thenearshore | [closed] See the devil on the doorstep now

[ Yes. The whole tree.

It's debatable if ayakashi have thought processes beyond malice, hatred and hunger, but at this point it seems like rending the first wolf ayakashi might have put the other one into a frenzied rage.

Backing up one more time, its "fur" bristling as the malice-filled miasma grows thicker still, it lets out one deep, furious yowl before rushing forward and ramming the tree one more time full-force. And for a moment all is peacefully silent, until—

CRAAAAAAACK.

Balance and ~~lack of~~ luck (probably) can't save you now! Timber!! ]

[ This is why he can't have nice things.

Stay??? Go??? Ride it out/be crushed??!

Yelping when the tree suddenly begins to give way, Allen hesitates until it begins to pitch—and pick up speed. Going it is then.]

Edited 2017-06-03 03:47 (UTC)

[ Jumping off, Crown Clown billows as it catches the wind—and another ribbon shoots out form his wrist to wrap to a neighboring branch for leverage. Staying in the treetops is just a sodding awful idea right now, so even if the ground isn't much safer...

He swings downward to drop neatly in a crouch, with Lux as Kouki still in hand and held at his side—and raises his head in the direction the ayakashi last was. Expression sobering, eyes narrowed slightly as they adjust to the darkness and the left seeks.

...here they can fight. ]

Edited 2017-06-03 03:47 (UTC)

[ And as the tree comes crashing down and Allen lands both of them in a crouch, the large purple beast seems to have made an all too timely exit. Judging from the crackle of malevolence hanging heavy in the air, however, it can't have gotten far.

Unlike the other ayakashi, however, this one seems less inclined to cover most of its tracks, a purple trail of mist weaving listlessly deeper into the woods. ]

...Are you all right?

[ She speaks! Although it's somewhat hesitant and soft, like someone forcing themselves to focus, or to not be heard. Like someone spooked. ]

[ So quietly...?

Some of the sternness slips from his expression as he looks down to the sword in his hand. To be replaced with concern instead, though his attention is still primarily on the ayakashi and the purple trail disappearing into the woods. Did it really leave...? Trying to get them to fall into another ambush? ]

I'm okay. [ He really is but that isn't the point..! It's still dangerous and it could double back on them at any moment, but should he let her form revert? Was something wrong? ]

Lux, are you...?

I'm glad.

[ Message received, and denied. It's almost terse the way she cuts him off at the chase, those two words coming out too quickly for everything to be fine just with that.

The cold ache gone from his hand, in its stead is the ever present light of her presence, although greatly diminished. ]

...Sorry. I don't know what happened back there. Something about these ayakashi—

[ This isn't like me. She almost says in frustration, but bites it back. Not that she could hide that from him, not in this state. So instead, after a moment of silence, she speaks again. ]

I couldn't see which way it went. Staying here is just asking for another ambush, but we're at a disadvantage no matter what we do.

[ Is she apologizing...? But she seems mad, too. Frustrated. Off.

(But Lux... they defeated it.)

He's a bit bewildered, hesitating before he responds. His fingertips are numb... that light, it had felt cold at first, even through Crown Clown. Was that why?

He looks in the direction the ayakashi departed, silent for a moment. Shoulders back, chin lifting. ]

I know. [ And he does close his eyes and sigh in some resignation then. Haaah, no, it's true... He's used to this.

Existing as bait to lure out monsters. ]

It's alright.

[ She's glad for that, but as far as her own contribution...

It was involuntary. The fear, and her sudden reaction. And even if she's begun to calm down, there's this queasy, wrong sort of feeling in the pit of her stomach. Frustrated doesn't even begin to describe it, doesn't quite do this feeling justice.

But lingering in that feeling was deadly right now, in far too many ways, and the shinki tries to force that cold, worrying feeling out, for the time being. And there were more pressing matters. Like why the ayakashi would act so erratically, doing everything it could to knock them out of the tree only to run off again? Why not just try an assault from above, like— ]

...

[ That might be it. The way it's acting... ]

...Let me revert back, and use Crown Clown to stay out of sight in the trees.

[ Her voice like steel, that note of apprehension from before is gone. If her theory is correct— ]

And be ready to call me back when I tell you.

[ Even if it's with a surprised blink, he'll do so immediately as he was already torn about if he should keep her in her weapon form; it's safer like that for both of them and the only way to truly exorcise an ayakashi, but if she's unsettled...

He gives a smooth flick of his wrist, like holding his hand out, palm up. ]

Revert, Lux.

[ However... ]

Edited 2017-06-03 18:54 (UTC)

[ If she thought that meant he was agreeing to the full plan she's going to be mistaken. Given the instant she materializes again, well—

He's a bit animated. ]

Stay out of sight??

[ No!! No he absolutely will not!! Not to let her be the bait!! ]

[ Oh good, they were on the same page— ]

[ Or not, apparently, judging from the near 180 he takes as soon as she materializes in front of her.

Letting out a long, somewhat exasperated sigh, Lux puts a hand on one hip, leaning to that side. If you were going to gripe, then do it while she's still a sword, so they don't make a scene!! ]

We need to surprise it before—

[ It does exactly what she was going to say.

Cutting her off was the sound of a ghastly snarl before the great beast charges in again from behind, making way for the god first. Teeth bared, instead of attempting to ram into him like before, the ayakashi attempts to go in for a bite instead, aiming for his midsection.

She's not going to tell you that she told you so, Allen, or that her plan probably would have worked (not right now, at least), but, well... ]

This is why I said–!

[ Bickering and telling him she was right can come later, when they both walk out of here in some definition of alive. Charging toward him, the shinki reaches for his hand. Now or never! ]

[ THEN THERE WAS NEVER ENOUGH TIME TO BEGIN WITH...... ]

[ But let's not argue because he knows it's pointless anyway. Also he's about to be missing his midsection otherwise. ]

Come...

[ Really not enough time... so he turns anyway, pivoting on his heel in a whirl of luminescent white. Not to Lux, not to take her hand and leave his side exposed—

But to meet the ayakashi head on with his left arm raised and the right outstretched behind him. Braced—with his eyes dead set on its maw. This could end terribly but he really hopes it doesn't. Will have faith it doesn't.

Like trusting Crown Clown to be there in his hand when he called. ]

Kouki!

Edited 2017-06-03 21:21 (UTC)

[ IT WOULD HAVE BEEN IF HE HAD JUST STUCK TO THE PLAN!!!

But that's here and gone, and what she's left with now is two things. A raging wolf ayakashi with the intent of making a certain exorcist-turned-angel into its midnight snack; and same exorcist-turned-angel intending to face this attack.

And block it with his arm.

Because of course he is.

Even if she knew it wouldn't do any good, even if Lux was very keenly aware that by running toward him wouldn't actually help the process (much), the shinki springs forward, sprinting full-tilt. ]

Allen, you—

[ And as her name rings through the dead of night, her form disappears, transported in a display of radiant light to his left hand and materializing as a sword, that doesn't mean she's left without anything she can do.

Because the moment she feels them connect, she'll drag his right arm with him to meet the ayakashi head-on if she's able. Forcefully, if she has to.

Very forcefully, actually, because— ]

You damned idiot!

[ She might be just a liiiiiittle angry with him at the moment. ]

[ Ah, he’s never quite heard her that mad before…. ]

[ Still, digging his heels in, he grips tight as she forms as Kouki. Behind his back, where it won’t see...

Aaa, it’s pretty huge. A hulking animal spirit of pure malice and hunger. Too big, he can’t go at it in one hit like he would with Crown Clown.

This hit has to count. And his right arm buckles for a moment, holding back against the desire to swing forward for a moment. Nng…

Please trust in him. He’ll be fine with his Innocence. Just-- ]

Then… [ Stop fighting him too. ]

...stop being so stubborn yourself! [ It’s on him, and he’ll let himself get picked up and carried off, his left forearm jammed in with its teeth. Will grit his own--and swing with all her frustration and all of his own to pierce it straight through the side of its head. ]

REND!

[ She wouldn't be so mad at him if he actually listened! It's as simple as that!

Feeling him hold back against her own direction to strike, one that, yes, is much more forceful than she might otherwise be, but is fueled by that desire to keep him safe, she doesn't stop until he finally barks back at her,

Stop being so stubborn yourself!

He might not be able to see her face, but the moment he speaks, she freezes, too momentarily stunned to keep fighting him. He just— ]

...

[ Even as the ayakashi's jaws clamp down on his left, armored arm, and the monster begins to drag the both of them with it, she doesn't budge. That frustration from before, however, continues to mount, as the sword in his hand begins to shine brighter.

And when Allen finally starts to swing, she lets loose, a trail of golden light following its path to cleave through the creature with one clean, swift motion. ]

HAAAAH!

[ For a split second, it seems like nothing happens. Then, all at once, the ayakashi rears up, letting the exorcist go as it lets out a chilling, pained wail before, like its partner before, rent into nothingness.

The miasma that once clung to every inch of the woods slowly fades, and the night no longer seems so dark and oppressive. The sword in his right hand still glowing faintly, her presence finally beginning to calm down. ]

[ Getting let go as the beast reared up—that means he gets flung. But you know that's alright, because—as the ayakashi splits apart with light and dissipates—it worked.

So he lands a bit heavily— ] Oof. [ —in the loam and ow there's a rock in his back, but...

But his left eye eases and deactivates and the air becomes easier to breath as the cloying dark seems to lift and it's the regular night sky once again. So he breaths out for a moment and relaxes—Kouki, her vessel form, still in his hand and flat against the moss.

That was it then; just the two of them. ]

Haaah. . . [ Somehow he feels more drained than he should. Maybe a little because.. he yelled at her a bit, didn't he? In the heat of the moment. But—he hadn't ever done that before. ]

Lux— [ There's something hard to read in his tone. Soft; tired. Still flat on his back and his eyes peaceably closed. But Crown Clown winks out so that it goes dark around them again and the only light is from her; his undamaged left arm becoming at least partially more human. ]

Revert.

Edited 2017-06-04 01:39 (UTC)

[ The sword in his hand winking out of existence with a flutter of warm, golden light, the shinki it once was reappears once more, crouched down at his side and looking a bit drained herself.

(That got a little heated, didn't it..?)

Exhaling gently, she offers a hand down to him and, with it, an apologetic smile. Sorry, she might have gotten a little carried away back there. ]

Here.

[ Her offer gets a wry, lopsided smile from Allen. Hahaha... ow. ]

Thank you, but... I think I'm okay like this for a moment. [ Aha.. ha. Please. Thinking of moving just sounds awful right now... How about he doesn't. One leg bent to the side and askew and you know, somehow this is oddly comfortable. His back might even re-crack into place. He'll be a whole new man!!! ...god. Man-god. Boy.

Whatever. ]

Are you alright, Lux...?

Edited 2017-06-04 02:19 (UTC)

[ Allen, how is that position even remotely comfortable, just—

You know what, it's probably best not to ask. Rocks in one's spine are apparently therapeutic, she had no idea. Nor is she really jumping at the chance to really find out just how therapeutic it is.

So with a sigh, she readjusts as well, to sit down at his side and lean back on the heels of her hands. Sits there for a second, readjusts again...

Then exhales and lays back as well, arms out as she closes her eyes. Maybe it was the adrenaline beginning to wear off, but everything felt heavy. She wasn't hurt like he was (blighted? Technically because of her..?), but the ache that came from holding her form longer than she was used to.

Hopefully he won't mind her joining him, although at that question she turns her head toward him with a surprised blink. Was she—

Oh. Right, earlier, when the first ayakashi charged them in the tree tops... ]

I'm exhausted.

[ Probably not the answer he was looking for, but it wasn't quite a lie. It wasn't completely the truth, either, but it would have to do. ]

And you? How is your arm?

[ Not blighted. Even Allen wouldn't default to being so reckless if he didn't believe that he wouldn't be. His arm isn't human in the slightest when it comes to its makeup and composition; his DNA was rewritten and it is living Innocence. Darkness and corruption; it's immune to that. Allen himself, being a parasitic-type where it's literally in his blood... it's not as effective as it was against dark matter corruption, but he can slowly purge himself of moderate blighting similarly as he gets more used to fighting something like dark matter but not entirely. And Crown Clown despite its appearance is a full set of living body armor made from the same.

It's why he wanted her to trust him; like he trusts his Innocence.

So he smiles a little ruefully at the question and extends his left hand up; holding it high aloft and spreading his gloved fingers wide. ]

Fighting against something like that is why it exists. [ Why it'll be fine. ~~He's been through a lot worse with it.~~

But he doesn't lower his hand right away. His smile flickering a little instead, and he slowly curls his fingers into his palm. ]

I yelled at you though. [ Like a cad. What kind of guy yells at a girl who just means him well. The lowest. ]

I'm sorry.

Edited 2017-06-04 02:49 (UTC)

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