in trying to spare Shoto from getting too flustered at the praise, rushes to combine their equipment into a battle plan.]
Honestly, we can use the Grayi - Shoto and I, that is, and maybe Kasha. You two are our air support.
As if air support couldn't also benefit from near-invisibility! Why are you so stingy?
Because I only have four doses of it. Besides how will they see you in this goddamn darkness to begin with? Anyway, this Unseelie group changes locations, but according to the information I received they're currently on the first island in the Land of Maidens. For those who haven't been there, it's a strange place full of massive old trees, ancient-looking statues, and harmless wildlife. They made a hide-out in some old ruins there. If we can sneak up on them we have a decent chance of putting them out of commission one or two at a time, and before they know if they'll all be in handcuffs. I'll have Elphame's guards ready to strike and take them away, of course, but we've got to do the dirty work to prove Camelot's mettle.
Haven't you proved that enough times already, sweetie?
Don't call me that.
[Especially not in front of Arashi and Shoto!! He snorts. This woman is a pain in the ass, but still, she's strong and fast, and in a pinch she can be a lifesaver.]
Our swords are weapons made for killing, so hopefully we can keep them sheathed... but I wouldn't bet on it. Shoto-kun, your light shields will surely come in handy.
I think his poison needles will come in handier.
[Her sharp eyes shimmer as she smiles at Shoto.]
Let's meet at the Yuureisengumi HQ at 10:00 AM tomorrow - not that the time really matters, with things being as they are. We'll use one of my Land-of-Maiden totems to travel there, and the way to the island won't be far - Arashi, Lambrini, you can fly over; the rest of us will take the tunnel. Any questions? Before anyone asks: yes, I'll be bringing rope and anti-magic handcuffs. And flashlights.
I'll organise a net. I think that might serve us well!
Shoto's having a silent meltdown...
[Brushing his "cat" away, his demon dropping like lava, slinking along to nose at Arashi—letting the others speak. At the harpy's remark, he breathes out soft exclamation, dim-lit eyes going wide a brief moment, caught on Toshirou next.
It's almost inaudible.]
...! [Letting the breath out. He has to steady here; remind himself: she's being kind and not mocking, fond words praising though in defiance of all his student's own reverence; not malicious at all. He tries to seem grateful.] Sorry. Villains aren't fragile where I come from. A blast like that would only slow them at best. [Though, thankfully, there're others still present, Arashi's asking leading thoughts away, pulling him back a little. He shakes his head lightly.]
Not the light-shields, no. [All lights Gokudera's. Familiar's first and last welcomes—gifts, a sort of "surprise" spilling out of him. He's kept every last one of them.] My friend's familiar gave them to me, before. [Dim and detached-sounding, though he tries for unaffected, there's rising hurt in split colors, closed hand clasping his last few "marbles", still-small sadness in him. Hearing his own "taunting" nickname.
Freezer-burn.]
It's almost like we're fighting together now. I doubt he knew he'd be protecting us.
[But just like that, slipping past his own memories, setting on words instead. Their being briefed on things. Restless mind keying in again, catching on other things quickly. Importantly vital details only: the island Land of Maidens; the mention of ruins and trees to sneak through; all the risks of potential ambush; and, already, shaping his own course of action, planning for every last outcome. Imagining worst case scenarios. He's bristling at sweetie.]
...He's our commander, you know. [It's too audacious! And narrowing icy eyes harden, though she's right about the other, this, that Hijikata's proven much here, the swordsman more than he's realized. So, stubborn boy bites his tongue again, and averts cold eyes away; frowning, solemn face warmed again. She isn't wrong at least.] You have a point, though... [Losing his edge a little. Listening to Hijikata only, all the gravity of his words tugging him back to closed headspace, made for killing reminding him. Though Shoto's glancing off quickly, murmuring back at him with his resolved sort of distance, keeping his eyes away.]
I- [won't kill, the boy's starting. As if he's ever killed, as if there's real consideration here. It isn't a total impossibility... Maybe a slip or on accident. He tells himself he would never; he isn't a careless boy; but if ever then, someday—in his becoming so desperate to guard his sensei—he'd do something so grotesque as that, that it would be for good reason. If it comes to that. His narrowed eyes drop suddenly.] I only picked this sword to- [to protect you he's thinking; but, Arashi's near, the harpy's close. He won't embarrass his sensei.] to hold the threats off. I won't draw it unless I have to. [Still fumbling a little. Feeling sharp eyes smile at him, he shrinks from slight praises, bright ears colored and flustering quietly, softly pink cheeks hidden.
He wants to leave now!]
Let's not lose anyone. [Small steps back here, beckoning the hellion he'd come with.] Kasha. [And in an instant, wearing its flames on his left again.] I'll use the Grayi, if you could spare that. Kasha can pin anyone you need to, so any arrests should be easier. [Softly said, avoidant eyes and words both, now; full thoughts on their mission.] I won't need anything else, then.
1/2 (Poor boy, he's too straight-laced for this company!)
[He watches Arashi lean away from Kasha even further, feeling somewhat exasperated at the sight. God, these familiars aren't a good match at all. As the conversation continues he notices Shoto's half-concealed irritation at Lambrini's irreverence... and he's sure she and Arashi notice it too, but say nothing out of amusement respectively politeness. Maybe this arrangement was a mistake. Honestly, it's Lambrini who seems to cause the imbalance in the group, and not because she's the only woman (presumably - he never asked Shoto about Kasha), but because of her attitude. But she's cooperative enough that the meeting remains productive, so he doesn't interfere.
He feels sympathy as Shoto explains where he got the light shields. Too many people he cared for are gone now, too... and if he knew that it was Gokudera, whom he also spent a lot of time with, then he'd talk about him with Shoto, reminisce a little and smile together as they remember him and Larry. The dinosaur-like creature was endearing and cute to Hijikata, too, and a good match for his bond partner who had gone through so much already.
Lambrini's pseudo-innocent smile at Shoto's eventual small castigation doesn't bother Hijikata half as much as the boy's respect for him makes him happy. Has anyone ever stood up for him like this? Kondou, back home, and his older brother, when he was still a child... but it's been rare, and all the more special. When Hijikata speaks again, his mindset harkening back to how he would speak to the Shinsengumi, given that he suddenly has a whole handful of living people to lead into a raid again, Shoto's gentle protest reminds him that it's not the same as his samurai subordinates back home. Shoto is right; he won't draw his sword to kill. And this, Shoto-kun, is why you're a special samurai. He doesn't say it out loud, again not wanting to fluster him, and simply nods decisively in response, to confirm to everyone that Shoto isn't a killer (unlike him).
When Shoto calls Kasha to his side Arashi is visibly relieved, his posture relaxing. Hijikata nods again as he gets up from his seat as well, collecting his items (including the presents from his squire).]
I'll bring the Grayi with me. We'd best only take it in the Land of Maidens. Thanks, everybody. We'll see each other tomorrow.
2/2
Burning the totem and walking into its smoke with the others is routine for him by now, and once they arrive on the small rock island in the lake he hands a pair of Float-enchanted shoes to Shoto (he already has his own) so they can walk over the water and slip behind the side of the waterfall rather than getting totally drenched. Shoto can carry Kasha across with him; Arashi and Lambrini, meanwhile, are taking the route through the air.]
You can keep the shoes, Shoto-kun, if they fit you well. I thought we're bound to wear about the same size.
[He takes out the Grayi next, a full bottle with a hollow screw top, which he fills up after unscrewing it.]
Here. I'm honestly surprised they don't seem to be watching this place, but maybe they're really still in the dark about having been uncovered... or they simply don't expect anyone to arrive via totem anymore. It is a little cumbersome.
[Once Shoto has drank the potion Hijikata follows suit, leaving them with half a bottle to probably use on a later occasion. It's a bit strange to only see the vaguest hint of movement where Shoto is standing, and nothing at all when he's all still.]
Alright, this works as designed. Let's go, Shoto-kun.
[He reaches out and gives his squire's shoulder a squeeze - half encouragement, half assurance that he's really still there (sure enough he is, steadfast as always). Hijikata leads the way ahead. He didn't promise Shoto too much about how wild and archaic this floating island is. The roots of the trees are so enormous that they have to climb rather than step over them, and the foliage is thick and splendid in its blue and turquoise tones, yet entirely harmless, unlike that in the Forest of the Fisherking. Soon they pass by the first moss- and lichen-covered statues, shaped like strange beasts, on top of which colourful songbirds chirp. Hijikata speaks quietly to avoid detection.]
This island isn't very large, so we should be able to find their hide-out soon enough--
[He pauses as an unfamiliar voice reaches them from within the dense forest.]
Yeah, a whole group of them, a whole handful! That's what the pixies said! Good thing we set 'em up to keep an eye out after those bastards spied on us! Two flyers, they said, who we missed 'cause of the damn trees, and the others have to be coming through the waterfall, so let's get those at least!
[A group of three fae exit the forest only a stone's throw away from Hijikata and Shoto, but the samurai stays calm and doesn't move. The three decicively move in the direction they came from... Hijikata slowly, carefully leans towards Shoto to whisper to him.]
Do you want to take them, or should I?
[It goes without saying that if whoever goes first can't take all three adversaries out the other one will be right there to aid him, but given that they haven't spotted them yet there's a good opportunity for a surprised ambush.]
no subject
If his power's still magic, it's little compared to the burst of strength his student's drawn from name only, feeling its warmth in an instant.
He's keeping the boots on. One more gift still to treasure. Though he can't meet his eyes at all, there's soft squeeze to veiled shoulder, Shoto too reaching back for him, his brushing passing along his "armor" spells, returning him quick, subtle magics. Two ghosts on a mission now... One marveling up at overgrowth, both like children beneath its wide stretch of shadows, so much smaller than ancient woods grow, than their bowing roots seem at first.
Once they're well through thick forest, he's leaning too to pick up on things. The squire's cold a near-constant, freezing air in tell-tale sign and stifled breath clouding over again; then, crackle of frost-lace as he readies, dry ice drawing across his cheeks again. With barely a whisper, raised on toes to spring forward, he leaves with murmuring reassurance, eyes on his targets before his speaking drifts back to him.] Leave it to me. [Just with that, wispy ghost slipping off again, their three-to-one odds the ones he's used to, his icefloes sweeping up the first fae, pushing him off behind a treeline—a wash of earthstone and ice-glass. Kasha pouncing atop the next and having swelled to his fullest height; fiery, blistering 8-foot monster now. Shoto himself surprising the last; silently chasing him a ways first, pinning body against a tree next, an overwhelming rush of crystal surging up as sharp binding. Then, palm pressed to opened jaw, ice in his moonstone sealing a mouth and Shoto's own voice a breath still, keeping the fae muted.]
Is this really worth your life? You should try living honestly. [Soft admonishment, then, quiet, hissing under breath within feral-cat's earshot,]
Kasha! [Narrowing eyes to him, knowing exactly he means to do. A man-sized paw depressing a face down, cheek to dirt to mute the whining, stuck fae trapped beneath him.] Don't. [Offering little shake of head here.] Don't eat him. [Rotten corpse-cat...! His human's making his way to stop him, sort of pushing against his monster, rough pulling tugging his victim free.] He's still alive right now. [Scolding him lightly. And, despite the obvious squirming protest, he's closing wrists in rust's trappings, clustering spells to circle limbs before he's bound them in earth-metals. Once accomplished, dragging wriggling, would-be-ribbons into a further wood's darkness, sealing him cold against a tree's roots. This one, too, gagged with ice spells.
Then immediately, soft voice seeking Hijikata, scanning dark and woods both, now; not quite calling out for him.]
Sensei? [Still a whisper, eyes sweeping dusk blindly. Even with bare hint of lighting, the squire's path's in parts crumbling, small steps trailing his own fragile ice bits, a skeletal frame snapping off of him. His movement's wraith-like. Slower.] They shouldn't be breaking out anytime soon here. We should hurry before the frostbite sets.
[Mind on the next ones; but then, he means to work quickly, to leave the swordsman as little trouble as his brute strength allows for. Fingers idly brushing sword's hilt, Kasha his shrinking, golden flames again, claiming his shoulders.]
We got lucky this time...
[Even with weapon's reassurance, increasingly anxious of what's ahead of them; afraid to lose sight of a man he can't see.]
Security might be tight up ahead.
no subject
Well done. Yeah, let's get the others fast. There should be seven of them in total according to my information, so we're almost halfway done already.
[Everything seems so easy with Shoto, even dangerous quests like this. He is such a powerhouse, and his dedication and hard training only multiply his talents. As they turn to move on, though, there's another unfamiliar voice shouting out.]
Got them!! There they are! They're invisible, but see the floating fire cat?
[While the fae was yelling to her companion something was already coming at Hijikata and Shoto through the air. While Hijikata can't make out what kind of magical attack it is he's quick to raise up a soil barrier, with a fire wall right behind it just in case. There's a sound of several spells impacting as he directs Shoto to quickly move away from behind the cover, invisible as they are - it may be best for Kasha to split from them for the time being.
He makes the earth wall collapse towards the enemies for the hell of it, even if it'll only be a minor nuisance to them. It's two of them this time, a woman wielding dark magic in both hands and a hulking tall man with what looks like a sabretooth tiger by his side. While the woman yells and curses, unable to find them anymore with their cover gone, the beast turns its head in their direction and growls, presumably having smelled them. The dark mage lets out a small triumphant cry and disappears... then reappears right behind them, at which Hijikata recalls advanced dark mages' ability to travel through shadows.]
Writhe on the floor, you cowards!
[Whether she was about to launch a pain curse or something worse in their direction, she doesn't get around to it before the ground swallows her up neatly. Hijikata will unbury her when he and Shoto are done with her companion and his pet. The man hasn't said a word thus far, but with the tiger he'll be able to at least track their rough location if they don't take it out, so Hijikata summons and launches an electricity attack, but the big cat is fast and agile with good reflexes and evades it easily enough. It charges towards them while its owner casts a protective spell on it. It may be best to split - unless Kasha wants to take care of this feline foe.]
Which one do you want?
cw: injury, animal injury
Damn it...!
[He'd been careless after all, then; blown their covers too easily, allowing his fires too close to him. Though before he can scold himself, berate himself for making this one single misstep, he's staring at flames with half-startled, only barely-suppressed surprise next; a barrage of spells raining down on them. And then as swift as this happens, shooting away where he's directed, widening eyes sweeping ground again. A blur of happenings in the seconds, catching a glimpse of dark shadow, quickly-sinking earth opened before smoothly sealing over again.
His sudden awe follows close; far less time between thought and movement; his newest opponent soon deciding, a too-large beast rushing after him. His bursts of frost leave explosive, and since he doesn't stay rooted, doesn't recognize what he's seeing being anything more than "deadly", only barely just dodging it, he calls out, whirling.] Sensei! [No, no no no... He has to draw it off; leave him! His teeth flash openly.] Leave us the cat! [Practically shouting it, the flick of his wrists fanning outwards, a spray of needles when he whirls again, hands whipping away the lasts of them.] It doesn't matter! [His mentor Hero never loses, but-!] The big one's scum without his cat-thing! [Please just trust in him, sensei! He's luring it much farther off first... Kasha's flames chasing after. His oldest tricks as new magics: blue flames pushing him from behind; thick ice gathering underfoot so he's effectively hydroplaned. His speed's a bolt's this way: his former Quirk's final "remnants"; his disappearance into a forest, the snaking ice spilling out of him. Letting this faster thing follow. His hurrying glide pushing forwards, weaving his movements around his pathway, arching his ice across a tree's roots, missing a swipe but just barely. Speeding on strips of floes and water, more shinobi more than samurai now. With a speed approaching violence, taking his risk to glance backwards.
It's just like Keith before...
That nearly endless game of tag; their winding course through dense forest—Shoto on ice; the boy-sparrow chasing. The tiger in place of white rabbits. His crawling magic used the same here, and why he never once stumbles. Only this time, he's faster; the way his boots aid the effort: hydroplaning on a Float spell, catching air to land drifting, sweeping stalagmites up beside him—a minefield strewn in raised daggers, poisons slowly showing a wear on heavy steps still behind him, keeping himself still ahead of them. Missing a lunge by sheer chance again. And, though his speed never wavers, he's catching eyes with flames opposite, heart lighting with recognition once his fire-cat reaches.
Kasha!
Lifting eyes again, desperate, tiger gaining between the two of them. His asking him's heartfelt and wordless; what he's saying still silent, frosting skin crackling loudly again: We have to strike together...! Bared teeth gritting tightly. Together or it won't work! Mind still whirling, youth's voice pitches upwards, practically shouting once demon matches, aura in golds shifting blue again.] Flashfreeze—! [Low answer in flaming inverse, beast familiar echoes back—just as practiced, just as promised for his human ward weeks ago—all bright, blazing warmths instead.] Heatwave! [Devil's Son and Hell's Chariot: boy and star burst in unison, one his speeding blue comet, the other wrapped in Absolute Zero, moon-white frosts pouring out of him. Ice to superheated nova, exploding in one violent blowback; then, sound of boy's shattered light-shield, the pairing's violent separation, pop of bone and iced fragments before he's sliding, rolling, tumbling several yards forwards, eating dirt before his spooling winds steady him.
Lying stunned for some moments, finding he can't lift to move yet, can't turn, air-in shallow breaths only. His Kasha's slimmed; his words come slow.
He thinks, instead, he's had worse.]
Just like dad...
[This hellish thing he'd began at odds with, now reliable always-companion. Kitten nosing around a tiger, letting a growl of disappointment (another "living one", barely) before he's pressed to boy's shoulder, teeth dragging him to a sit once his vivid blue shrinks again, tiny golden flames warming him.
He shakes the frost out.]
...playing nice after all this time. [Forgiving him once... Half stumbling to his feet again, a healing, warmth rinsing over him, mending the ribs first. Then, arms as if nothing's damaged; bruising skin still invisible, Kasha's glow again lighting him.] We need to find sensei. [Still dizzy, slow rise shifting into his movements, pained-head spinning with half-steps forward. His frost-web clings before he's lurched, running, racing on ice with same focus, his living candlelight trailing him.
Mending over and over: magic, flora and forest's mushrooms. Only angry irritations left.]
He won't lose to some mindless thug, but...
[No. He can't wait. Already on his way back to him!]
We're finishing this together.
no subject
As soon as Shoto confirms his choice of adversary he gives a single nod (again forgetting that he's invisible) and speeds towards the man, not looking back even once to see his squire's breakneck run on the elements with which he lures the sabretooth tiger into a dangerously close, poison-laced pursuit.
He has a good guess of what his enemy's magic types are: animal- and healing magic. Passive. An easy target. The fae douses himself in some sort of protective spell, but Hijikata doesn't care. He'll win this fight in the way he knows best: brute force. He's keenly aware of Shoto's presents, the magical power behind the gifted items in his pockets, but he won't waste those pretty new trinkets on this man. He won't need to.
While the fae still tries to locate his transparent form by his footprints in the dim twilight he practically comes flying at him, propelled up into a high jump by his wind magic, Higanbana and Rei in his hands. He renewed the elemental imbuements of both before they set out on the quest - he never wants them to be "empty", much like sacred lights that never go out. Against his expectations he doesn't collide with any invisible resistance - whatever the fae buffed himself with, it wasn't a shield. Perhaps just an auto-healing spell that'll seal up any wounds he might incur... but oh, how the unseelie miscalculated. The knights who have come to this jungle island aren't the kind who will "maybe land a hit". He and Shoto could annihilate this whole circle of conspirators if they wanted to. So before the fae can blink he's on his back on the ground, Hijikata on top of him, blades crossed at his throat - just in the moment when Shoto's Flashfreeze Heatwave rings out.]
One move and your head rolls. You can feel my swords, yeah?
[The question comes with the backdrop of the enormous, supernova-like explosion, so strong that it momentarily shakes the ground in the vicinity. The man, taciturn as before - now shell-shocked, maybe - only responds with an mute nod. It would be hard for him not to sense the searing heat and the biting cold across his throat, even if the elements are hidden inside the blades until the moment they strike. Hijikata stands up, sensing surrender, and rolls him on his stomach with a satisfied kick, sheathing the shortswords, then fishes out the handcuffs and turns his other hand in the direction of where he split paths with Shoto to make the soil there spit out the other unseelie.
All the action happened in a flurry of fast movements, both on his part and on Shoto and Kasha's, so the woman was buried for less than 2 minutes, but that was long enough for her to be on the verge of suffocation. She breathes in so desperately that she immediately has an ugly coughing fit, having gotten dirt in her lungs and everywhere else in her desperate scramble to somehow dig herself out with no air. Hijikata, having handcuffed and secured her companion, marches over to give her the same treatment, looking out for Shoto and Kasha on the way. He sees the tiger on the ground, barely breathing - if it's lucky its master's spell will repair at least the worse damage. There's Kasha, too, small and cat-like again now... he senses Shoto next to his familiar more than he sees him as they approach, and it's for the better that he has no idea about his injuries, regardless of how fast he is healing them.]
Pity I couldn't watch your fireworks!
[He'd love to add on a 'Shoto-kun', but with the unseelie listening in (if she can even concentrate on that through her miserable hacking and wheezing) he won't reveal his name. He stands up and throws the coughing fae over his shoulder to find a more concealed spot to leave her bound in.]
Let's check on the others before we move on - if the last couple don't make it here first.
[He doesn't want the fae already captured getting loose somehow! Even though he, Shoto and Kasha came out on top so far and even caught the first group by complete surprise thanks to the Greyi and the darkness, this group is dangerous and won't hesitate to go for the kill if given the chance.]
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He's blinking up.]
Fireworks? [O... oh.] You heard all that?
Had he rattled the island? He's sort of looking through Hijikata, then, raised eyes wandering to the fae instead, hearing her stress more anything. The other's too transparent, and Shoto cants his head, thoughtful; listening, examining through ears while trying to scent or sense blood on him, eyes unable to look him over. Then, finding nothing in way of injuries, he moves immediately on the next things said: leaving only trace of chill and lingering colds brushing past again. Dry frost dropping around his boots instead, shedding his last bits of crystal. His answer's a murmur.]
Let's head back then. [Hijikata's so thorough!] I shouldn't have worried about you at all, though. [Not one bit before.] I knew you'd win before we'd started things. [Peering back though it's pointless, soft words keeping an air of distance, something in squire's cautious tone both impassive and measured.] You're in a completely different league from these guys. [As if the fae isn't listening, an almost loathing disregard for both the fae and fae's magics. Not because he's strong himself, but for wasting his mentor's energy. His next's come just about as cold in ways; flat, mixture of truth and harshness both now; here the fae he's glancing back to.]
You're lucky it's just a cough...
[Not the kindest words, honestly; but this is his soft way of scolding, reminding her still to be grateful. It isn't intuition only that whispers what he's capable of. His student vividly recalls the violence promised towards that "wooden" thing; thinks how every fae's fortunate here.]
It's because sensei isn't like you guys. You're only alive because he's kind instead, because he has honor more than anything.
[He says this, though quickening pace hastens sharply, something riling him up so terribly he feels nearly eaten alive in it. And, well... he isn't in best of moods anyways. All this fighting glassing him over again, a little icing shell forming. These monsters meant to kill his sensei—would, he knows, if handed the chance. But gentlest heart's reached its limits, and his feels strained and too fiery, hammering too quickly in bruising-soft mending ribs now. And he thinks, how dare they put sensei in danger again; what a joke of a worthless cause to choose. He's so annoyed his flushing cheeks frost, and so it doesn't help at all how fractured limbs are still setting, knitting themselves to link silently. But Kasha's hopping him in an instant, licking a cheek to pull him present, thawing the heart freezing over.
Completely connected now. Having backtracked towards their starting's point, he's quiet and edgeless in his softening, thawing each fae with cool detachment, fiery palm to frozen structures loosening crushed ice and moonstone. And still he doesn't singe clothes, keeps still-gentled flames mild despite blue's powers to ruin; Kasha growing to free a second before looking to Hijikata, his heavy paw stilling movement. And, though Shoto's calmed again in the interim, he grows ice on sharp fingers, digging in shoulders just enough to send his quiet, clear message:
Hurt the knight, and I'll cause an ice-age.
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He doesn't correct his squire, though, knowing it would only draw protests. Once again he can only wonder what he sees in him... but he's grateful. Shoto's unending trust and faith constantly push him to be the best mentor he can be, to reevaluate his methods and keep his abilities sharp and strong.
Seeing Kasha quickly run off shows him that Shoto is going ahead to check on the trio he left trapped in bindings of soil, rocks and ice, so he, too, hurries to secure to duo he subdued - leaving them separate from each other, each handcuffed, thoroughly shocked into unconsciousness with quickly summoned lightning, and likewise trapped in elemental cocoons, a mimicry of Shoto's work, less refined, but good enough. Then he follows the boy, having no idea how much cold anger has been burning inside of him over these enemies.
He reaches Shoto in time to find the first of the three fae undone from his trappings, and he does handcuff the man (who actually was awake and recovered enough, just barely, to consider attacking the first invisible enemy who came back to him, but decided against it when he saw Kasha's fierce eyes singing a metaphorical hole through his head).]
You didn't have to free him. I just wanted to check on them and give them another ass-kicking if needed. You secured them better than I could.
[The fae in front of them looks a little too focused for Hijikata's liking, and the last thing they need is for him to launch a mental attack on them with cognitive magic or teleport away with kinetic magic, or whatever else he may be able to do, so he gives him a shock as well, sending him into unconsciousness.]
Let's make sure the others are still where you put them, and let's be quiet so they don't know we're there--
[He interrupts himself at the sound of distant explosions deeper in the jungle. While he tries to decide which item they should prioritise - they definitely need to check that out, but he doesn't want those trapped fae giving them trouble later - the sound of wingbeats approaches, and after a few moments Arashi comes within sight and starts landing, having spotted Kasha. Hijikata motions for Shoto to meet him a little further away from the knocked-out enemy, just in case.]
What's going on?!
[The crow tengu nervously wrings his hands, clearly stressed out beyond measure.]
Lambrini and I found the camp of these-- these people. I urged her to not make our presence known and instead report back to you, all the more when they sent two group members to "take care" of you, but when the remaining ones started some kind of ritual to-- well, she, Lambrini that is, said it was to summon a monster-- she attacked! She used one of those light bombs, maybe several--
[Hijikata heard enough. He's already running towards the ongoing commotion, trusting Shoto and Kasha to be right behind him.
When they reach the vicinity of the camp there's shouting and fighting, and while they're still trying to make sense of what's going on they see the unseelie whom Lambrini was evidently holding hostage in mid-air and using as a human shield disappears from her grip - so this is a kinetic mage, Hijikata thinks grimly - and reappear on top of her. The harpy cries out as the fae roughly grips and forcibly folds her wings, soundly crashing her into the ground.
Whatever ritual the two fae were attempting clearly got majorly disrupted, with the circle on the ground having its borders smeared and items, including a small cauldron that had something magical brewing in it, strewn all over the place. While the one unseelie gets up from the crash-landing, groaning and giving Lambrini an angry kick that makes her scream loudly, the other one starts summoning vines to tie the harpy up in. Hijikata's voice is quiet, but Shoto can probably sense his subdued anger.]
One kinetic mage, one green mage. Who knows what else they've got. Which one do you want?