Nikolai Gogol (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
quizpersona) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
expiationlogs2024-04-09 10:54 pm
quizpersona) wrote in expiationlogs2024-04-09 10:54 pm
{ Player Event } What's true of all the evils in the world is true of the plague as well
Who: You. (Open to all)
Where: All over Aldrip.
What: This is the log for what we’ve been affectionately dubbing The Organ Player Plot. Various places around Aldrip are facing dangerous supernatural occurrences. It’s a scavenger hunt in some way.
Warnings: MANY SNAKES, Body Horror, Organ Trafficking, Horror Themes, Violence, and we will be updating this as we go along.
A waking scream in the darkness is the first unheard omen.
Snakes, hundreds if not thousands, slither forth from the depths of Lorentia Cave and swiftly invade Aldrip. They are the heralds of the terrible things to come, and there are no corners safe from their encroachment. The serpents come in all shape and sizes, venomous or not, and are quick to become agitated if approached. Their readiness to strike and unwillingness to back off once provoked indicates the lack of survival instinct to flee. They are on the search for what's missing, and they will put up a fight.
An invisible haze sets upon the city , filled with anguish and fury, afflicting residents as it washes through the air and buildings. Children, the elderly, and the sickly are the first to complain of ailment. Within the next few days, patients begin to flood the doors of any hospital or clinic with more serious conditions-- fevers burning from them inside out and excruciating phantom pains that make them writhe in bed.
The longer what's stolen is not returned, the worse things get. Who knows how many bodies will pile high from these plagues if nothing gets done...
ooc//
[ Dara is currently locked behind a barrier in Lorentia Cave to stave off the further spread of deadly miasma. Please retrieve a protection talisman from Seimei and retrieve what she’s lost (and hopefully return it…) !
How This Works–
To begin the search for the supernatural sources a participant can select a number that corresponds to one of the squares on the map (seen below). To go on a route head on down to the numbered top levels in the comments and reply to it. This is your character kicking off their investigation. Some routes will lead to nowhere, some to something, and others to ;)? You’ll find out.
During exploration you will receive responses from eitherquizpersona or cursegod. This is not an interaction with that particular character unless indicated otherwise.
This event will handwave wrap up by the 20th if no conclusion is reached before then because Dara needs her poor organs back. ]
The Map
Happy Belated Easter lol
Where: All over Aldrip.
What: This is the log for what we’ve been affectionately dubbing The Organ Player Plot. Various places around Aldrip are facing dangerous supernatural occurrences. It’s a scavenger hunt in some way.
Warnings: MANY SNAKES, Body Horror, Organ Trafficking, Horror Themes, Violence, and we will be updating this as we go along.
Snakes, hundreds if not thousands, slither forth from the depths of Lorentia Cave and swiftly invade Aldrip. They are the heralds of the terrible things to come, and there are no corners safe from their encroachment. The serpents come in all shape and sizes, venomous or not, and are quick to become agitated if approached. Their readiness to strike and unwillingness to back off once provoked indicates the lack of survival instinct to flee. They are on the search for what's missing, and they will put up a fight.
An invisible haze sets upon the city , filled with anguish and fury, afflicting residents as it washes through the air and buildings. Children, the elderly, and the sickly are the first to complain of ailment. Within the next few days, patients begin to flood the doors of any hospital or clinic with more serious conditions-- fevers burning from them inside out and excruciating phantom pains that make them writhe in bed.
The longer what's stolen is not returned, the worse things get. Who knows how many bodies will pile high from these plagues if nothing gets done...
[ Dara is currently locked behind a barrier in Lorentia Cave to stave off the further spread of deadly miasma. Please retrieve a protection talisman from Seimei and retrieve what she’s lost (and hopefully return it…) !
How This Works–
To begin the search for the supernatural sources a participant can select a number that corresponds to one of the squares on the map (seen below). To go on a route head on down to the numbered top levels in the comments and reply to it. This is your character kicking off their investigation. Some routes will lead to nowhere, some to something, and others to ;)? You’ll find out.
During exploration you will receive responses from either
quizpersona or cursegod. This is not an interaction with that particular character unless indicated otherwise.This event will handwave wrap up by the 20th if no conclusion is reached before then because Dara needs her poor organs back. ]
Happy Belated Easter lol
Boss fight phase 2???
But at least he has the small snake that had slithered its way past all its brethren and sought him out. It acts as a ward, almost, keeping the rest of the serpents at arms-length, and stays coiled loosely around his fingers as he pauses at an intersection, pausing only to make sure Minato and Koromaru are still with him.]
C'mon, I think-
[Whatever he thought doesn't really matter, though. The sharp noise of a gunshot echos easily through the empty streets from the direction of the water– and then the screams (a few different voices? Familiar, maybe?) are all but a giant neon sign pointing at where the action is.
The huge Persona, one he doesn't recognize, is almost unnecessary at that point.]
This way!
[Sorry, leader- he doesn't wait for confirmation or orders, simply adjusting the axe in his non-snake holding hand and starting off at a run: a bit of impetuousness he doesn't typically display without a fair bit of goading. But it's a short dash to the dock, tucking that tiny snake friend away in the pocket with his talisman-- though arriving doesn't explain a whole lot.
Some dude in a catsuit with a sword. Wild. More likely to be their persona user than the kid on the ground coughing up the vile, oily mess of seawater. And then, decked out in white and flair as though the ringleader of this impromptu show–
Is some clown.
Goddamn this place is weird. And yet he's still dashing to get between the soaked and injured on the dock and who he can only assume is their aggressor– driven mad by the Miasma, maybe?]
The hell's going on?
[He doesn't even know who he's asking. Whoever wants to give them an answer??]
no subject
He takes quick stock of the scene on the docks. There's a cheerful-looking man in a top hat, and is that -- Akechi? And Rolo?
It doesn't actually matter who it is. Minato's instinct is to save whoever's in front of him. He grabs his Evoker and pulls the trigger with the device's barrel against his temple. His Persona, Orpheus, manifests in a burst of energy and strums his lyre. The sound reverberates in the air, soothing Akechi's and Rolo's wounds while providing them and Shinjiro with the confidence to dodge out of future attacks. ]
Senpai, I'll back you up.
[ It's probably more efficient that way, and Minato wants Shinjiro to know he trusts his old teammate's judgment. It'll be fine, probably, and it looks like he might have his hands full making sure Akechi and Rolo are all right. Best to reassure Shinjiro he's free to let loose if necessary.
But just in case, he adds: ]
If something goes wrong, I'll handle it.
[ Koromaru springs into action too, howling and summoning Cerberus to his side. The canine Persona snarls, breathing fire in Gogol's direction.
boss fight!!
His hand is already reaching back to his mask, all ready to rip it off and launch an another attack at Gogol, he's very determined not to let the clown get time to take break. He's just about to shout yet another command to his Persona when a gallon of filthy water is suddenly dumbed on him, slowing him briefly down. And as if that wasn't enough, the clown has the audacity to drop a bony-ass child on him. How dare!
Grunting loudly, Akechi is forced down and to drop his sword so that he can push Rolo away from him.]
Get out of the way, brat!! [He growls at Rolo, grabbing the back of his neck and tossing him out of the way. Sorry, kid. Your pain is none of his concern. It be like that.
With no moment to waste Akechi stands back up to his feet, trying to shake off the disorientation and spot the enemy. He needs to attack before the Clown comes up with other whacky scenarios.]
Loki--!!! [He is readying himself for another attack but then he is suddenly filled with a very familiar rejuvenating sensation of a healing spell. After that? Everything happens so fast. Suddenly there is a dog summoning yet another Persona and breathing fire. Somewhere back in his mind he remembers Kotone telling him about her teammate that was a dog---, wait no, focus Akechi. Details can come later, right now they need to beat their enemy.]
You two! Look sharp, he works with teleportation magic!
This isn't even my final form (spoilers: sadly it is)
Only for his eyes to be immediately drawn to the freaky little shit who shoots himself in the head without hesitation and doesn't die. It truly does seem like an improper circus proper when his gawking is interrupted by the fire that licks at his ankles. For the record: it is a shriek, genuine or not, that Gogol lets out as his hands reach out by instinct to intercede the sack of human that's being tossed (again). ]
Ohshit! Did you really just throw this guy?
[ It's not really dignified: the way Gogol has to shake out his leg to try to put out the fire, while shifting Rolo to hold him like a sack of potatoes with one arm. He looks down at him so incredulously. ]
Hey pipsqueak, look sharp. This would be so much easier if I just killed you.
[ Akechi is wise to sound the alarm on his ability—he'll give him that. Speaking of the Overcoat it looks like he doesn't even need his hands to activate it. He so graciously gives the other three a demonstration. A rowboat careens through the air from the right of them. One second passes as the portal relocates below. Sharp ornate fencing rockets up from below their feet. Another second must pass— A boulder smashes into the ground behind, sending the majority of the mass and all the little pieces of rocky shrapnel skidding forward. ]
no subject
Rude.
Rolo yelps at the continued manhandling, and the brief relief of someone else catching him before his leg can hit the ground quickly dies off when he realizes just who has caught him. He struggles against the grip, not even dignifying the lunatic with a verbal response. He should really just punish the close proximity with more stabbing, but he'd lost his grip on his knife at some point while getting tossed around.
When it becomes clear that escape will be difficult with a bum leg, he gives up on the attempt to wriggle free and shifts his attention back to the strange squad of guys and their summoned monster things. That's a mystery he can solve later. For now, he unfortunately doesn't have a lot of options. Reluctantly, Rolo activates his Geass again.
For the boys, all left outside the range of the effect this time, they can actually see the way one of his eyes lights up a pinkish-red color as a similarly colored field of some kind suddenly expands outward in a tight orb around him and the clown. Everything freezes for Gogol in that moment, his sense of time suspended.
Teeth grit against the pain in his leg and now his chest as well, he shouts to the others.]
You have five seconds!
no subject
An entire rowboat is jettisoned towards him??]
Shit!
[Instinct helps him throw himself to the side, and a quick flash of light disturbs it's trajectory, as though it had hit a solid object and rebounded-- one obstacle down, but as he rushes forward in the boats wake, sharp metal cracks up with enough force to rip through leather and cloth and flesh alike, gashing and ripping up a calf.
Shinjiro chokes back whatever noise he might have made at that-- it's agonizing, but whatever, it's a fight. He's bled before, he'll bleed again, and it's nowhere near the worst pain he's ever felt. Shut it out.
The kid is yelling about time, something huge is crashing behind him and he's just going to have to trust Akechi's judgment that the clown is the antagonist here. 5 seconds? Alright.
It's just enough time to cross that distance, hobbled as he is by the jagged tear from the offensive fences, and shout to Rolo.]
Be ready to move, kid!
[Because he is going to swing that huge fucking battle axe right as their time elapses, and would really prefer if the hostage weren't in the way.]
no subject
It's unfortunate confirmation that, indeed, everything being teleported at them is very real and very solid.
The shrapnel is less expected, razor-sharp pieces scattering everywhere. It's harder to predict where each piece will go, forcing Minato and Koromaru to dodge separate ways. And though there's a stinging in Minato's arm, that's not what's presently important to him.
Koromaru's talisman lies shredded on the ground. Perhaps they should be thankful only the talisman suffered damage, given how Minato had tucked it underneath Koromaru's collar. ]
Koromaru, over here --!
[ The dog gathers the talisman's pieces in his mouth and scampers over to Minato on command. He drops the paper on the floor with a small whine. Maybe he's disappointed in himself for losing the talisman, or maybe Koromaru's upset by the state of Minato's arm. Minato can't really tell. Not does he have time to dwell on it, barely five seconds based on Rolo's warnings. ]
It's okay, hang on --
[ He reaches into his pocket and withdraws his own talisman. Minato folds it over a couple times before tucking it under Koromaru's collar. ]
It's okay. I'll be fine.
[ After all, between the two of them, he'd prefer it be Koromaru who's protected from the miasma. Minato doesn't give Koromaru the chance to object either, pulling the trigger on his Evoker and summoning Pixie. Her body glows, casting a spell to reduce Gogol's defenses.
Koromaru howls again, Cerberus reappearing to cast a spell as well, one that heightens everyone's focus. They'll find it a little easier for their attacks to find their marks.
Make this count, Aragaki-senpai!! ]
no subject
Easier said than done, though. They sure have a bunch of ragtag super powered teens fighting a clown. While they really are unbalanced when it comes to numbers, five(?) against one they are still outmatched -- at least as long a they stay uncoordinated like this, going blindly against their opponent without having a proper plan of action.
Akechi struggles back to his feet, clutching on his injured hand next to his own body. Loki, however, has assumed back to his leisured position on top of his sword, grinning at the chaos spread out in front of him. His lip, sown tightly shut, keep pulling on the sutures as he cackles silently at the silly humans.
'Is it truly this man you are mad at? Or the powers in this world?' The Persona whispers to Akechi's mind, who is now breathing hard and glaring angrily at Gogol, feeling the madness bloom within him. 'If that is so, we have a way to tear him into pieces - along with the rest of them.' And that is the final push he need. He might have lost his weapons but it doesn't mean he's completely out of the game yet, not at all.]
Aragaki--, Aim for his arm. [He growls a direction as the other Persona user is rushing towards him, swinging that axe of his. Then with a deep laughter he turns his attention back to Gogol.]
Loki, break him! [And with that command the Demon moves again, swinging the gigantic blade at Gogol -- this time aiming at the fabric of the cape, uncaring about any collateral damage the blade could cause. Sorry Rolo.]
no subject
Ugh. This is why he normally works alone.
Rolo holds out until they're almost on the guy and then elbows his way out of the clown's grip – far easier against an unresistant timestopped enemy – dropping to the ground and rolling away as best he can given the state of his leg. In the same movement, he deactivates his Geass.
From Gogol's perspective, everyone's positions are suddenly shifted in the same moment like an odd little stutter of reality, his hostage somehow already on the ground, a fact that might hopefully help as a distraction, and the two older teens suddenly already upon him.]
CW: if ya squeamish stop reading here
The demonic blade slices through the clavicle like butter. The upwards curve of it catches on the clasp keeping the Overcoat attached. The very last thing that the platinum haired man is able to do with any strategic thought in mind is reach one last time through his Ability to snatch Akechi's talisman. Both his hand and the protective paper are pulled back through as the mantle is peeled from him. The momentum of the metal flings it off to the side and instead of holding on Nikolai lets it find salvation from what's about to happen.
It isn't until the axe skirts just barely past his arm and instead embeds itself into his abdomen that he knows he's going to die. His arm lifts to push the axe from the flesh but the motion is aborted halfway: he knows with that kind of bodily trauma his own blood is quickly beginning to pool inside the cut through and ruptured internals.
It's painful, very painful. Not the most pain he's been in but notable in its brutality. He chokes on his laughter for as long as he's able to. Shinji is really the only one who decided to take him on in close proximity so he reaches his less mangled arm out to try to grab at him with all his strength. If he can manage to grab him by the neck he will. The intention is to hold him in place.
Gogol pushes a mouthful of bright red blood out from his humorlessly curled lips as to make it trickle in a steady stream to the phtalo green water gathering around their feet. Making eye contact with Shinji Gogol mouths something inaudible with a strained grin.
"Good luck☆" ]
The Disembodied Voice of Narration
It's in the way the torn up pieces of what was once Koromaru's talisman curl in on themselves before sizzling loudly with a blackened flame. Almost simultaneously the ambient temperature in the air plummets several degrees. A low pitched humming pulses from the deep as the surface tension out a few meters from the docks rises at a centralized place. At all of their feet the water begins to rise up to the ankles-- with the water at the clown's feet beginning to bubble as the trickle of blood hits the surface.
It happens first at Minato's feet: for he was first to lose his protection from the miasma. Pale and purpling hands, dirtied with flaking infectious blood under the nails and gathered at the knuckles, begin to drag themselves from the water using the hems of clothing.
Like a dam being opened the very second the Talisman is torn from Akechi is when another swarm of the limbs burst from the water's surface to grab at him. Should those hands touch any bare flesh there will be a pain comparable to a hot iron on unprotected flesh.
A discordant weeping sings. A sad siren's song. Let us in. ]
no subject
But maybe he's just never fought a normal human like this: with a weapon, going all out with the assumption that they were overpowered. The weight of the axe head sinks, meeting and eliminating the thin resistance of flesh and viscera, bringing them unfortunately face to face. (Had this how he looked when he'd died, too? Self-satisfied, nearly content?)
The hand gripping his neck is barely noticed as they go down with the force of the swing, his eyes locked onto Gogol's expression with a confusion that seems to edge on horror, but not quite making the cross. While the guy still breathes, he sure did just kill him.
...Was this what he'd meant by collateral damage? Clearly not. There's no way he would have known who would arrive. Anyway, thinking and processing is for later-- he pulls and steps back, letting the axe fall to his side to offer a hand to Rolo just as the water begins to roil and swell and push, surging up higher to their ankles, inky and chtonic and dangerous.]
There's still the Miasma to deal with--
[Hands. Singing. A horrific sound and a terrifying sight as Minato and Akechi are grasped at. Maybe this is really the phase 2.]
no subject
Anyway, they don't have much time to linger on the morality of their actions. The tide is rising, bringing grisly souvenir with it. The grim, decaying hands reaches up to him, successfully grabbing on his ankle and pulling him back on down -- probably aiming to take him underwater. The hold is surprisingly strong, feeling more like a sharp shackle than a grip, burning despite his outfit covering all of his body.]
-- Fuck!! [He growls, trying to reach for his displaced sword.]
no subject
Maybe the miasma and cursed hands grabbing at them aren't so bad if they provide Shinjiro a temporary distraction.
Minato swiftly lifts Koromaru into his arms, out of reach of the outstretched hands. One of them wraps their fingers around his ankle, nails digging into the bare flesh there. It burns like a hot iron curled around his limb, squeezing hard enough where he thinks trying to wrest himself free might risk him losing the leg altogether.
Koromaru whines and paws desperately at Minato's arm, vying for Minato's attention. The dog tilts his head back and sniffs the air before letting out an urgent bark. He wriggles and thrashes until he finally breaks free, aided by Minato's fading strength. And then he's off, sprinting as fast as his four legs will carry him.
Minato doesn't call for Koromaru. There must be a reason why he's run off. Instead, he focuses on trying to stay on two feet. Getting dragged underwater by the hands seems like a death sentence, given how it feels like his ankle is on fire.
Akechi's yelling commands his attention, and it's right then where he spots it: the glint of Akechi's sword, just barely within reach. Grabbing it risks losing his own arm to the hands. Fortunately for Akechi, Minato decides it's worth the tradeoff. He swiftly snatches the sword from one of the hands' grasp. ]
Akechi! Catch!
[ He throws it over just in time before another hand attaches itself to his forearm.
Meanwhile, Koromaru weaves in and out, dodging around the cursed hands until he's standing a few feet away from Shinjiro and Rolo. He barks at them urgently, jumping up and down to get their attention.
It looks like there's something important under the water. ]
no subject
So with that said, it's probably a good thing the disembodied hands aren't coming after him right now.
There's not much he can do against...whatever those are. it's some kinda magic bullshit. Do they even have a mind he could affect with his Geass? He leans heavily into Shinjiro to keep the weight off his bad leg, and focuses instead on the dog going nuts.
Ah, hell.]
If the organ is down there, there no way I can get it right now.
🌊👋
The more adventurous hands catch the scent of various injuries Akechi and Minato have obtained during the scuffle. Even for something as mild as a scratch the fingers begin to convulse wildly before rapidly crawling the try to slip under his clothes and incessantly pull and tug and scratch at damaged skin to tear it apart further. To get the infected water inside.
For all that have a talisman: which means Shinji, Rolo, and Koromaru—it's as if the hands can't even sense their presence. At least, not at the moment. For those searching for the organ they will observe that the darkened clouds above slowly swirl like the eye of a storm above the bulging waters below. The melancholic wailing has lowered to a buzzing hum originating from the very same area—a few meters from the docks. Are they willing to go for a swim? ]
no subject
Seimei said not to touch it. But the small snake that had shown up had already devoured his piece of Dara's tongue, that she had used to create a charm for him so many months ago.]
Koromaru, help get them out of here.
[His own legs are gashed open from the fence, but he's more mobile than the rest right now. He's immediately drawing the guardian serpent from the pocket and shedding the coat to the dock. A giant hunk of wool would just help him drown, after all.
Half to Rolo, half to himself:]
Let's hope this shit stops if we get it...
[And he will absolutely jump in. Y'all got weapons and Personas, y'all figure out the hands. He's gonna try and bring that snake to wherever the origin of all this fucking nonsense is and further postpone his mental processing of Clown Murder.]
cw: past-character death?
The pain alone makes him see white and head spin. The water somehow feels far more deeper and darker than what it really is. It's as if he keeps falling and falling further in the stormy abyss. He's lost in the world of disorienting pain, hot white flares licking over his body as the hands try tear him apart, suffocating him. There's really no way telling what is real and what's not anymore.
Honestly? The anguish he's in is rivaling to the that time when he had been shot. When the bullet had pierced his lung and slowly drowned him. But back then there had been something to comfort him. A.. thought, a knowledge, that his final wish had been listened to and that his death wouldn't be in vain. But what about now? If he were to die here what it'd be for? For a petty revenge on a man who he just happened to dislike? Wanting to save the good-for nothing shit-stain of useless deity?
No. None of those were good enough for him. He didn't give rat's ass about either of them. If he's really going to die here, he better take everything with him.
Then, he feels the pressure inside his skull again. A eerily familiar pulse along with a rush of adrenaline pumping through his body, pushing him to ignore the pain and fight. There is sudden burst of red flames surrounding his body as Loki activates his ability, giving Akechi the desperate boost he needs to get up. And with that the Persona disappears into thing air. ]
Hahahaha--!! [Swinging his blade manically he actually manages to cut down the hands trying to claw at his body again. After he's free from their grasp he quickly surges forward, right at the closest person to him -- who just happens to be Minato. He raises his arm again to strike down at the hands grasping at the other teen. Again and again. He keeps bringing down his weapon --- not really caring about Minato's safety anymore at his point]
no subject
Minato fares worse, miasma hands digging into the flesh of his leg. His will to wrest himself free fades as something whispers in his ear to succumb, to give himself to the abyss. But then there's maniacal laughter, a sound so unlike the quiet words that promised to shield him from the terrors of the world by turning his back to it all.
The hands suddenly let go of him accompanied with a shrill screech, finding themselves stabbed over and over again. Minato uses that opening to move out of the way of Akechi's onslaught, but not before the blade's driven itself through his shoulder. He barely feels it; the pain blurs in combination with how much everything else hurts too. It's why he can't necessarily say throwing Akechi his sword was a bad idea, given that the other teen's attack freed him from the hands. He's perfectly content to trade the single wound for escaping the cursed hands.
Akechi doesn't get any words of gratitude. Instead, Minato retrieves his Evoker with his good arm to summon Horus. The giant bird circles overhead and drops pillars of light on the hands closest to Minato and Akechi.
The water's not receding. Lingering about any longer means the hands' attacks will continue, and it doesn't look like Akechi's particularly invested in trying to get away. At this rate, the other teen will meet his demise here too. Reasoning with him seems futile, but Minato tries anyways: ]
Akechi! We have to go!
[ The hands are back and clawing at him, but he can't tell anymore whether they're real or not. ]
no subject
He can't see Shinjiro underwater at all. And one glance at the others is about all the attention he can stand to give that mess right now – there's watery curse hands and giant floating spirit monster things and beams of light and shit. The guy with the mask is either helping Minato or trying to kill him. It's just...a lot.]
L-let's go.
[And he's talking to a dog now. At least it's one that seems to actually understand speech. With his free hand, Rolo gives Koromaru an awkward pat on the head in thanks.]
no subject
Those talisman aren't water proof. The first time Rolo had been very lucky that his was intact after being submerged at the beginning. Alas, the prolonged exposure to the water makes the ink fade more and more until finally the hands can sense them. Both Shinji and Rolo will begin to feel the sensation of the hallucinations trying to tear at their wounds now too. It's not real... It's not real... Surely it's not real?
For them all, with the more infectious miasma that gets in the more they will feel that their body has already passed on to the afterlife. The physical body is feeling more and more foreign; the soul desires deliverance from that fleshy mortal prison. As if in direct response to Minato's verbal attempt to devise a way to survive this the hands renew their efforts tenfold on him. One gently grasps him at the jaw. A show of desperation to coax him to give up and accept this fate.
After Shinji takes the plunge all the sounds of the chaos around him lessen drastically in volume. From that gashed open wound on his leg he'll feel the infection crawling through the opening, under the skin, and taking hold.
But ahead of him he'll see it. The spleen floats suspended in the water. Not yet in reach but reachable if he guns for it. ]
no subject
He should probably feel alarmed at the heat clawing into his torn skin and muscles, feeling like a slow, flooding fever as it progresses. The burning in his eyes, opennas he tries to see through the turbulent, ill-coloured wated. At the way his chest tightens as he swims, a reminder of the time limit on his breath. At the surreal idea and sensation of fingers, picking at any wound they can find like it's a scab not-quite-healed but impossible to resist pulling apart and open. But instead of distressing him, the idea of it feels... familiar.
Just like when he'd died right? Searing pain. Difficulty breathing. Consciousness harder and harder to hold to. A natural release from life. One he'd done before, and wouldn't be afraid of facing again.
Once close enough, and he'll hold out the hand with his small, guardian snake-friend, as though willing it to strike and take the organ within itself.]
no subject
Because right now Akechi is in his own world, filled with pain and rage. His vision has tunneled out. The red eyes shining in the rage as he sees nothing but the white hands sprouting up from the water, whispering their sweet nothings, trying to lure him to join them in the lulling abyss. He does not for one minute believe in such false promises, no - never again. He will cut and destroy everything in his way, he'll tear the entire world apart if he so has to.
Screaming keeps swinging his blade to all directions, aiming at the hands reaching for him. Of course, if he was in his right mind he'd already realize that he's only making it worse for himself -- but right now there are only enemies in front of him. His brutal blade is solely designed for his aggressive fighting style, hacking and tearing rather than cutting, to maximize the pain.
All of the sudden he hears a voice calling for him. One that he does not recognize, sorry Minato. Because again, all he sees just another enemy standing in his way -- trying to lure him into his doom. Hah, not in his watch! With a loud, animalistic scream he bounces at Minato, sword lifted up, all ready to slash down at the body before him.]
no subject
He can feel himself running low on SP. Minato's hand trembles as he lifts his Evoker to his temple and pulls the trigger. There's a flash of light as Unicorn materializes, bathing Akechi in a white light as well. It casts a spell, cleansing the rage addling Akechi's mind. While it won't do anything about the hallucinations, it's Minato's hope that this at least stops him from trying to stab him.
The Persona sends a blast of light at the hands rising to grasp at Minato's jaw before it quickly fades away. Briefly, Minato considers summoning Horus again in an attempt to heal everyone in the vicinity. It doesn't seem particularly efficient, not when the hands would quickly tear their wounds open again.
There's no time to actually check whether Akechi's calmed down. Minato grasps Akechi's arm without a word and tugs him further away from the shoreline. It's an arduous task, between struggling to stay conscious and trying to kick away any hands that draw too near to them.
Koromaru keeps doggy-paddling too, towing Rolo towards the sand. He'll swim to shore not too far from Akechi and Minato before shaking himself dry. Gogol isn't too far away either, and Koromaru turns to face the jester. He growls at the man, hackles raised, just in case Gogol decides to try anything funny. ]
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Koromaru's barking draws Rolo's attention back to said thread – the clown fallen and definitely not coming back from that and yet–
Is he dead yet? Hard to be sure. The dog doesn't seem to think it's safe yet.
It strikes Rolo that all this could have been avoided had he just taken care of it right away. If he hadn't hesitated, if he wasn't clinging to that other life where things like killing didn't come so easily. Is there any use in being normal if he's this useless as a result of it? Is the certainty of his brother's love worth potentially failing him if another such threat arises? He can handle the thought of Lelouch lying to him, but he can't handle the possibility of losing him.
With grit teeth, Rolo drags himself along the ground to where the clown lays. And there's his knife, where he must have lost his grip on it when the masked fucker chucked him at this guy. Rolo picks it back up and gives the lunatic's body a cold once-over.
The screaming pain in his leg and everywhere else do a good job of smothering the horrified, weak other voice in his head. Efficiently and unceremoniously, Rolo slashes the blade across the man's throat.]
CW: current character death
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