thenearshore | 23 - Crazy Cat Shuffle

Performance... boost?

[U n s u r e. But she shakes her head again.]

No, no. I have no preference. My skill with it is not going to be masterful regardless, so as long as I can lift it, that will have to do.

[And, admittedly, she is a bit curious to see what kind of weapon Archer will craft for her if she doesn't give him specific instructions.]

Caster means runes, spells that help you move faster or hit harder. [Archer gives a short explanation noticing her confusion.

He extends one hand palm upwards and murmurs the incantation.]

Trace On.

[In a burst of blueish light appear two swords.] If you throw one while still wielding the other it will return to your hand.

[ Archer... you... hopeless dumbass. Caster gets a sudden, very strong urge to facepalm like he never facepalmed before ]

Sword makes sense, but did you miss the part when she was talking about one-handed weapons.

[ Not about dual-wielding twin swords. You could make ONE sword. But no, of course not, you have to be over the top. Why are you even showing off, it's not your job here. ]

Carrying two blades kind of make impossible having a free off-hand.

[oh no is the wingman overstepping his bounds, is there going to be a duel for the princess' hand--]

... I can see the intent, I think. I could throw one, use my magic, and then catch it, but... I think perhaps that might be adding too many variables to an already risky situation.

[She... smiles a little? At least? He tried and that's what counts??]

They are lovely blades, but perhaps we need to think even simpler.

[This is a honest mistake, he's too used to those swords. Archer is trying to find a simpler blade, one that he has copied for himself.]

My apologies. I'm too used to those swords.

[Twin swords vanish and the light fluidly changes shape, solidifying into a simple dagger.]

[ Wingman is a troll, that makes him sort of unpredictable to use.

Magic for long distance, shanking for something that sneaks up close- yeah, sound strategy. Caster whips out the druid start out of thin air- that weapon on itself won't be much of use when they face the ayakashi - he'll need something else then, something reasonable if Archer is going to try and arm two people at once - but just for focusing the magic, it will do. ]

You can give me that sword- [ There is not even a sigh of disappointment to that decision - they don't have time for complaining. Besides he gets the gist that blades are somehow the easiest variation of weapons provided, then he turns to Zelda ] -let me handle the frontlines, princess.

[ Much chivalry, only it wasn't yet invented in that form in his times, and- ]

I'll keep them a good target for you. [ He adds with a grin. Sure he will help and save a comrade in battle, because that's what they are now. They both got a history of being trained my shadow-related mentor figures, so it's going to be interesting. ]

[Zelda pushes herself up from her seat as the twin blades shift and coalesce into a single sword. A quiet hiss of pain escapes her as she does; she's not looking forward to seeing the bruise left on her side by the ayakashi's ambush, but-- she's had worse. She's already reaching out to take the offered blade when Caster speaks up, and she

s q u i n t s

at him.]

No...? You are going to be the only one of us who will be able to kill the things. If one of us is going to be drawing their ire and attempting to create openings for the other, it should be the one unable to land a fatal strike even if they try.

[And to punctuate that statement, she grabs the hilt of Archer's projected sword, as if to say 'if you want it then come and take it'.

... Thank the Powers That Be that they are largely invisible to the mortals trying to have a relaxing day at the park. And the cops. There sure are some weapons being tossed about right now that they would not be pleased to see.]

Edited (I can type) 2017-12-17 21:39 (UTC)

[From the way Zelda holds the sword Archer knows she's used to handle weapons. He listens to their exchange quietly and speaks when she finishes.]

Princess is right, Caster. [his point made, he then turns to Zelda.] Can you teleport us all back?

[Sure, they can stay and argue for some time while the ayakashi are wreaking havoc, or they may simply check how well the strategy works.]

Ha..? [ Now he's getting squints. And blade pointed at him as a Final Argument, Do Not Argue!!! Ah, sure, he knows when he's outnumbered. He wouldn't be outnumbered in the first place if Archer didn't decide to immediately switch side...! But a side of the stubborn princess is a good side to be on. And since he'd rather be on that side too, instead providing pointless arguing he raises his hand in defeat ]

...fine. That's how we're going to roll then. [ Strategy changes on battlefield in blink of an eye, so who knows what happens- but to cut short any kind of more annoying Archer being Archer he calls this bastard of a shinki into vessel form ] Come, Kyūki

[ One day he will try to beat ayakashi to death with the pendant, but it's not this day. ]

Ready to go on your order, princess.

[oh okay bye archer, thanks for the assist earlier...

Zelda blinks as she's all of a sudden treated as the leader of this operation, when not five minutes ago she was advocating for being left behind, but. Okay. Sure.]

Very well. If there are no other preparations to be made, then...

[She takes Caster's hand into her own, closes her eyes, and--

--in the next moment, they're back on that dusty road in the Heavens. The holy mist Archer's arrows kicked up has dissipated by now, unfortunately, but the giant cat ayakashi remains, peering into the windows and doors of abandoned temples, sniffing and searching for its next meal.

It doesn't seem to have noticed them yet...

Battle... START!]

[Archer knows his role is finished the moment Caster calls his vessel name and he vanishes turning into jewelled pendant. He can simply watch the battle and warn if anything sudden happens.]

'Trace On.' [a familiar inantation and green spear materializes before Caster.]

[ When you wave a blade and disagree with the official strategy, giving a better one, doesn't matter if you wanted out like 3 minutes ago... not to mention, too bad he's used to listening royalty's orders. ]

Tch, I told you to give me a sword. [ But then someone has to go and exert himself for bonus points. At least it means Caster gets some bonus points too for showing off some neat spear tricks.

That's like, his entire life in one sentence. ]

Get ready, they're coming.[ He grabs the makeshift spear - no more complaining - and lunges forward to meet the first of those annoyances. Since these two opted for a frontal assault, it means the royal bait's role is to divide their attention, right? ]

[Zelda says nothing once they've touched down on the Far Shore. Because it's easy - so very, very easy - to slip back into the mindset of the lonely warrior she once was, the "survivor of the Sheikah" who relied on no one save herself to fight her battles for her. Caster's voice is some distant, far off sound in that moment-- something as irrelevant to her as the singing of birds or blowing of the wind.

Her grip on her projected sword tightens, and then she's dashing forward ahead of Caster, swiping her blade across the back of the creature's legs as she passes by it during its investigation of an upper window of an abandoned structure. Slicing across such points would surely leave a normal beast incapable of movement, at least temporarily, but the ayakashi merely roars in pain - a monstrous, demonic sound that echoes against the stonework around them - and spins around to face its attacker.

Before it can lunge forward to attack her, Zelda lifts her off-hand, and another blast of golden light erupts from it, hitting the creature square in the face, blinding it momentarily.

Safe to say she has the role of "distraction" soundly handled.]

[Archer keeps an eye on both of them, focusing both on analysing their fighting styles and the movements of ayakashi. He can as well keep himself useful in another way of he can't take physical part in battle.

The sole size of the creature and its agility makes it a threat. He's been watching each time they got into battle to gauge its possible weak points and attack patterns, as well as any informations he's able to gather.]

'Line!'

[A borderline appears between Zelda and ayakashi, blocking a possible attack. While a cutting line makes it possible to notice the source of attack, the defensive one doesn't, so he may as well use it.]

[ How long has he been here, for a month? It's longer than some Spirits get summoned for, and the weird - scary? - part is that he's starting to attune to those plains of Heavens. There is a sense of wrongness from the presence of those creatures here, he's really getting in the mindset that they shouldn't be here.

All more reasons to cut this short- or stab it short, in this particular case.

Right now his focus is to get shit done quickly with -his- ayakashi here, but he can't help and glance curiously from a corner of his eye, at the magical spectacle Zelda is doing. Imagining how much fun it would be if she had her shinki here as well-- or maybe not, that's a distraction and nearly earns him getting hit.

Caster dodges the next swing with a bark of laughter, short and coarse- he's so close he only needs to extend his hand to write an Ansuz rune right on the ayakahi's massive torso. The fire explosion cannot damage it, but it can confuse, and oh- well, anger it. He slides under the creature and delivers his own blow, driving the projected spear through the ayakashi.

Once, twice, dodge- easier now since it's weakened-, spin the makeshift spear for pure flourish while flanking then repeat from the start. Like hunting a boar, or maybe fighting off a bear rather...

Bear is a better comparison, given how fast it is, and how far it can throw with just one hit, even close to death-throes- ooops. The sudden flight, and sting of blight was not planned, but is hardly a problem- ]

[... And very suddenly she is thrown back into the present situation of having a companion to fight beside.

Hardly a problem, her ass--]

Caster!

[She cries out as he's thrown, immediately rushing to put herself between him and the beast as he recovers. Damn it, she knew she wasn't going to good enough to keep the thing's attention, but she let herself be talked into this anyway...

The ayakashi charges at the pair of gods, but Zelda forces herself to stand her ground. Frontal assaults like this are the exact opposite of her usual style, but-- there are some points of the body that cannot be trained and strengthened no matter if it is a man or beast, Impa taught her. The eyes are one, as she targeted before. The underside of the jaw is another, and as the creature closes in, mouth opened wide to take a bite of Hyrule's Princess, she ducks, and drives her blade up and through its head. But she doesn't have the physical strength for that alone to stop it in its tracks. To that end, she channels her magic through her sword, bathing it in a golden holy light that burns the ayakashi from the inside out. Still not enough to kill it, of course - though it certainly does not appreciate these proceedings, no sir - which is why she calls out with just a hint of irritation--]

What are you doing? Rend it!

[Someone is not impressed with the unnecessary flourishes...]

[Archer tenses the moment ayakashi sends Caster flying. He knows it's not anything serious, but it irks him that he can't do anything in moments like that.]

'Caster, stop showing off!'

[He casts another borderline, shielding both Caster and princess.]

[ Princess was doing a great job, actually, it was just certain someone who decided to stall and have fun for shit and giggles. You can tell him not to show-off as much as you want Archer, but is he going to listen...?

Not that he would acknowledge it in any fashion. But he's not happy to see Zelda jump in his defense- People get thrown around all the time in battle, that's normal, that's expected, it's nothing serious- to him of course. But not everyone is so careless as he is, about dangerous situations. He did not expect to get her worried and jumping in front of him to defend- that rarely happens.

She doesn't even get to finish saying the word "rend" and he's striking the ayakashi, spear driving through it viciously for the last time, and soon the creature is no longer ]

And it's done. [ He might be sure, in that cocky confidence of his, that he had full control over the battlefield. He might be- but he's not ungrateful, so instead of focusing on that, he's quick to give a praise ] Your magic is truly impressive, princess. That was a wicked move.

[ Combining melee weapon strike with magic that is. He rests the spear on the crook of his neck, knowing well it's soon going to disappear ]

[And it's done. The weight bearing down on her sword vanishes - the stench of blight assaulting her senses evaporates. She allows herself a sigh to release the tension in her muscles before acknowledging Caster's praise.]

I should be thankful the blade stood up to the strain, given all the pressure it was under. Archer, you may take your sword back, now.

[He can hear her, surely, even if she can't hear him. She turns away from the pair, her voice... unnaturally even in a way that suggests she's forcing it to remain so.]

I intend to return to my temple. Clearly the decoy strategy we discussed is not necessary, so I shall take my leave, as I should have done in the beginning. Please ensure that you cleanse that blight before you seek out any more prey.

[Yeah... you done fucked up, Cu.]

[Archer can hear her, but before he can do anything Caster throws his vessel form in the air. 'Return, Emiya!' and Archer's concern is with landing safely.]

One of us getting thrown is no cause for concern. It's when he gets thrown into a building and it collapses onto his head is when a rescue may be necessary. [he says instead, with his usual lack of tact. Heroic Spirits are much sturdier than regular humans anyway.] Princess, you're very skilled and react fast in heat of the battle. The way you fight is impressive.

[Archer sighs and turns to face his god.] That aside, Caster, even if you're durable you should do something to stop thinking that dying on battlefield is sexy.

[ He's fearless in face of impending death, but princesses- they are truly scary when pissed off- Zelda gains a victory in that kind of unconscious flinch, the tiniest sign of him drawing back. Whoops that didn't work entirely as planned-- joking, there was never a real plan all along.

Aside for his Master-plan, because that one went spectacularly well-, he's pleased to see her both skill in battle and a stubbornness. But that's just a bunch of what-ifs for now. Idle wondering and so on. ]

Leaving already? Weren't there supposed to be more of them? [ Don't pull this bravado shit, you should know better - one, maybe one day he'll learn. ] What Archer said--

[ That's what he wanted to say, then the "dying is sexy" comment gets thrown and earns Archer a really nasty glare. It's not the kind of insult on the level of 360noscope from across the map, but still. ]

Spoken like you know what you're talking about, tch.

[ That's a short mutter under a breath, but he even positions his whole body so he's no longer facing his shinki. Don't go claiming you understand everything Archer, especially when you don't. That's the part that makes you annoying. ]

Truth to be told, I'm not on the top of my condition, princess, and do your help is greatly appreciated. That was probably my last spell. [ At least this spectacularly exploding kind ]

[Emiya, huh? So "Archer" is a pseudonym, as she suspected. And so too is "Caster," most likely.

... But she has to shelve those thoughts for a rainy day. Archer's words don't earn much of a reaction one way or another, and Caster's bravado would only earn an irritated roll of her eyes if it wasn't for that very last thing.]

... And you wasted it?!

[She whirls back around to face them then, all pretenses of seeming cool and collected abandoned in favor of utter disbelief. That was "probably his last spell" and he wasted it--]

I told you I was going to draw fire for you. I agreed to be the decoy against my better judgement so that you might more effectively slay the ayakashi, and yet you tell me you wasted your last spell on a strike that was neither fatal nor defensive? And I am meant to believe my help is appreciated?!

[If his one fear is pissed off princesses, then be afraid, Caster. Her anger now is of a different sort than the kind he saw in the dojo on that fate-filled day, but is no less potent for it. She takes a deep breath before finally addressing Archer's explanation.]

I am not upset because he was thrown - I am not so naive to think we would all emerge from this expedition completely unscathed. I am upset because it was not necessary. [Back to Caster. Hope you didn't think she was done with you.] How am I meant to think my efforts are appreciated if you run on ahead and render them entirely pointless?! If I am going to be disrespected in such a way then, truly, I would rather return to my temple and await my own shinki's aid!

[HUFFS.]

[Caster's words make it clear he doesn't appreciate him pointing out the obvious. Well, better to save it for later.

The the latter part is spoken and he has a chance to see the princess explode. Archer winces and, while he quite agrees with Zelda, there are more pressing concerns. He waits until she's finished, already steeling himself for possible reactions.]

My apologies. Princess, half of Caster's style is wasted movement and flourishes, especially if he wants to impress others. Right now there's more pressing concern if he's out of mana. [Archer approaches his god, takes hold of his chin and kisses him, trying to pour as much mana as he can into it. It's not a chaste kiss either.]

[ Uh-oh, backing off.

One could think that he might have some ingrained respect for the royal titles- given how many time princesses/queens roasted him. But that's the other way around, actually. Being a royalty seems to come with few very specific traits- maybe the fairytales paint the idea of ladies in power as beautiful, delicate flowers who do nothing but look gorgeous all the time and do nothing else

Maybe there was a time when that's really how it went- but it wasn't in his times.

Leading and ruling people, exerting authority, commanding respect and putting everyone in place, waging wars, and protecting the lands- that's a heavy burden to bear. People under it get shaped in a very specific way, and either gain those traits- or they get dethroned, and quite often in an ugly way.

Traits of people worth following and listening to ]

Sh-...yeah, understood. I got way too caught in a moment. [ No more jokes, and while he doesn't seem ashamed, he does sound genuinely apologetic ] It's been a while since last time I felt like on the battlefield. [ -aka where he's the most impressive, and that was all about it, really.

He's aware of his own pride, sees nothing wrong with it in fact, and accepts the side-effect that it can get a better of him. Maybe he really wanted to play the impressive knight card again, show without any kind of doubt that he's not just some Caster.

And then Archer has to go out his way and be extra shitty- unnecessary flourish, really, like you're totally not a show-off yourself. It earns him a very blasé glance, too bad it earns him-- ]

[ Did someone said Archers are shitty? No, no, that's putting it lightly. They are the absolute worst, always and forever after. That's what Caster figures when Archer suddenly attacks him with a goddamned ~~mana transfer~~ stuff here and now. Wow, rude.

He was having a conversation here, and genuine moment of self-reflection, and you have to go and ruin it you goddamn jerk. What would be best to use the gained magical energy for, dunno, maybe setting Archer on fire-- But that wouldn't help his case, wouldn't it?

It's impossible to tell if he's just that bad about choosing a moment, or if it's a deliberate attempt at trolling. Could be both, equally. Maybe if this wasn't a serious situation, maybe if there was alcohol or other fitting times involved, he could take that in stride, and turn it into something amusing - heroes are generally prepared for this kind of attention. Mmmaybe, but goddamn read a moment dude! That must be why you're dead and single.

He forcefully de-attaches Archer from himself immediately, and suppresses the reflex of kneeing him in the gut- instead, he opts for a more stealthy violence- see, he's wearing shoes today, which makes driving a heel right into Archer's feet lot easier. With all strength E included. ]

The hell--- was that! [ He'll still try to brush that off casually. Only a hint of a snarl in his voice. only a hint... or so he thinks. All those precious princess bond points lost. Someone will pay for that later ]

23 - Crazy Cat Shuffle

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

1/2 guys.... let me liver

2/2 I kidney wrote you a novel

awful, 0/10-- the puns not the novel

3172398172389 ways to make it worse by Archer

Eye will escort myself out now

as will zelda - feel free to keep tagging among yourselves, kids! o/

Archer's just being Archer /)_-

I am gravely disappointed in your lack of bodypart related bad puns

too bad that I can't think of any

ah, what a disappointment...

yeah :<

I swear, at this point this icon could be as well "exclusive for Archer"

I see what you mean. ttly justified, even if he stopped being THE densest a century ago >.>

entropy did a good job on this one?

better than good tbh