[Rosen physically recoils from the question. He gives Altius a slightly annoyed look as he lowers his spear ever so slightly. While he's still on guard, he doesn't expect the shadowy entity before them to attack anytime soon. After all, it appears so frail and vulnerable. This pitiful creature would not be considered a threat if it wasn't so suspiciously tall.
Hell, it's almost Rosen's height. That seems odd, doesn't it? Rosen is pretty damn tall at an impressive 195 cm, or 6'4. There aren't many people of his height. Rosen has always had a larger-than-life persona, but now he appears ashamed and pained.]
Something like that. [He hesitantly answers before taking a moment to clear his throat.]
Just don't give him anything, okay? He'll take and take until you have nothing else to give--[In the midst of his warning, the shadowy entity reaches for him with a trembling hand.]
Do...not...lie. [It whispers.] I...take only what is...given.
[What an interesting series of responses... Altius turns his eye between the two of them as they speak, and it is admittedly easier for him to note the particular height of the both of them, however the shadow's timid demeanor may diminish its posture. There are very few people Zekarion has ever had to look up at, standing only two inches shorter than Rosen himself.
Externally, his own expression remains the same, though there's a layer of something critical to him as he replies.]
All I intended to give was guidance to a safe place, [he says plainly. There's pity in his eyes as he looks to the creature and its trembling reach.] Are you saying there's danger in assisting him?
[Will he trust Rosen's answer? Perhaps. He mostly intends to judge for himself.]
[He suddenly snarls. Rosen, despite his best efforts to remain calm, is losing his cool as he spends more time with this pitiful beast. He appears agitated, more than usual, simply by the sight of this thing. It is unusual, even for him.]
Didn't your mother ever warn you against being overly kind? There are people who will take advantage of your kindness, such as—
[The shadowy entity suddenly interrupts him by wrapping its trembling fingers around his wrist.]
You. [The shadowy figure gasps.] You take full advantage of everything and everyone around you, don’t you? Nobody was spared, right?
Not even those you loved.
[Before the monster can say another word, Rosen yanks his arm away and kicks it in the chest. He slams it down onto the pavement with all his might, leaving a small crater under his feet.]
Stop fucking with me!
[He yells, pressing the heel of his boot even harder against the fraying entity's chest. The creature is in agony, coughing and gagging on its own blood, but Rosen won’t let up. He digs his heel even deeper into the shadow's chest, his eyes wide with fear.]
[Altius withholds a remark about having no mother, only for that thought to be completely sidetracked anyway. The rest happens quickly, and he jolts away from the impact of the kick, seeing the level of force it must have taken.
But even with words as cutting as those from the shadow, Altius wouldn't simply stand by without attempting to intervene.]
Get off of him! [He moves forward quickly, hands grabbing Rosen's shoulders as if to force him away—but a normal human's level of strength is unlikely to be enough, which is all Zekarion intends to display.] You kill him and then what? Prove yourself easy to provoke?!
[Pathetic, he thinks but does not let through to the surface in any way.]
[It is nothing short of a "miracle" that the frail creature survived that horrifying kick. Rosen is well-known for his strength, but he has yet to demonstrate his full potential. Despite his immense strength and power, Rosen appears to lack the fortitude necessary to control his emotions. This is what distinguishes an Arkana from a living, breathing person. They are living embodiments of the sin they carry. While one of them may be able to learn to control their emotions, it will be difficult.]
What do you care?! [Rosen asks, lifting his foot from the monster. He directs his malevolent gaze at Zekarion, his eyes filled with rage.]
This demon is pretending to be me, not you! Me.
[As the shadowy figure slowly sits up, it lets out a horrifying gasp. Despite having received such a severe blow, its frail body shakes with each cough. This monster is clearly not as weak as it appears if it can compete with Rosen's strength. However, the pitiful creature is quick to cry for help.]
Do not let him deceive you. [The creature mutters in between its raspy coughs.] He is the imposter, the arrogant one.
I understand what he is like when his pride wears thin.
[Despite that rage being turned his way, Zekarion doesn't back down; his own gaze is steadfast despite the strength that was just on display, as if backed by some righteous cause.]
I care because it's pointless bloodshed!
[He largely doesn't expect that to make any difference to Rosenkrantz, but it must be said for his own sake. It's the persona he's adopted for so long—he can't let go of it now. More towards persuading this arkana, though...]
No one will praise you for destroying something that isn't even fighting back.
[He glances back towards the coughing creature for just a moment, as if to make sure of its continued life; the more it speaks, the more he learns. He's listening to the shade, though he's largely keeping his attention on the apparent danger.]
[That self-righteous persona is not winning any awards with Rosenkrantz. The Arkana appears to be enraged, but he does not attack. No, it would be dishonorable to attack Zekarion or the pitiful beast before him. He values praise above all else. His boundless pride will not allow itself to be tarnished in such a humiliating manner. This is why Rosen does not attack, despite every muscle and nerve in his body yearning for bloodshed right now.]
Tch, do whatever you want! [Rosen stomps his foot on the ground like a petulant child, eliciting a shaky laughter from the shadowy figure. The creature slowly rises to its feet, its soulless white eyes fixed on them.]
So eager for praise, but so undeserving of it. [The shadow directs its gaze toward Zekarion.]
He and I are the same, even if we do not appear to be. The skin he wears is nothing more than a ruse to conceal the self-loathing beneath.
[The comment wins a snarl from Rosen. However, he doesn’t go out of his way to disapprove it.]
[It seems he's taken the right approach; even if the other man is clearly full of emotion he'd like to take out on something, he's still got some sort of code.
Good. Zekarion can use a code.
After Rosen's dismissive remark he takes a step back, putting space between them again for both their sakes. It puts him equally between the two, and he turns halfway to the shadow as it speaks. He takes a moment to watch it for signs of its injuries causing it further trouble, but responds afterwards.]
Then he's no different than everyone else. Wearing a mask and hiding insecurities is simply a part of living with thoughts and feelings.
[His amber gaze goes back to Rosen. He seems to be taking this seriously, at least, rather than anything with a mocking undertone.]
[Rosen nearly does a double take when Zekarion defends him. He wasn't expecting the man to side with him in this situation, especially since he appeared to be so determined to defend this phony. However, he might be wrong about that, especially since this shadowy version of himself is quite displeased.]
Yes. [The shadow answers with a hoarse laugh.] But why would I want to be anything like you or others?
Where's the fun in that?
[The long tendrils trailing behind the shadow grow larger as it prepares to strike. Rosen wasn't kidding when he said this pathetic creature was a threat, especially with those sharp, dagger-like tendrils crashing down on them. Rosen knocks Zekarion out of harm's way, allowing himself to get impaled in the process.]
Get out of here! I-I can handle it!
[Trickles of blood slide down between his teeth as he coughs up specks of blood. Yeah, he's in pain. This shadowy best may appear to be a weak little pushover, but appearances can be deceiving. Thankfully, Rosen is no pushover either but he definitely needs some help here.]
[Altius has rarely been one to "take sides" for personal reasons; even though he's hardly fond of Rosenkrantz, considering things logically has been one of the ways he's earned the respect and gained the power he has in his own world.
Unfortunately, it's not working out so well with this creature. His attention turned to it as soon as it spoke, and he was prepared to dodge out of the way in this case, but then this absurd, aggravating idiot had to go and take a blow for him. It's enough to knock him out of his sharp focus for a brief moment.]
You fool—
[He makes a decision; Rosen has already seen his enhanced strength. He won't show his whole hand, or the aces he has up his sleeve, but this much he will do: He darts up from the ground, aiming a kick at the precise place where Rosenkrantz had attempted to crush the shadow moments before.
Without transforming, he's certainly not as strong as the arkana, but his magic nonetheless makes him much stronger and faster than any man could hope to be without it.]
Rosen lets out a strangled gasp as the vicious tentacles slash through his flesh like searing hot knives. Despite all of his divine protections and supernatural abilities, this hurts. It hurts terribly. The arkana clenches his teeth in agony as those squirmy tentacles dig deeper and deeper into the bone. It's as if this shadowy entity is attempting to penetrate all the way into his soul. The sensation alone is enough to make him sick, but Rosen stays strong.]
Shit, that's the best you got?
[Rosen taunts as he attempts to move his arms. While the pain temporarily immobilized him, Rosen finds his second wind as he attempts to move forward. Ignoring pain is his specialty but thankfully, he doesn't have to put up this bravado for long.
Rosen's face lights up with surprise as Zekarion leaps from the ground and lands a powerful kick to the monster's spine. That was enough to bring the creature to its knees. This unexpected interference is all Rosen needs to break free from the shadow's ruthless grip. Rosen grits his teeth as he violently rips the tentacles from his body, not crying out in pain. He is pride personified; nothing, including his other self, will ever make him cry.
As the shadowy creature slowly rises to its feet again, it turns to face Zekarion, its white soulless gaze full of confusion.]
Do not interfere any further.
[The creature warns, then a dozen or so hand-like tentacles emerge from its back. These shadow hands suddenly shoot out toward Zekarion, hoping to stop him, but Rosen is faster. In a flash, red hot flames surround the monster as Rosen uses his magic to bind it. As the flames devour the shadow, it lets out a piercing scream.]
[All that remains in Zekarion's expression once he lands and darts back to give himself space is focus, devoid of any other emotion—no anger, no alarm, no concern, no ego. His posture is tightly controlled, wound like a spring, ready to move at any moment.
If this shadow had merely threatened him, he might bother with a verbal response, but he has nothing to say to anything that's directly attacked him. It does not command him, but it would learn that soon enough.
Then it tries again. Zekarion does actually go through a proper dodge now as he sees those tenebrous hands heading his way, but halfway through his movement, Rosen has it covered again—with a much, much better idea this time.
He watches, alert, as the thing screams. He's not letting his guard down until he sees it reduced to ash—but he does shoot a glance towards the true arkana, to assess the state of him.]
[ Rosen has seen better days. Droplets of blood fall from his lips as he coughs violently. One of those damn tentacles must have punctured a lung or something because he is having difficulty breathing. Fortunately, his regenerative factor is now kicking in. Rosen doubts he would be alive if it had not been for that.
He has deep punctures in his arms, chest, and torso. The shadow monster literally tore chunks out of Rosen, as if trying to rip him apart piece by piece with those shadowy limbs. It is a disturbing sight, especially with so much red-black blood pouring out of him. Zekarion, on the other hand, is sitting in the front row of Aldrip's most bizarre show right now. Every injured piece of skin, tissue, and bone is being reconstructed in real time like a jigsaw puzzle by what appears to be an eerie blue light pulsing through Rosen's body. It is rather miraculous to see because Rosen does not normally take this much damage, but fighting the equivalent of his other self is draining him.]
Ugh! [Rosen sighed as the creature continued to howl in pain.] Do you have to be this dramatic, dickhead?
[He unleashes another barrage of red-hot flames on the creature, flinching slightly as the shadowy entity continues to scream. Rosen continues to set the damn thing on fire without mercy. The creature tries to escape by leaping out of the flames, but Rosen simply summons another wall of fire around it. The fires become increasingly hotter with each cast, causing the flames to shift from red to blue. Despite this impressive display of power, the monster does not die.]
Just die already! [Based on his frustration, this is not going as planned.] How many times must I burn you alive before you finally die?!
[The distortion in his voice is noticeable. Rosen sounds less like himself and more like the very creature he is attempting to kill. They are one and the same. It appears that the creature was not lying about this, but why does Rosenkrantz refuse to accept the truth?]
[It's a gruesome sight, to be sure, but fascinating all the same, and he watches with an intent look only partly marred by disgust. Zekarion has never been forced to use his own healing to such an extent, as careful as he's been to separate himself from the worst of the danger involved in his crusade, and he has to wonder if he'd come anywhere near such levels of regeneration. But then—he is merely human, rather than whatever strange and ancient being an arkana must be.
The sounds of pain eventually draw his attention back to the subdued creature, however. He takes a few steps back to put space between him and the pathetic show. For all that power, it's ultimately done nothing but hold the shadow back, which is useful, don't get him wrong—but it's clearly not the effect Rosenkrantz is looking for, nor the one Zekarion would prefer.
Figures he's the only one with a functioning brain in this situation.]
Enough. [Rosen is wasting energy, even aside from whatever is going on in this absurd being's mind.] Your stubbornness alone won't destroy it.
[He was about to ignite this damn creature again when Zekarion abruptly ordered him to stop. There is no reason for him to stop, especially since the monster has not died yet. Rosen, on the other hand, can't help but appear a little curious. Just what Zekarion has in mind here? If his brand of magic isn't enough to kill this beast, then what hope does Zekarion have?]
Then what am I supposed to do with it?
[When it comes to the monster, the poor creature is lying on the ground, engulfed in fire. It was barely moving at this point, but its agonized wails proved it was still alive. Much like Rosen, the creature is enveloped in an odd blue light as the white flames vanish.
All of the damage it had sustained was being undone right in front of their eyes, proving that these two are identical. They have similar abilities, and they even sound alike. There's no denying it.]
I can't kill it or hurt it enough to make it go away!
[Zekarion himself may not have the capability—it's not his shadow they're facing—but he may very well have the method. He can do better than throwing more, hotter fire at the problem. When he throws fire at his problems he makes sure it's a one and done deal, thank you.]
You're capable of more than violence, [he says with some aggravation, like Rosen had better not prove him wrong. He gestures at the fallen shade and its wounds knitting together with that blue shine.]
Use your eyes and your ears. It wants your acknowledgement—to admit you're the same.
[And if it won't die—if you can't beat them, join them, as they say.]
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expiationlogs2024-11-11 09:09 am
no subject
Hell, it's almost Rosen's height. That seems odd, doesn't it? Rosen is pretty damn tall at an impressive 195 cm, or 6'4. There aren't many people of his height. Rosen has always had a larger-than-life persona, but now he appears ashamed and pained.]
Something like that. [He hesitantly answers before taking a moment to clear his throat.]
Just don't give him anything, okay? He'll take and take until you have nothing else to give--[In the midst of his warning, the shadowy entity reaches for him with a trembling hand.]
Do...not...lie. [It whispers.] I...take only what is...given.
no subject
Externally, his own expression remains the same, though there's a layer of something critical to him as he replies.]
All I intended to give was guidance to a safe place, [he says plainly. There's pity in his eyes as he looks to the creature and its trembling reach.] Are you saying there's danger in assisting him?
[Will he trust Rosen's answer? Perhaps. He mostly intends to judge for himself.]
no subject
[He suddenly snarls. Rosen, despite his best efforts to remain calm, is losing his cool as he spends more time with this pitiful beast. He appears agitated, more than usual, simply by the sight of this thing. It is unusual, even for him.]
Didn't your mother ever warn you against being overly kind? There are people who will take advantage of your kindness, such as—
[The shadowy entity suddenly interrupts him by wrapping its trembling fingers around his wrist.]
You. [The shadowy figure gasps.] You take full advantage of everything and everyone around you, don’t you? Nobody was spared, right?
Not even those you loved.
[Before the monster can say another word, Rosen yanks his arm away and kicks it in the chest. He slams it down onto the pavement with all his might, leaving a small crater under his feet.]
Stop fucking with me!
[He yells, pressing the heel of his boot even harder against the fraying entity's chest. The creature is in agony, coughing and gagging on its own blood, but Rosen won’t let up. He digs his heel even deeper into the shadow's chest, his eyes wide with fear.]
no subject
But even with words as cutting as those from the shadow, Altius wouldn't simply stand by without attempting to intervene.]
Get off of him! [He moves forward quickly, hands grabbing Rosen's shoulders as if to force him away—but a normal human's level of strength is unlikely to be enough, which is all Zekarion intends to display.] You kill him and then what? Prove yourself easy to provoke?!
[Pathetic, he thinks but does not let through to the surface in any way.]
no subject
What do you care?! [Rosen asks, lifting his foot from the monster. He directs his malevolent gaze at Zekarion, his eyes filled with rage.]
This demon is pretending to be me, not you! Me.
[As the shadowy figure slowly sits up, it lets out a horrifying gasp. Despite having received such a severe blow, its frail body shakes with each cough. This monster is clearly not as weak as it appears if it can compete with Rosen's strength. However, the pitiful creature is quick to cry for help.]
Do not let him deceive you. [The creature mutters in between its raspy coughs.] He is the imposter, the arrogant one.
I understand what he is like when his pride wears thin.
no subject
I care because it's pointless bloodshed!
[He largely doesn't expect that to make any difference to Rosenkrantz, but it must be said for his own sake. It's the persona he's adopted for so long—he can't let go of it now. More towards persuading this arkana, though...]
No one will praise you for destroying something that isn't even fighting back.
[He glances back towards the coughing creature for just a moment, as if to make sure of its continued life; the more it speaks, the more he learns. He's listening to the shade, though he's largely keeping his attention on the apparent danger.]
no subject
Tch, do whatever you want! [Rosen stomps his foot on the ground like a petulant child, eliciting a shaky laughter from the shadowy figure. The creature slowly rises to its feet, its soulless white eyes fixed on them.]
So eager for praise, but so undeserving of it. [The shadow directs its gaze toward Zekarion.]
He and I are the same, even if we do not appear to be. The skin he wears is nothing more than a ruse to conceal the self-loathing beneath.
[The comment wins a snarl from Rosen. However, he doesn’t go out of his way to disapprove it.]
no subject
Good. Zekarion can use a code.
After Rosen's dismissive remark he takes a step back, putting space between them again for both their sakes. It puts him equally between the two, and he turns halfway to the shadow as it speaks. He takes a moment to watch it for signs of its injuries causing it further trouble, but responds afterwards.]
Then he's no different than everyone else. Wearing a mask and hiding insecurities is simply a part of living with thoughts and feelings.
[His amber gaze goes back to Rosen. He seems to be taking this seriously, at least, rather than anything with a mocking undertone.]
Does that bother you? To be like others.
no subject
Yes. [The shadow answers with a hoarse laugh.] But why would I want to be anything like you or others?
Where's the fun in that?
[The long tendrils trailing behind the shadow grow larger as it prepares to strike. Rosen wasn't kidding when he said this pathetic creature was a threat, especially with those sharp, dagger-like tendrils crashing down on them. Rosen knocks Zekarion out of harm's way, allowing himself to get impaled in the process.]
Get out of here! I-I can handle it!
[Trickles of blood slide down between his teeth as he coughs up specks of blood. Yeah, he's in pain. This shadowy best may appear to be a weak little pushover, but appearances can be deceiving. Thankfully, Rosen is no pushover either but he definitely needs some help here.]
no subject
Unfortunately, it's not working out so well with this creature. His attention turned to it as soon as it spoke, and he was prepared to dodge out of the way in this case, but then this absurd, aggravating idiot had to go and take a blow for him. It's enough to knock him out of his sharp focus for a brief moment.]
You fool—
[He makes a decision; Rosen has already seen his enhanced strength. He won't show his whole hand, or the aces he has up his sleeve, but this much he will do: He darts up from the ground, aiming a kick at the precise place where Rosenkrantz had attempted to crush the shadow moments before.
Without transforming, he's certainly not as strong as the arkana, but his magic nonetheless makes him much stronger and faster than any man could hope to be without it.]
no subject
Rosen lets out a strangled gasp as the vicious tentacles slash through his flesh like searing hot knives. Despite all of his divine protections and supernatural abilities, this hurts. It hurts terribly. The arkana clenches his teeth in agony as those squirmy tentacles dig deeper and deeper into the bone. It's as if this shadowy entity is attempting to penetrate all the way into his soul. The sensation alone is enough to make him sick, but Rosen stays strong.]
Shit, that's the best you got?
[Rosen taunts as he attempts to move his arms. While the pain temporarily immobilized him, Rosen finds his second wind as he attempts to move forward. Ignoring pain is his specialty but thankfully, he doesn't have to put up this bravado for long.
Rosen's face lights up with surprise as Zekarion leaps from the ground and lands a powerful kick to the monster's spine. That was enough to bring the creature to its knees. This unexpected interference is all Rosen needs to break free from the shadow's ruthless grip. Rosen grits his teeth as he violently rips the tentacles from his body, not crying out in pain. He is pride personified; nothing, including his other self, will ever make him cry.
As the shadowy creature slowly rises to its feet again, it turns to face Zekarion, its white soulless gaze full of confusion.]
Do not interfere any further.
[The creature warns, then a dozen or so hand-like tentacles emerge from its back. These shadow hands suddenly shoot out toward Zekarion, hoping to stop him, but Rosen is faster. In a flash, red hot flames surround the monster as Rosen uses his magic to bind it. As the flames devour the shadow, it lets out a piercing scream.]
no subject
If this shadow had merely threatened him, he might bother with a verbal response, but he has nothing to say to anything that's directly attacked him. It does not command him, but it would learn that soon enough.
Then it tries again. Zekarion does actually go through a proper dodge now as he sees those tenebrous hands heading his way, but halfway through his movement, Rosen has it covered again—with a much, much better idea this time.
He watches, alert, as the thing screams. He's not letting his guard down until he sees it reduced to ash—but he does shoot a glance towards the true arkana, to assess the state of him.]
no subject
He has deep punctures in his arms, chest, and torso. The shadow monster literally tore chunks out of Rosen, as if trying to rip him apart piece by piece with those shadowy limbs. It is a disturbing sight, especially with so much red-black blood pouring out of him. Zekarion, on the other hand, is sitting in the front row of Aldrip's most bizarre show right now. Every injured piece of skin, tissue, and bone is being reconstructed in real time like a jigsaw puzzle by what appears to be an eerie blue light pulsing through Rosen's body. It is rather miraculous to see because Rosen does not normally take this much damage, but fighting the equivalent of his other self is draining him.]
Ugh! [Rosen sighed as the creature continued to howl in pain.] Do you have to be this dramatic, dickhead?
[He unleashes another barrage of red-hot flames on the creature, flinching slightly as the shadowy entity continues to scream. Rosen continues to set the damn thing on fire without mercy. The creature tries to escape by leaping out of the flames, but Rosen simply summons another wall of fire around it. The fires become increasingly hotter with each cast, causing the flames to shift from red to blue. Despite this impressive display of power, the monster does not die.]
Just die already! [Based on his frustration, this is not going as planned.] How many times must I burn you alive before you finally die?!
[The distortion in his voice is noticeable. Rosen sounds less like himself and more like the very creature he is attempting to kill. They are one and the same. It appears that the creature was not lying about this, but why does Rosenkrantz refuse to accept the truth?]
no subject
The sounds of pain eventually draw his attention back to the subdued creature, however. He takes a few steps back to put space between him and the pathetic show. For all that power, it's ultimately done nothing but hold the shadow back, which is useful, don't get him wrong—but it's clearly not the effect Rosenkrantz is looking for, nor the one Zekarion would prefer.
Figures he's the only one with a functioning brain in this situation.]
Enough. [Rosen is wasting energy, even aside from whatever is going on in this absurd being's mind.] Your stubbornness alone won't destroy it.
no subject
[He was about to ignite this damn creature again when Zekarion abruptly ordered him to stop. There is no reason for him to stop, especially since the monster has not died yet. Rosen, on the other hand, can't help but appear a little curious. Just what Zekarion has in mind here? If his brand of magic isn't enough to kill this beast, then what hope does Zekarion have?]
Then what am I supposed to do with it?
[When it comes to the monster, the poor creature is lying on the ground, engulfed in fire. It was barely moving at this point, but its agonized wails proved it was still alive. Much like Rosen, the creature is enveloped in an odd blue light as the white flames vanish.
All of the damage it had sustained was being undone right in front of their eyes, proving that these two are identical. They have similar abilities, and they even sound alike. There's no denying it.]
I can't kill it or hurt it enough to make it go away!
no subject
When he throws fire at his problems he makes sure it's a one and done deal, thank you.]You're capable of more than violence, [he says with some aggravation, like Rosen had better not prove him wrong. He gestures at the fallen shade and its wounds knitting together with that blue shine.]
Use your eyes and your ears. It wants your acknowledgement—to admit you're the same.
[And if it won't die—if you can't beat them, join them, as they say.]
We've already seen what your refusal has done.