thenearshore | † There's a light, there's a sun †

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† There's a light, there's a sun †

Who: Allen Walker, Lavi, and later Lux
Where: Takamagahara
When: June 27th
Summary: Prayer #20: Spring Cleaning. Lavi and Allen come across a giant ~~area boss~~ muck ayakashi the day both of Allen's shinki are bonding on their own British mission halfway across the world. This will only end in blight and tears yet somehow a very sad shounen victory, clearly. ~~The idiots rolled a 20 out of 20.~~

[ Takamagahara. The streets are sticky with more than just a bit of spring mud as it would seem like a bog has risen up from the ground, through storm grates and whatever place it could find to ooze from. Sucking down anyone it could who treads without care--and appearing just a bit too translucent to be truly solid. Too otherworldly to be truly grounded in reality.

Something that builds up and up until it slowly begins to tower like a lurching mountain. A heavy schlucking sound as it moves; first a roil of blob that becomes a mountain. Begins to reach almost as if it's trying to grow arms--before slushing in a heavy wave against a building. (Growing more solid?

...More intelligent? Something that will blight anything in its path that it can.)

It's why Allen arrives at the outskirts of its floodpath somewhat breathlessly. Breathless--and noticeably without either of his shinki as well. But keeping at a safe height on rooftop, coming cresting finally where he could see the devastation the ayakashi--the biggest he's seen aside from the harmless whale-like one in the sky before... he has to stop and suck in his breath, his left eye adjusting to the presence that spreads out almost as far as the eye can see from its epicenter.

It's tainted half the city... ]

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[What was he doing here?

It had been on some part of Lavi to stumble upon this tainted city, seeing the way the streets were filled with some kind of muck, sticking to whatever it can. He had heard of Takamagahara, but not once did he expect this.

The ayakashi that did this--

He walks up behind Allen, staring at the destruction the ayakashi had left in its wake and he can practically feel the negativity in the air as it seems to move around the streets.

Lavi presses his lips together, staring at the streets before he glances over at Allen.

Where was Lux?]

Allen.

[ The voice from behind catches Allen offguard, caught up in the sight of the wake of devastation, given how he jerks a little as he turns around, his cursed eye immediately on the other with how he's turned. But it's not that he looks surprised to see Lavi—it's that he looks pained. Because it hurts, looking at such a thing and what it's done (what it's become). Even if it's perhaps the pain Allen is used to the most and would never willingly give up even to his dying breath.

And yet despite that is also glad to see the other as much as he's probably the last person Allen expected to see.

Though is it really? Even with every painful thing that's between them now, it isn't the first time he's looked back when facing danger and seen the shinki right behind him. ]

Lavi.. [ The way he says it—it's like a soft-spoken, fluttered kind of "thank goodness" where hope trumps disbelief.

He also can't help but notice the other seems alone.

Had they both come here to fight it then? Did that mean Lavi's god was nearby? ]

I didn't think that a single one—affecting so much... [ Even in their world, where a single akuma could be so powerful and nearly destroy their entire home. But to become such a degenerate thing that tainted so much that even the air itself seemed like it was beginning to rot... ]

[Seeing that cursed eye again, it sends a chill down Lavi's spine, and certainly not in a good way.

But even now, even when it was just the two of them, some part of the redhead honestly believes that the two of them can do it. If it's the two of them, regardless if they're not a god and shinki pair, they might be able to succeed.

Right?

(He ignores the part where he hadn't told Cardia where he was going and how doing this - the possibility of being blighted - will hurt her)

Lavi frowns a bit at hearing Allen call his name in that kind of tone, as if he wasn't expecting Lavi to be there.

Then again, he can't blame him.

But the pain is hard to ignore, so he places a hand on Allen's shoulder - too brief, too fleeting to know if the touch was real or not.]

It's definitely a big one.

[He feels choked, but Lavi isn't one to back down.

A faint look of amusement as he musters up a small smirk at Allen.]

But we can get rid of it if it's two of us, right?

[ If it's the two of us?

He will get a surprised look from Allen at that. The briefly awestruck kind. Since after all, Lavi...

...usually it would be Allen who would say that. With the redhead being so much more distant than Allen was used to. On again and off again.

These days, at least. Much to the continued deepening grief the younger Exorcist continues to shoulder between all three of the shinki he knew from before. ]

R—of course! [ It's a little blurted as he's still blinking for a second. It's not that he had any intention of not fighting it to vanquish it, but for Lavi to, Lavi who tried to run away from their first fight and do anything but fight together...

...for a moment be so much like Lavi... ]

I just didn't think— [ maybe he should stop talking, don't question a good thing—dont question something that hurts that you ever have to question it in the first place ]

—you're alright with that...?

["--you're alright with that...?"

Lavi can understand Allen's hesitance, he really does, and in some way, he does feel a little bad.

Just a little.

But with his differing opinions on Allen, it can't be helped. He wants to stay far but draw close; he wants to help, but at the same time, fight the god. He's not sure why that is, but Lavi doesn't like dwelling on it.

Dwelling means wondering and wondering can mean--

That smirk widens into a reassuring grin.]

If I wasn't, I wouldn't have said so in the first place.

[He trusts Allen, yet at the same time, he doesn't.

A little nudge of their shoulders, a little bit of Lavi that Allen knew once before.] What was it that you've told me? We're comrades.

[ ...! ]

[ Stupid Lavi. ]

Haha, I did... [ It's a weak laugh but it feels good, even if the god scrubs a little at his cheek for a moment. Just offhandedly. Since that is, after all, probably the hardest part of the whole thing for Allen. The hardest thing to try and cover up.

I miss you. ]

[ There's a rumbling from down below, where the ayakashi has attempted to rise up again and solidify. To rise this time like a drooping skull of sludge and slime. One that seems to be made of smaller heads that drip off it, moaning in chorus as they slide back into the muck.

To most people, it'd be chilling. Horrifying.

And it's something that, as Allen's attention turns back to it—renewed now, with a greater sense of purpose—makes him look with a sobered kind of pity. And he taps the other boy's shoulder briefly before indicating. Alright; the task at hand. ]

The main part of it, the center— [ His voice...

It gets softer, actually. Like it's with... surprise—but the surprise at seeing an old friend. ]

—I can see its soul. [ Not just sense it, the ayakashi's presence. Or their true forms more easily and quickly than most. The otherworldly phantoms that feed off the darkness in people's hearts. This one has one singular, recognizable soul.

If it were still recognizable in any real capacity, the poisoned heart of it deep within that mass of everything else it's absorbed. ]

Edited 2017-03-21 02:23 (UTC)

[A curt nod as Lavi pays attention to the ayakashi.

He tilts his head, listening to Allen, and just--

Soul.

It makes Lavi's lips twist into a frown.]

But can we get help it if we reach its soul?

[If they can, somehow, manage to reach its soul, can they get rid of it? But there's another rumbling, enough to shake the buildings now.

Lavi studies the ayakashi briefly before studying the layout of the city as much as he can.]

[ But can we help it?

It gets a slightly surprised expression from Allen, who tries to read the redhead's expression for a moment. Just lightly so. Before he turns back to the ayakashi below and gives a nod. ]

I believe that's why we exist.

[ Absolute conviction, plainly and simply said. Easing the darkness in people's hearts—

It means helping the living and the dead. ]

[Lavi's expression is closed off when Allen tries to read it.

"I believe that's why we exist."

There's something...familiar about those words, but at the same time, Allen isn't wrong either.

This is their job as a god and a shinki - to get rid of ayakashi. But it's nice to hear that conviction in Allen's voice as if he suddenly found some renewed strength, and it makes Lavi nearly smile.

Nearly.

He gives a nod then.]

Alright. Got a plan?

[ You should probably be worried about the slightly... wreathed smile Allen has as he turns to you, Lavi.

Given it's a touch sheepish. ]

Go for the center? [ I mean, the area it covers is huge, but there's a relatively small central heart of it... It's about as much foresight and logic as you'll get from a shounen hero, Lavi. ]

I can weaken it with--the ability I have. [ Innocence, of course, and he catches himself from calling it as such only just barely. God-instinct warning that would probably be a bad idea, something so specific. He's already worried about Lavi in that regard, triggering a dangerous number of memories too quickly in him.

Even if it's so hard for Allen to explain it next, because it makes him define akuma in the way he hates. ]

It's an anti-demon weapon of sorts.

Anti-demon?

[A tilt of his head as he looks at Allen for a moment.

It...sounded like an interesting weapon, he'll admit. But there's a question there that he wants to ask.

Will it work?

The fact that Allen suggests to go straight for the center doesn't exactly give Lavi a good feeling about this. It was a very bad idea.]

While I might be all for trying to get to the center, how do you propose we do that?

[A glance at the ayakashi. He can't see the heart like Allen can, so he'll have to depend on him for that, but--

Lavi inspects the nearby buildings, watching the way the ayakashi moved. It may seem to be a random occurrence, but these things always have a sort of pattern as to how they moved.]

We'll need to find somewhere we can get close enough to get to it.

Something that can purify a soul. When its become corrupted and lost itself... it's what can still save it.

What can exorcise it. [ And are ayakashi that different? Besides the fact the effect is lessened on them. That he can't destroy them entirely, and that is incredibly frustrating.

He's also not thinking that far ahead at the moment.

But he's trying to be so, so careful. And it's one of the reasons he speaks softly. ]

[ Which is another reason he just turns and smiles to the taller boy more brightly then. Something both a little whimsical and hard to read about it. Sprightly almost; like imparting the best sort of secret. ]

It'll be alright. Creatures like this—they're what I've fought before. [ We've fought worse before. Before here.

But as if to answer Lavi's question, a familiar white glow springs as a cowl of feathers around his neck and unfurls as his cloak. A masquerade mask in white and gold nestled at his collar again, left hand once again transformed and sharply clawed.

This would be easier if Lavi had his Innocence since it'd be easier to get around on his hammer, but... ]

It might seem a little weird for getting around, but—

[ crack ]

Edited 2017-03-22 00:56 (UTC)

[ wait ]

—"crack"? [ did that come from beneath them

is that the building

The answer is yes, yes it is. Looks like that ooze can melt an infrastructure really fast when it wants to. Namely the whole foundation of the building they're standing on. Especially when the ayakashi below seems to have taken note of them, might not appreciate the sudden flare of the god's holy ability above—and falls against the side of it in a shuddering wave that splits cracks up the side.

Brace yourselves boys, down she comes. ]

[He recognizes the cowl and the mask.

It was hard not to, and seeing the Allen smile like that--

Would it really be okay?]

Can it be hard to get around with--

[Wait.]

[Is that the building?]

[Fuck.]

Allen!

[ If you were going to say "that hand" he might punch you, Lavi. With it. If he could make a fist.

Good thing the building interrupts? ]

Lavi! [ It's a rollercoaster of rubble as the roof breaks apart and begins to slide down, a little slowly as everything begins to tip and then dropping off very suddenly. There's nowhere that's even safe to grab onto so, where—

—where be damned. With kneejerk desperation he flings his right hand out to grab the other's, please let him not miss, before they get separated in the landslide.

( Not again. ) ]

[He could feel himself beginning to slide down, his knees nearly giving out at the sudden movement.

Lavi grits his teeth, trying to prevent himself from sliding down to where the ayakashi was waiting for them.

His head jerks up when he hears Allen call his name, seeing him fling out his right hand towards him.

(Why did this have to happen?)

Lavi lunges forward to grab that hand, though, holding tightly as the building continues to collapse on them.]

[ He's relieved certainly for that small favor. But as to what next... Allen grits his teeth. Everything is falling around their ears, there's nothing solid enough for him to grab onto and no time. Shit..

There's a jutting metal girder that seems to not be falling with everything else and that's just going to have to do, so right as the roar beneath them of stone and drywall pulverizing itself on the ground seems to be rushing up too fast—there's a thin tendril of that snaps out towards it.

Like a ribbon.

One that'll pull taut and bring them to an abrupt and jarring stop a short distance above the mounded remains of the building. Hard, enough to knock the wind out of lungs and wrench shoulders—but safe from being buried and the toxic ooze beneath.

Just. Give Allen a moment to dangle there like that, almost like a puppet from holding onto Lavi with one hand and a thread of Innocence from the left shoulder tethering him to the girder above. ]

Lavi... [ It sounds a little—tight. Strained. Don't let go.

Don't let go no matter what.

There's a small tremor in his hand, but it might be from being suspended on what's essentially a gossamer ribbon from a great height. ]

...are you alright?

Edited 2017-03-22 03:08 (UTC)

[The jerk of stopping has Lavi clinging onto Allen's hand, a puff of air escaping from him at the movement.

They were dangling now, keeping them above from the ayakashi as it begins to move again. There was something about this that had Lavi feel a brief - a flicker - of panic.

He lifts his head to look at Allen, hearing the strain in his voice and seeing the tremor in his hand.

How long can he keep them both up?

And yet Allen was asking if he's alright. How laughable.]

Just dandy.

[Don't let go. It's what he wants to convey to Allen, but they don't have time.

Right now, they were practically bait for the ayakashi, and who knows how much longer until it finally gains a solid form and attempt to attack them again?

He cranes his neck a bit, spotting a nearby rooftop and he squeezes Allen's hand.]

Can you throw me to the next rooftop?

[It'll hurt like hell if Allen succeeds, but right now, Lavi has to be able to believe in the young god.

Keep them both alive, Allen.]

[ It's—actually a good idea, even if it's insane. And you call him reckless, Lavi. But Allen's expression clears before it sobers again, following the other's boy's glance the the adjacent roof, before he gives a faint nod, a little too out of breath still to waste it on words.

Right. He can do that (probably). This is probably going to suck a lot Lavi, but...

Teeth grit he swings himself for a moment—momentum, at least a little. And then swings again, a little further this time. Just enough to get a longer swing, and then one again—which will have to be enough, as the ayakashi that's now much closer to eye level with them, as it's beginning to rise up into what's taking on a much more solid form, like it's finding literal feet.

It's actually rising above them now and beginning to cast a shadow.

So Allen's eyes will flick back to connect with the shinki's for a moment, just a moment in what's quieter sort of fleeting expression. Almost like the last sort of look someone will give over their shoulder before heading into the lion's den on their own.

A hopeful, if sobered look.

You better pull this off or he'll haunt you.

Because then he brings his arm back next and, swinging Lavi with everything he's got—lets go. Bodily flinging the redhead up and in a high arc to the next rooftop despite his poor leverage.

Good thing if there's anything Allen has, it's good arm strength. ]

Edited 2017-03-22 03:42 (UTC)

[It's a reckless idea, but one that Lavi hopes will work.

(In the end, aren't both of them reckless, anyway?)

But the ayakashi earns Lavi's attention for a split second, that shadow casting over them like a foreshadowing of what's to come. And wouldn't that be the highlight of their lives right now?

His eyes meets Allen's, seeing that look.

A brief squeeze of the hand.

He'll be fine.

And then he's being swung! Fortunately, it happens fast and Lavi is relieved that Allen seems to have good arm strength at least to swing him up into a high arc because at least he reaches the adjacent rooftop.

He instinctively rolls upon landing on the rooftop, the shock of the impact making itself briefly known and he grimaces a bit.

But it's gone as quick as it came and he quickly spins in order to look for Allen.]

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† There's a light, there's a sun †

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