![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
expiationmods) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
expiationlogs2023-09-11 06:30 am
- !event,
- ai tsf: mizuki date,
- arcane: caitlyn kiramman,
- arcane: jinx,
- arcane: silco,
- arcane: violet / vi,
- blazblue: ragna the bloodedge,
- bungo stray dogs: nikolai gogol,
- bungo stray dogs: sigma,
- final fantasy xiii2: noel kreiss,
- fire emblem three hopes: marianne,
- fma:b: pride,
- magia record: mitama yakumo,
- original: astralin turnont,
- persona 3 portable: kotone shiomi,
- persona 4: yosuke hanamura,
- persona 4: yu narukami,
- persona 5 royal: goro akechi,
- umineko wtc: ange ushiromiya,
- x-men movieverse: scott summers
{EVENT #4} ADVERSITY 2933165.9475
| MOD NOTES: Please direct any questions to the corresponding comment below. Note that character decisions and actions taken on these prompts will affect future events, storylines, and relationships with other peoples of Expiation. You can find the OOC poll here. Please pick from the corresponding options with the appropriate character journal. If you use a personal journal or a journal not part of Expiation, your votes will not be counted. Remember that if your character did something different than what is in the prompts given, leave a comment in the OOC poll entry and link to your comment in the option made available. We will provide an IC post in exactly ten days with the results of the poll that will wrap up the event. You may mingle on it if you like, but the most important purpose is to share the effects of character decisions on this event. The various prompts are, of course, optional. |
WHEN THE FOG ROLLS IN
On the night of September 10, an impenetrable fog covers the town of Aldrip. When characters wake in the morning, they find that Aldrip has disappeared, replaced by a large, enclosed maze.
Characters will wake up in one of three different levels of this maze, and they may—but don't have to—find that they are not alone. As they explore the maze, they will encounter trials and stumbling blocks both physical and mental. It seems the maze is testing them, poking at their fears, their past, their feelings. Confronting these questions about themselves and their very nature will allow them to progress through the maze in hopes of eventually finding the exit—and hopefully the town along with it.
While they do not all wake up in the same level of the maze, all characters do, in theory, have to complete all three trials in order to leave. This may not be so easy to achieve; due to the nature of these trials, if someone cannot get past one area, they may remain stuck there. Other characters are able to help them confront these issues, and may instead (or in addition) pass through that way if they choose to. Aside from the level where they wake up, characters may approach these levels in any order as they so choose.THE GROUPS
GROUP A:
Serah Farron
Elidibus
Nakahara Chuuya
Tsunayoshi Sawada
Rei Suwa
Caitlyn Kiramman
Ragna the Bloodedge
Kotone Shiomi
Monkey D. Luffy
Yuja Wightshade (WoL)
Yosuke Hanamura
Astralin Turnont
Dazai Osamu
Ange Ushiromiya
Hythlodaeus
Ethlyn
GROUP B:
Violet (Vi)
Silco
Mizuki Date
Claude von Riegan
Noel Kreiss
Kazuki Kurusu
G'raha Tia
Jinx
Marianne von Edmund
Goro Akechi
Sooyoung Han
Saito Sejima
Nikolai Gogol
Erichtonios
Emet-Selch
GROUP C:
Yu Narukami
Pride
Sigma
Usagi Tsukino
William G Maryblood
Scott Summers
Gundam Tanaka
Quentin Quire
Akira Kurusu
Mitama Yakumo
Med'an
Ken Amada
Fyodor Dostoevsky
Izuku "Deku" Midoriya
Echo
EXPLORING THE MAZE
The walls of the maze are made of stone slabs; tall, solid, and imposing. As far as one can see, there seem to be no cracks or seams in the wall. They're cool to the touch, perhaps a little dampened by the foggy weather. Some of the stones seem to glow with a dim, inner light. Most of the corridors are stable, but some are a little more risky. Walls or ceilings could collapse, leaving passages blocked and some Chosen trapped within tunnels or rooms of the maze.
Some corridors within the maze are less built up, as well, more like dug-out caverns that look somewhat like mining tunnels. In these tunnels, you can find the raw form of those glowing stones, which seem to light the darkness, allowing the Chosen to see at least a bit. They're enchanting, and some may have a hard time resisting trying to pull them out of the walls.
Occasionally, characters may find larger rooms with small tables of food, equipment, and supplies set up. These areas seem to be safety zones, untouched by the trials, where Chosen can eat, rest, treat any wounds, and replenish their energy.
ii. PERILS IN THE DARK
As the Chosen progress through the challenges of the maze—both illusions and real—the air itself may begin to feel more oppressive and heavy, making movement feel very difficult at times. As the week wears on, characters may find themselves worn out faster or feeling more sluggish than normal. More than that, they may find that their emotional lows become more intense: characters may become more easily frustrated, paranoid, scared, or impatient. In general, this seems to exacerbate the worst parts of their personalities.
On other occasions, Chosen may feel as if they are being watched. They get the feeling that something lurks in the shadows of the maze, that they are being watched or followed. They may hear something scratching or skittering across the walls. When they look…there is nothing there, nor any evidence of creatures stalking them through the halls. Characters who had bad luck in the Casino are particularly prone to this feeling; occasionally, they may feel as if someone—or something—is tugging at their hair or clothes, or breathing against their neck. Try to keep your head, Chosen. The hardest part is yet to come.
THE TRIALS
iii. A DARK NIGHT OF THE SOUL [TRIAL A]
It's difficult to pinpoint exactly what location or event triggers the beginning of the trial; it seems to be different for every character. Chosen will find themselves in a long corridor, laced with fog. As they progress down this corridor, they begin to see and hear hallucinations and illusions that highlight their greatest insecurities: their flaws, their weaknesses, the darkness they suspect dwells within their soul.
These illusions may come in a variety of different forms. Perhaps they experience voices or images of peers issuing criticisms that they fear are accurate, or they may face a shadowy figure that bears their appearance that embodies all of their worst qualities. The form these illusions take is up to you, the players, and whether other characters are able to see those illusions can also be decided between players. Confronting, challenging, debunking, and/or accepting these criticisms and claims is the key to exiting this level.
Once they have confronted this challenge, the illusions and hallucinations stop immediately. The fog lifts, revealing a turn in the maze they didn't notice before. They may progress in their exploration.
iv. THE SHAPE OF YOUR FEARS [TRIAL B]
Similar to the first trial, this seems to trigger with little warning or fanfare. At some point in their exploration, characters will find their way blocked by something representing their deepest fears. This can be literal—a dark hallway for those who fear the dark, as an example—but can manifest in a myriad of other ways, too. A character could see someone from their past that represents this fear, or a monster, or an object or memory of something that connects to that fear. These fears will be made tangible and visible to anyone around them, leaving them exposed and vulnerable. In order to progress, they must be able to pass by these fears, and may do so in any way the player chooses, whether it requires fighting a monster, negotiating with an authority figure, finding a light in the darkness, or anything else players and characters can imagine.
The nature of this trial can be as massive or mundane as you, the player, chooses. Whether they need to simply turn on a light to abate their fear of the dark, or whether they need to take down a massive beast to confront something bigger, the area they find themselves in seems to accommodate the size of their trial. Once they have confronted this fear, it disappears, revealing a hallway that might not have been there before, allowing them to progress.
v. IN PURSUIT OF JUSTICE [TRIAL C]
As with the first two trials, this one seems to emerge from the darkness when a character is ready to face it. They enter a room lined with obsidian mirrors. When they approach these mirrors, characters are confronted with memories related to the crime they have been charged with. This can be a specific moment or a series of moments related to their crime either directly or indirectly. Characters may become lost in these memories and may need help navigating through them from other people: the longer they remain lost in these memories, reliving them again and again, the more they run the risk of losing those memories entirely, either permanently or temporarily. Only by addressing the crime, the way they feel about it, the relationship that crime has to reality and to who the character is, can characters be free of this particular trial.
Once they have surpassed this trial, characters find themselves able to step back through these obsidian mirrors back into the maze, where they can continue their journey.
Navigating all three trials elicits no special fanfare or celebration. Upon completion of the third trial, they find themselves in a foggy corridor, where they will find an exit from the maze.
OPT-OUT AND AFTERMATH
Those characters (or players) who do not wish to interact with the maze will occasionally find quiet corridors that mysteriously place them outside the maze, unable to reenter. They will find that the town is, indeed, gone, as are their living quarters—hope you don't mind roughing it for a while. However, thanks to recent efforts to bolster the town's supplies, some of the underground storehouses organized by Claude and Marianne seem to remain intact and are available as temporary emergency shelter, should your character choose not to camp out.
After one week, the maze will disappear and life in Aldrip returns to normal. As for the locals? They don't seem to notice that anything strange has happened at all. Maze? What maze? Strange weather we're having this week, eh?
Just because there’s not a prompt for it doesn’t mean that your character’s actions aren’t acceptable. If you wish to do anything that hasn’t been directly addressed by the prompts, leave a message for the mod team to say what your character would do. If you choose to go down this path, note it as a comment on the OOC poll when it goes up, and leave a link to your threads so that we can take all actions into consideration for the next State of the Game.
Ragna the Bloodedge | BlazBlue | ota
awakening the chaos ( trial a )
cw: talk of murder, possible violence
[ From the moment he wakes up, Ragna knows something is wrong ─ his right eye is closed shut, and he can't so much as move a finger of his right arm. It's not something that hasn't happened before, but there's no discernible reason why his Grimoire would suddenly stop working... at least, not until he takes a look around and discovers the maze he somehow found himself in. It doesn't take a genius to figure out the two are connected, so he decides the most logical course of action is to find an exit, hoping this would resolve the issue of the Grimoire.
If only it were that easy.
After wandering around the labyrinth for what feels like an eternity, he finds his path blocked by a girl hovering motionlessly a few inches above the ground, her only visible eye closed. As soon as Ragna spots her, however, she speaks up in a cold, robotic monotone: ]
Loading... Loading.. Loading... Load complete. All systems normal.
[ She opens her eye, and as soon as she sees Ragna, all of a sudden, everything about changes completely ─ gone is the emotionless expression and voice, and the next moment she's chipper and perky like one would expect from a normal teenage girl. ]
Aaah! Ragna! It's been so long~ It's, um, third time?
Fourth.
[ The man replies almost automatically, even though at the back of his mind he knows that answer isn't the right one. How many times has it actually been? Hundreds, thousands? And every single time, their meeting was exactly the same, with the very same conversation they're recreating right now. ]
The last time hurt sooo much, you know... Are you here to kill Nu again?
[ Ragna's response comes out stiff and unnatural, like he's reading it off a script rather than expressing his own thoughts. ]
Killing's for people. I'm here to destroy─
[ He stops mid-sentence, suddenly realizing where this is going. Not this time, he thinks to himself; they've done this exact song and dance over and over again, but he won't let it end the same way it always does. ]
... That's enough, Nu.
[ The girl he refers to as Nu doesn't seem to hear that last part, or if she does, she ignores it completely, the smile on her face growing wider and more unhinged as she lets out a maniacal laugh. ]
Ahahaha! You're just like Nu after all, Ragna! You want to destroy... Nu... yourself... the world... You want to destroy everything! You have the power to do it, so of course you want to use it. After all...
[ He knows what's coming next, of course, but he doesn't want to hear it, nor think about it, nor acknowledge that there might be some truth to what she's saying. Gritting his teeth, Ragna raises his voice in anger, all while knowing how futile his attempt to interrupt her is. ]
I said enough!
[ But that doesn't stop her, and the girl grins, clearly enjoying dragging all the things he refuses to admit to the light. ]
... that's the sole purpose we were created for!!
stardust memory ( trial b )
cw: blood, violence, death
[ The interior of the small church is filled with flames and smoke, fire eating through the wooden structure in what feels like an instant. Between the knocked-over pews and a broken ceiling beam lies a lifeless body of an old nun, covered in blood. And over the corpse stands Ragna, staring down at it with his only working eye widened in shock.
It's just a memory. He knows it all too well, revisiting this place almost every night in his nightmares. He remembers it all, as vividly as if it had happened yesterday ─ the smell of burning wood, the heat of the flames, the itchy sensation in his eyes and throat as the smoke makes it harder and harder to draw breath with each passing minute. There's nothing to be done here, nothing that can be changed; it's just a memory.
And yet.
The faint cough coming from further inside the building immediately catches Ragna's attention, and he spins around to see a young, blond-haired girl sitting on the ground among the sea of flames. Some part of Ragna's brain is berating him for falling for this, realizing this must be nothing more than an illusion caused by the maze, but despite that rational part of him screaming for him not to get any closer, he's already rushing towards her. ]
Saya!
[ Before he can reach his little sister, however, a small but calm (perhaps unnervingly so, given the circumstances) reaches him from behind. ]
... Brother.
[ Ragna would know that voice anywhere; the man turns back around, uncharacteristic concern painted on his face, but he only manages to get one word out: ]
Jin─
[ As he feels the thin, cold blade of the katana cut into his chest, he really has to wonder what else he expected to happen; everything else is going exactly the way he remembers it, so why would this be any different? But no wound could be more painful than the image before him: a young, blond-haired boy, in his early teen at most, his mouth twisted into a psychotic grin as he digs the sword further in before ripping it out, blood splashing on his face. ]
It's all your fault, Brother.
black onslaught ( trial c )
cw: blood, violence, gore, death, dissociation, vomiting
[ The world has come to an end.
No one would be blamed for thinking that, facing the endless sea of flames as far as the eye can see. It must have been a city once, maybe even a couple of hours ago, judging by the giant blocks of concrete, pieces of skewed metal and broken glass thrown around everywhere. Screams of pain and agony fill the air, only to get drowned out by the crash of rubble falling and sirens going off.
In the middle of this apocalyptic scenery stands the cause of it all ─ a giant monster, destroying everything within its reach. Each of its heads let out loud roars, reaching down and clamping their teeth on any survivors they can find, ripping their bodies apart, sending viscera and gore flying and splattering across the field. Its claws, sticky with the blood of its victims, dig into the nearest half-destroyed building and tear it down, causing massive chunks of concrete to fall to the ground, some of them hitting whatever unfortunate souls were trying to flee from the area.
It's hard to tell how long the scene lasts ─ seconds, minutes, hours, maybe? ─ but eventually, the beast stops and begins to flicker, like static on an old TV. Finally, it disappears, and in its place stands... Ragna.
The man blinks, thinking that something must be wrong with his only working eye, because everything around him is just... red. His mind still foggy, he slowly looks around, taking in all the disaster and destruction around him as he struggles to remember what happened and how he got here. After a brief moment, the cogs in his brain finally begin to turn, and the important question arises in his mind:
He doesn't recall ever doing such a thing.
He never meant for this to happen.
He hated every second of it.
It was his worst mistake.
Struggling to make any sense of his (are they his?) thoughts and memories, Ragna looks down at his only working arm, finding it covered it something dark and sticky. Oh. Blood. Come to think of it, it's not just his left arm ─ blood is everywhere on him, and as that image burns itself in his mind, everything else finally falls into place. ]
Ah... Aaah...
[ He feels sick, his throat burning, and he falls to his knees, retching violently in a futile attempt to get rid of the strong taste of iron in his mouth, but all that comes up are whatever little the contents of his stomachs were. He remains hunched on the ground, shaking and heaving, his gasps muffled by all the surrounding chaos. ]
wildcard
[ ooc: For the duration of the event, Ragna's right eye and arm aren't walking, and by extension, he doesn't have the access to most of his powers! He starts in Group A; if none of the above work for you or you want to get him involved in your character's trial, feel free to come up with a different scenario or hit me up over at
c.
but when that monster fades and shrinks down to ragna, she blinks once. twice. his scroll that she read months before jogs in her memory -- the sentence which states he destroyed an entire world. could this be how he did it? does he have this mystical ability to shapeshift into a destructive beast? ... he is even more amazing than she previously thought. and in some silly way, jinx is a little jealous by it. to become a monster like that.... it sounds pretty heavenly. although, she can see the confliction in her partner, him dry heaving at first before dipping to his knees to let all the bad out. and still, the girl isn't bothered by the display of it, but carefully approaches her partner. when she is near him, the teen sets a hand on his back -- rubbing to soothe him and provide some comfort. )
no subject
Pathetic, really.
With some visible effort, he manages to turn his head and look at the girl with his only good eye. It widens slightly, surprised to see her, almost like he expected someone else here. The man mouths something ─ her name, perhaps ─ but with his throat sore from... everything, no words come out. Why is she even here? This isn't a place for her; it's too dangerous for her to stay by his side, and─
He blinks. Why... would he even think something like this? That's not what he wants.
Is it...?
Ragna inhales sharply, desperately trying to calm himself down. It's okay, he thinks, there's still time. She can still make it out. The man lets out a pained groan, forcing himself to lift his head enough for her to hopefully hear what he has to say. ]
... Get away from here.
[ Normally, that would be an order, but he has no strength left to make such demands. His voice comes out weak, more like he's pleading, begging her to run away before something bad happens to her. ]
no subject
Why would I do that? — Who else is gonna help you control what ya got going on?
no subject
Not happening.
[ Let's just make that one clear right out of the gate. The only thing that possibly could be done about the beast is to kill it, but... there isn't anyone here that would be capable of that here, is there? If only his brother was here...
The corners of his lips curl up slightly in a wry smile. He never thought a day would come when a thought like that would cross his mind. ]
no subject
( and from where she is, jinx kneels down to her knees with her canine teeth flashing towards his direction. her expression doesn't grow serious or worry like it truly should be, which is rather strange to say the least. instead, there's excitement and great interest gleaming in her eyes. )
All you gotta do is let someone lend ya a hand.
no subject
He doesn't have the strength to do any of that, so instead he just exhales slowly, his face darkening. ]
... Don't.
[ Don't do what, one might ask? Just... all of it. She should have never seen this thing, she shouldn't want anything to do with it, she should just... forget all about it.
That's the only way he can keep her safe. ]
Dunno what you're thinking... but this doesn't end the way you imagine.
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
cw: masochist + sadist
(no subject)
c!
That's the first thing that strikes Claude once it's all over. This great a beast, this amount of destruction, this wanton loss of life are all different, certainly, but the idea behind it is chillingly familiar. Ordinary people, corrupted by greed as they were, were never deserving of such a sorry fate; bones cracked and muscles torn, skin thickening into dense clusters of scales, souls lost in the balance as they gave way to death and destruction.
There's only one difference here: demonic beasts never turned back. He approaches Ragna cautiously, his right hand clutching tightly onto the dagger he had brought with him into this wretched place. With his left hand, he reaches out as though to touch Ragna, but stops just short of his shoulder.
He had always tried not to think too hard about the true nature of demonic beasts as they were slewn. But if he ever had a chance to extend a hand in friendship instead of malice, if there were any chance of one becoming human again, he always thought he'd take it. ]
Hey. Are you... okay?
[ Please don't bite off his hand. He needs that. ]
no subject
That isn't the case this time, however; this time, he doesn't have a way out, and has to see what the world he destroyed is like with his own eyes (well, eye) in full clarity.
And it sucks.
Ragna shudders when an unknown voice reaches him from behind, wondering who in their goddamn mind would be stupid enough to approach him now ─ but there again, he's probably a pitiful sight, hunched over on the ground like this. In fact, this is the point where his muscles finally give in and he falls on his side, then rolls on his back with a grunt of effort. Finally getting a look at whoever addressed him, he doesn't recognize the stranger, and once the cogs in his brain finally start turning, it's only the sheer exhaustion that prevents him from rolling his eyes at his question. What the fuck does he mean, "is he okay"? ]
... Just peachy.
[ Okay, he's still got his sarcasm, apparently. Maybe things aren't as bad as they look. But as annoyed as he is with the stupid question, he doesn't have any reason to wish this guy any harm, and since he's not... exactly the guarantee of safety at the moment, he offers him a word of advice in a strained voice. ]
You shouldn't... stick around.
no subject
[ Being that he didn't find himself immediately killed by Ragna, Claude is counting that as a win. The man looks beleagured, exhausted both physically and emotionally, but more than that, he looks entirely human. At this point, Claude wonders if turning back into that beast would even be enough to give him enough energy to get up for another onslaught. ]
Don't get me wrong, the second I see you turning back, I'm out of here. But as is, I'm not so sure you're going anywhere. [ Claude crouches down beside him, all pointy elbows and knobby knees in his sleep clothes, looking down at Ragna sympathetically. He doesn't bother concealing the fact that he's still carrying his knife on him at this point. ]
You're gonna need a hand to get out of here.
no subject
... And yet, the first thing on your mind... is to help me out.
[ The man almost wants to laugh. After all that, you'd think he'd be more eager to put him down, not trying to get him back on his feet. ]
You got a death wish or something?
no subject
[ He sighs, resting his chin on the heel of his hand. After everything that's already happened, this place has a way of inspiring honesty out of people, Claude included. Besides, he's clearly seeing this guy on his worst day. He's in no position to judge. ]
If I can save a life, I will, [ he says simply. ] My own as well as others. Where I'm from, changing into something like that -- well, you're a lot bigger than most, I'll admit that much. But every other person who's changed wasn't able to be changed back. Nothing to be done about that but deal with what's in front of you.
[ That he - or his men - had killed them all goes unsaid, Claude thinks. ]
You're the first I've seen change back. Why wouldn't I want to take advantage of that to help out instead?
[ It's not exactly atonement. Claude doesn't think he needs to atone for what he's done. But it would ease the burden on his heart, just a little. ]
(no subject)
(no subject)
trial a
And yet the girl doesn't move on. It's like there's something bothering her. Something that makes her frown and run backwards, rather than moving on, further into the maze. Like there's something she's forgetting, or something she should be thinking about. Even if she isn't sure what it is, it still drives her to move back.
--When she spots Ragna and the girl, she knows what it is. It was the thought that maybe she wasn't alone here. That maybe she was letting people behind. That's what drove her back.
And while Ange is approaching, she can hear the entire exchange between the two play out. Once she's close enough that her footsteps should be audible, they probably actually aren't audible to Ragna, especially since their voices are so raised at that point that they completely cover up the sound.
Until Ange stops walking and speaks up, only moments after Nu stopped. ]
Wow, you're accusing him of being destructive? Real original.
[ Her own tone is flat - almost a comedic contrast with the other two, given the height of their exchange only a moment ago. ]
Don't you think things would've been destroyed a little more already if that was the case? At least pick something better.
no subject
And he can't let that happen. ]
Are you outta your goddamn mind?! Get the hell outta here, you idiot!
[ But it's too late. Nu has already noticed the newcomer ─ it would be hard for her not to, given that Ange's addressed her personally ─ and the girl cocks her head to the side to look at her. ]
Ragna... Who is that girl?
[ Her voice is still upbeat and sweet, but this time, her tone is more cold and distant when she asks her question... like the only reason she bothers keeping up the pretense of innocence is that she's still technically speaking to Ragna. And before he even gets a chance to explain (as if there's any explanation he could give that would satisfy her), she frowns, making up her mind without his input. ]
Hmmm... Nu doesn't like her.
[ And just like that, her demeanor changes again, back to the stoic, robotic monotone and stone-cold expression. She extends her arm towards the other girl, and several dark red portals form around her, a black-and-red blade shooting out of each of them in quick succession. ]
Initiating termination protocols.
[ But Ragna knows her well, and even before she finishes speaking, he's already on the move, positioning himself between Nu and Ange, shielding the latter with his body. Having fought Nu hundreds, maybe even thousands of times, Ragna has little trouble deflecting the blades with his sword, even with just his left arm working.
Seeing that, Nu's expression changes immediately into a mix of anger, shock, and hurt, like Ragna's actions are a betrayal to her. ]
Ah... Ragna... Why would you protect her?! Even though Ragna only belongs to Nu!
[ Oh great, that again. Not that it ever really stops, not when Nu is involved. The man lets out a sigh, really wishing she would just let go already and move on. ]
... I said enough already.
Even though Nu is right here for Ragna!!
Shut up!!
[ Clearly, that conversation is going nowhere. ]
no subject
But even Ange realises when a situation is a little too serious for that. Maybe if it was just her involved in it, she would've made the quip anyway, considering she isn't too worried about her own safety-- as is probably evident from her stepping in here like it's nothing, and still not backing down even after Ragna blocking that blow makes it very obvious the stakes aren't so low here.
But it's not like she really wants to get Ragna into trouble here, so Ange - for once - wisely keeps that remark to herself. ]
Fighting her isn't going to work. [ She instead says, going for the more productive route.
Ange somehow manages to keep her voice calm, despite the danger involved here. It seems like Ragna can handle it for now, so that's good - and she's making sure to stay behind him, since she knows she'd never be able to deflect those attacks herself. As long as he isn't having trouble dealing with the blows, then using him as a shield doesn't feel bad. ]
I was hearing dumb voices too. I'm not sure why they're manifesting as that-- that girl, or whatever she is, for you. But you have to deal with what she's saying more than with what she's doing. [ If Ange is right about this, anyway.
She sure hopes she is, or she's giving him terrible advice right now. ]
no subject
[ Ragna tosses a quick glance over his shoulder at Ange, a wry smirk on his face. It's not that her advice isn't useful ─ hell, he's willing to believe she isn't just talking outta her ass and knows more about the situation than he does. It's just, well... it's Nu. There's no way he can do anything about her just by addressing the bullshit she's spewing, especially now. ]
Problem is... that idiot over there isn't big on talking things through.
[ He'd tell Ange to run away, but it's probably pointless, since the Murakumo is likely to chase after the other girl anyway. He might as well keep her close to protect her more easily. Lord knows Nu isn't gonna listen to reason now that she's gotten into her head that there's someone standing between her and Ragna.
Speaking of whom, Nu herself is not... looking great. Long gone is the cutesy, innocent girl taunting Ragna at the start of it all; instead, her face is twisted in rage and her voice quickly losing any traces of sanity. ]
Unforgivable... Kill, kill, kill, kill! Nu won't let anyone take Ragna away!!
[ A giant sword appears seemingly out of nowhere, falling from the sky and hitting the ground behind the girl. In a flash of light, the sword disappears, and instead, Nu emerges wearing an armor of sorts. ]
Target confirmed. Now engaging battle mode... Beginning termination of target.
Stay back.
[ He tosses that remark quickly, readying himself to counter another barrage of blades coming their way. ]
no subject
I don't know how much staying back there is to be done here.
[ Because this seems on an entirely different scale. Maybe Ange should have figured as much after having seen Ragna's own power in action before, but.. of course things work on an entirely different level where he comes from. Something closer to the powers of the witches from back home - though not quite on the same level - than anywhere close to those yakuza goons Ange kept trying to dodge back home.
She's not sure how much cover even Ragna can provide in the face of this level of danger. He's only one person, and this other.. creature, person, robot thing, whatever it is-- it seems powerful. ]
Just-- Just fight! Don't pay attention to me!
[ Granted, there's not much Ange can do to protect herself here, she feels.
But the last thing she wants to do is feel like she's just some burden dragging Ragna down. ]
b
Didn't mean to interrupt your brotherly reunion or whatever this is, but I can't advance to the next floor until this gets resolved.
[ She's feeling so out of place that maybe there's nothing wrong in just stepping in to fast forward this tragic scene to its conclusion. ]
no subject
And on top of all that happening, he has to deal with the sudden realization he somehow got himself a peanut gallery.
Somehow, it shouldn't surprise him that his greatest tragedy has somehow been morphed into a goddamn comedy, mostly because the universe insists on making him the butt of every joke in existence. Maybe it's the fact that he's older and stronger now that he manages to keep himself steady even after getting stabbed, or maybe it's just sheer anger keeping him upwards when he whips around, yelling at Sooyoung. ]
Who the fuck asked you for an opinion>?!
[ But before she gets a chance to answer that (and for the better, perhaps, because there sure isn't an answer that wouldn't piss him off even more), Ragna hears a small, meek voice behind him. ]
... Brother?
[ Ragna spins back with an angry "What?" that gets caught in his throat as he remembers this isn't just Jin he's facing here, it's Jin from that time, and he still has no idea how to even look him in the face without feeling like a complete failure. ]
Is this woman bothering you, Brother?
[ Ragna's heart sinks a little, the question being so innocent you could think it comes from a place of genuine concern, though that assumption would quickly dissipate as that twisted, wicked grin spreads across the boy's face again. ]
If so, I can kill her for you.
no subject
[ This is a perfect moment to be so meticulous about the insignificant details. She doesn't have all day to stand here and wait...except she has a whole week, but why would Sooyoung wait that long for them to move out of her way? ]
Take this fight somewhere else, kiddos.
[ It's truly unfortunate that Sooyoung can't hear Jin's words clearly—otherwise, maybe she wouldn't step closer to the brothers. On the other hand, maybe if she did hear the younger boy, it wouldn't change a thing. ]
Trial C
Though he isn't quite sure who, or why. Regardless, paying no mind to the danger, he approaches Ragna, kneeling next to him and placing hands on his shoulders to brace him.]
We meet again, I see. Can you speak?
no subject
... You.
[ That's... a confirmation, at least? And some level of recognition, which, considering his state, should be considered a small blessing. ]
What are... you...
[ He trails off as the cogs in his brain finally begin to turn; of course this isn't his world, it can't be. Under normal circumstances, there's no way he could ever turn back into human after becoming the Black Beast. So this has to be a memory... one that he wasn't even consciously aware of. ]
no subject
I take it you remember me? I should think this is a memory of yours... but I know not if the danger is fully past yet. Can you stand on your own?
no subject
Yeah, I...
[ He pulls himself up... or rather, tries to, but all he manages is just sit up somewhat straight. He looks down at his legs, perplexed why he can't just stand up, only to realize he's trembling. Confused (and more than a little embarrassed), Ragna swallows as he looks up at Elidibus. ]
... Is anyone else here?
[ Alive, is the unspoken implication that doesn't quite make it through his throat. ]
no subject
I... don't know. If so, I imagine they wouldn't be out here in plain sight.
[Then, approaching him slowly, Elidibus offers a hand, though he seems a bit hesitant this time.]
Do you need help? If you need to rest for a while, I can stand guard instead.
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)