thenearshore | [closed]

Entry tags:

[closed]

Who: Ayumu, Goku, Hakkai, Chikusa, Ken, Ginia, Gojyo, Shun, Lavi, Nia, + brief appearances by Chinatsu and Caster.
When December 8th and 9th
Where: Goku's temple and various locations in the Far Shore's western district.
What: What starts out as an ablution to purify a blighted shinki turns into utter disaster in the western district.
Warnings: Character death, body horror, graphic violence, potential references to torture, sexual violence, and suicidal ideation in the ablution thread. Will add further warnings if necessary!

[The road to hell is paved with good intentions. Even in Heaven.

In the wee hours of morning before dawn, a loud, inhuman, cacophonic shriek shatters the silence in the western district. Afterward, a large, black mass hastily passes through the region. It skitters and softly thumps across rooftops in both pursuit of prey to sate its ceaseless hunger and flight from those intent on its destruction.

As it travels through the dark, the upper silhouette of a woman astride a giant spider can be glimpsed, ghosting and leaping across distances many more lengths than its size with stunning agility. For those that can steal a glimpse of the woman's face, they'll discover that the features are those of Ayumu Yamazaki - if hideously deformed by the addition of three extra pairs of beady, black eyes sprouting up over its forehead and beyond.

Those tracking its trajectory will realize that the ayakashi is bound for the northwestern edge of the district as if seeking desperate escape from every vestige of Amaterasu's realm and influence.

A telltale sign of the ayakashi's passing are faint wisps of spidersilk hanging from high places or bits littered across the ground. However, these secretions are dangerous to the touch, blighting anyone who comes into direct contact with them. A very faint, tar-like odor lingers in the air where it's been.

Maybe it'd be wise to keep under cover or at the very least, steer clear of its path until the danger's passed.]

[OOC: Ayumu's ayakashi form looks similar to this minus the skulls, with furrier black legs, and the aforementioned resemblance and eye deformities. Players are free to reference or comment on any of the description above in their own threads or posts if they like!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[As Shun enters the cloud cover, the dark silhouette of Ayumu's twisted new form can be seen hulking uncomfortably close to where he breaks through. A thick thread of blighting spidersilk shoots out from the ayakashi's abdomen straight toward the new God of Fortune, tangling in the wings of his birds. The threads keep shooting however, aiming toward Shun's face with an intent to blind. The assault is accompanied by a deafening, hellish shriek.

She's so hungry and her prey is right there. The sooner she can immobilize him, the sooner she can eat.]

[The appearance of the new birds has Lavi glancing over at them. He doesn't doubt them being able to help them out in this fight; the only issue is that neither of them are completely sure just what Ayumu is capable of in this form. Either way, with Shun going up higher, he does make a target.

But he does nod in understanding, ignoring the prickling feeling on the back of is neck.

She's waiting and biding her time. So, he isn't too surprised when she finally makes her move.]

Shun!

[Lavi definitely hasn't lost sight of the god.

Immediately, a few Cutting Borderlines comes flying, cutting through the threads before it can get to the god.]

[Lavi's intervention is appreciated, though Shun's already on the move as soon as the threads are mid-flight. The movement he makes is so natural it's clear he's used to it, dropping backwards off the bird into thin air to put distance between himself and Ayumu. Rather than summon another bird just yet, he relies on his godly abilities to slow his fall, and looks back up to where his companions are tangled.

He could just dispel them, but...well, they don't need to be able to flap wings to fly. Hot exhaust burns at what threads might be trapped in their pipes, and the three birds cluster together at a gesture from Shun.]

Attack!

[The three birds charge directly towards Ayumu, slightly tangled together but still able and determined - each one is around the size of an average human, made of solid metal, and have the force of some kind of engine-like propelling mechanism behind them. The two with the blades are flanking the third, making it difficult to break the formation without encountering a sharp edge.]

[The ayakashi, despite the number of injuries it's acquired throughout the day, leaps in a forward arc in an attempt to clear the incoming assault.

It's almost successful.

One of its legs clips the sharp edged blades of one the birds before toppling down onto the ground in a cluster of broken limbs. It's immobilized for the moment but it's an ayakashi - to truly destroy it, it'll have to be rended.

And there's only one way to do that.]

[Ayumu.

Seeing her like this has Lavi grimacing before he forces the emotion away. Even when she seems to have fallen to the ground and seems unconscious, he knows better.

But they do have to act fast.

His eye goes over to Shun.]

Shun!

[Now might be the best time they have before Ayumu gets up and starts trying to attack them again.]

[The birds spiral off to one side after Ayumu clips them - Shun allows them to dissipate into motes of light just before they hit the ground, focus turning to Ayumu's fall and the mess of tangled legs she is right now.

It's a rare opportunity, and he's glad Lavi is the one to prompt here - there's no time for the question, really, no time to ask if Lavi is prepared to Rend her and bear that weight. His concern will have to wait until later, because even if his ability to trust Lavi at his word has dropped recently, he has little choice but to believe that he's ready.]

Come, Hyouki!

[He's just glad they agreed to perform the naming before they tracked her here. He doesn't wait with a hand out for a weapon, but instead stands prepared to move, and possibly to mount something again - he's itching to Rend while the opportunity is there, but Lavi's form needs to answer to him first.]

[The ayakashi seems to be taking a small breather after the tumble it just took. As they get closer, they'll find the area it landed in to be full of large piles of stone rumble. Heavy roots form a bit of cover around it. The earth beneath it looks a bit crumbly and unstable. It's entirely possible that it could give away at any moment after the ayakashi's impact.

It one didn't know any better, one might wonder if the ayakashi hadn't deliberately aimed to land in such a treacherous area during its descent.]

Edited 2018-07-06 01:07 (UTC)

[Lavi, despite whatever he's feeling, knows what's important. Feelings can't get in the way when there are more pressing matters to be attended to. It isn't the question of whether or not he's ready.

He always is.

At the name, his form immediately shifts and dives towards Shun before he takes on the form of a phoenix, easily large enough to carry Shun on his back while sparks of lightning crackles around his frame. It's not a form he's used to, but somehow, this is entirely fitting for Shun given his own affinity for birds. The lightning crackling around his frame doesn't hurt Shun and Lavi waits for the god to cast the Rend spell.]

[The treacherous location means little to Shun with what he has at his disposal - and indeed, his complete lack of surprise in response to the appearance of Lavi's form indicates he knew what was coming. It's impossible to name without showing that form at least once, after all.

Without hesitation, he leaps onto the back of the phoenix Lavi has become, crouching low to ensure he keeps his balance and leaning forward to make it easier for Lavi to move as he casts the spell, placing two fingers at the base of the bird's neck.]

You who desecrate this land of the rising sun! With my advent, I, Nekhbet, lay waste with the Hyouki, and expel thy vast defilement!

[Shun absolutely hates trying to cast spells in the middle of a fight, so his words are fast, if still clear and resounding with intent.]

Rend! [He shifts his weight to help Lavi's course towards Ayumu as best he can so they can end this, one hand at the ready to bring on something to defend them if it turns out she's less incapacitated than she appears. There's very little he takes for granted in the midst of combat, and the idea of an opponent actually being incapacitated unless they're completely unconscious is one of them.]

[It turns out the ayakashi isn't as down for the account as it appears. Its legs twitch as the spell begins and it struggles to regain its footing for one last desperate attack. It's damaged after having taken several savage beatings during its existence but much like the woman it'd once been, it's a stubborn fighter and unwilling to wield until its strength is well and truly depleted.

And much like Ayumu herself, the ayakashi has almost comically bad luck as the unstable ground it'd attempted to lure its attackers onto gives out beneath it. A cloud of dust flies up all around, temporarily obscuring it from view before the incantation can complete.

When it clears, a rather large sinkhole is visible where the ayakashi once was. Peering down into it will reveal that it hasn't hasn't fallen far at all for those who can fly. It's laying stunned once more by this unforeseen turn of events.

The area it's fallen into doesn't have a lot of space to maneuver in. There might be enough room to walk around it but it'd be crampled. However, it's possible to fly into the hole and hover above the ayakashi.

It's well and truly trapped now with no way out, especially with its assailants blocking out its only possible escape route. The problem is that the chances of them getting trapped in there with it might go up.

Is the risk worth it?]

[Whether the risk is worth it or not, Lavi isn't exactly going to fly closer. Especially not with the time against them in case Ayumu ever does manage to find her footing again.

He hovers above to where Ayumu is as Shun says the spell before lightning crackles around his form in response to his words. With a shrill cry, he flaps his wings forward, and the lightning follows the movement. It resembles too much of a lightning storm, the way bolts of it rains down on Ayumu, hitting with deadly accuracy to ensure that she doesn't manage to escape.

The spider that's managed to get caught in its own web is prey just as everything else.

Enjoy the electrocution.]

[Shun is perfectly content not to fly any closer in the knowledge that most of the shinki he's named have some means of rending from a distance. He does remain prepared just in case she tries to make one last leap out at them, but as it is, he'll let Lavi's bolts of lightning speak for the both of them.

It's an unpleasant matter to deal with, but first he needs to satisfy himself with the knowledge that Ayumu won't be storming out to harm anyone else once they're done here. He can wonder about the circumstances and mourn the loss of an ally once it's already over.

And make sure Lavi isn't about to drop into yet another emotional pit at having to kill someone he clearly cares for.]

[With the lightning keeping it pinned in the pit, the ayakashi's well and truly stuck, its body and limbs jerking with the electrocution while little arcs dance across its skin. It continues to struggle vainly as the spell continues to take effect. Once the magic's done tearing it asunder, there's nothing left.

The pit is empty and the ayakashi that had once been Ayumu Yamazaki is defeated at last.]

[With Ayumu dead and gone, Lavi hovers a bit in the air for a moment longer before he finally slowly descends to the ground. He doesn't say anything, but Shun might feel the shinki growing somewhat numb.

There is no guilt.

A pang of sadness, but no regret. Lavi doesn't feel bad for having to kill Ayumu when she's become like this. No, if anything, he just feels empty at having to do something like this again to someone he cares about.]

[Shun definitely feels that shift in emotions, and his jaw tightens a little as he leaps off Lavi's bird form. Another one of his shinki tried to make himself numb recently, and that went some bad enough places that he's not really interested in letting Lavi do it even if this is only a fleeting arrangement.

As he lands back on the ground, he lets out a long, hefty breath, glancing back towards the pit. It's not quite enough to rattle him, but putting down someone he considered an ally is sucking an unpleasant pit in his stomach.]

Lavi. [It's a command of sorts, to return him to his human form.] Cutting yourself off doesn't work. We went through this already.

[He has to revoke Lavi's name before they part, but he's reluctant to leave him alone like this.]

[The call of his name has him shifting his wings before he returns to his human form.

He takes a deep breath, running a hand down on his face as he exhales.]

Sorry, sorry. Habit.

[Whether he realizes it or not or even remembers, it's been deeply ingrained into him to not show too much emotion or reveal them. Sometimes, it's just so easy to go back and stick to what his instincts are urging him to do. Cut himself off before he grows too attached.

They're not supposed to mean anything to him.

But Road's giggle echoes in his mind, her taunting words still so sharp and clear.]

[Shun lets out a slight hiss of breath before glancing over the area around them. It's still unsafe ground, and he doubts those snakes have gone anywhere. So he focuses himself for a moment, turning his attention to above them.

A much larger robotic bird than even the one Lavi had seen him summon the first time he discovered the power materialises in the air over their heads, Rise Falcon's four exhaust pipe lined wings stretching out in the dead air. Shun leaps onto its back without hesitation, and beckons to Lavi as the bird turns its head and focuses its six red, glowing eyes on the less familiar person.]

Get on. I'd prefer to be somewhere safer before I revoke your name. [Where they're not risking the ground trying to crumble beneath them, snakes, or the potential of leftover webs that the ayakashi Ayumu may have left.] And I'll see you back to your temple after that.

[He does not trust Lavi not to try isolating himself in the wake of something like this.]

[The bird gets a wary look in return before Lavi does jump onto its back.

He's half tempted to say something to Shun, tell him how he doesn't need the god seeing him back to his temple. However, now isn't the time for that, and he he'd rather not get into an argument with Shun about this anyway. It'll just lead them back in circles and Lavi is weary enough where he'll acquiesce to most things.

So, he simply gives him a nod of understanding.]

[Shun was half expecting Lavi to argue, but he prefers it this way, without the need to have to bodily drag Lavi onto Rise Falcon or something along those lines. As soon as Lavi is on, it rises up a little further and then streaks off back the way they came at a surprising speed, contrails briefly left behind by its exhaust pipes.

Once they're a good distance away from the abandoned temple and back close enough to the districts that they're unlikely to get ambushed by a stray ayakashi, Shun lands Rise Falcon in a clear area and climbs off, waiting for Lavi to get off as well so he can remove the name properly.]

[It's honestly a little weird to be riding this. He doesn't know how Shun does it to be honest.

But when they land and Shun gets off, Lavi follows suit, landing quietly on his feet in front of the god.]

[However reluctant Shun might be to leave Lavi to deal with things alone, he's even more reluctant to not stand by a temporary agreement, so as soon as Lavi stands in front of him, he extends a hand. Meanwhile, Rise Falcon disappears into motes of light - they can walk back to Lavi's temple from here, most likely.]

Hyouki, I release you. [The name lifts from Lavi's form and shatters, fading into the daylight and abruptly cutting Shun off from Lavi's emotional feedback. It's not a specific thing, it's just suddenly less than there had been for that short amount of time.

He lets his arm drop, then turns in the direction of where Lavi's temple is from here.] Are you going to tell your god what happened?

[Even if Shun doesn't oppose nora, he prefers the idea of letting a god know if you've just gone nora to someone, even temporarily. And he'd like to be reasonably sure Lavi isn't going to try and clam up on this entire incident.]

[Once the name is cut off from him, Lavi rolls his shoulders a bit even if he knows that it won't really matter. Shinki doesn't exactly feel something when the name is cut off, but it's almost like a loss no matter how brief it was.

At the question, he nods.]

I am.

[Even if he might not divulge the full information to Cardia, she still needs to know he had briefly nora'd to another god for a task this dangerous.]

[Shun inclines his head slightly in recognition - though he might ask Cardia himself later to be sure - and turns his attention ahead for now.] Come on, then.

[It's not much of a walk from here to Cardia's temple, but still, after that he feels like Lavi could use whatever company he can get.]

[Lavi nods and follows after Shun, keeping quiet.]

[At least it's not too long of a trip considering where they landed, but Shun lets the silence remain for most of the journey there. It's only when they get within sight of the place that Shun glances back towards Lavi again, expression piercing.]

Remember, you don't need to keep this to yourself. And I don't want to have to chase you down again to hear about something I should've heard about earlier if you claim to trust me.

[closed]

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