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EVENT: The Attack of the Clowns
Early in the morning, those who had brought one back would find the bird keychains they brought back from their trip to that skii resort doing something...strange. The small eyes on the things started pulsing with a faint light that might go unnoticed at first. It doesn't stop though, and keeps right on pulsing for the rest of the morning.
Shortly, before noon, the light stops pulsing and shines bright enough to be uncomfortable.
Two things happen at once when it does.
One of these things is this: within a 50 meter radius of every keychain, strange ripples appear in the ground. From these ripples, something that is barely humanoid in shape slowly ascend. Their colours range from red to silver to yellow to purple. When they've materialized all the way, the Clowns immediately spring into action, attacking anyone nearby and, if there is no one, move in whatever direction they were facing, seeking victims.
The other thing that happens is a voice, young, lilting and feminine, being projected through the keychains.
""Thank you for all that you have done: none of this would have been possible without your contributions. I would thank you all in person except I don't believe I am really welcome here. Which is a pity as I hadn't gotten to meet all of my lovely victims the first time around. Please accept these children as a token of my appreciation instead. They are a little, ah, crude, but I do hope you will all play nicely~."
((OOC: Please put [Character Name | Location | OPEN/CLOSED ] in your subject header! Event information can be found here.))
Shortly, before noon, the light stops pulsing and shines bright enough to be uncomfortable.
Two things happen at once when it does.
One of these things is this: within a 50 meter radius of every keychain, strange ripples appear in the ground. From these ripples, something that is barely humanoid in shape slowly ascend. Their colours range from red to silver to yellow to purple. When they've materialized all the way, the Clowns immediately spring into action, attacking anyone nearby and, if there is no one, move in whatever direction they were facing, seeking victims.
The other thing that happens is a voice, young, lilting and feminine, being projected through the keychains.
""Thank you for all that you have done: none of this would have been possible without your contributions. I would thank you all in person except I don't believe I am really welcome here. Which is a pity as I hadn't gotten to meet all of my lovely victims the first time around. Please accept these children as a token of my appreciation instead. They are a little, ah, crude, but I do hope you will all play nicely~."
((OOC: Please put [Character Name | Location | OPEN/CLOSED ] in your subject header! Event information can be found here.))
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However when the blast hits the Field in from of them, the pain ceases and that gives a chance for Kaworu to take a deep breathe and recover just enough to continue.
He doesn't expect Allen to rush towards the enemy like that, but kaworu doesn't call Allen to try to stop him. from the two, the exorcist is definitively the one that is more capable and knows how to handle a weapon (even if it's a weapon so big like Kaworu).
When the gap between the pair and the clown is closed, the shield drops (else Allen wouldn't be able to attack) and he can feel himself curring through the enemy. Though he knows it was him and he knows it was done with his weapon form - Kaworu feels it - it's nothing as disturbing as to actually feel yourself doing the cut; it's detached, in a way.
He watched the clown, silently. It doesn't bleed red. It doesn't look human. It's not an angel, either. Even if it was, kaworu doubts he would feel any sort of sadness about it. He is set on his priorities, no matter how much he loves the whole, even if the clown was part of that whole. In a way, he can be called "cruel" because of that.
Kaworu looks back at Allen; he can see the angel's reflection on the surface of the blade. He isn't smiling softly. like he usually does. Right now, he is worried about Shinji. if the boy was to meet something like this, would he be alright?
Probably not.
kaworu dislikes that feeling. ]
Let's go.
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It makes his expression flicker in surprise and some concern too. Was there someone they should look for first? He almost asks it, but— ]
—mm. [ His eyes snag again on the remains of the clown, though. Blood that isn't blood. Completely inhuman body—mostly. There's some relief, but...
It's not without a stab of anxiety too, of wanting to push to try to see what isn't there. Weren't the souls supposed to be visible in kishin eggs though? Because he couldn't see it, because it felt empty to look at...
(The glow on the weapon's faded.)
Allen shakes it off and an urge to wish it to rest in peace—there can be time for that later, the small sort of prayer or funeral rite he always speaks—and turns, quickly sprinting down the street again and balancing Kaworu's weapon form over his shoulder. The angel's right, he does know how to handle weapons—though it's actually more limited to man-sized swords and left-handed claws. Although he does feel more comfortable with the latter. As much as Allen's sword is an incredibly, unspeakably important part of him, it can feel incredibly slow and bulky to use sometimes, too.
But right now, Kaworu's weapon form is incredibly relieving and familiar to him. ]
Its eyes looked like someone else's. Another Weapon's. [ Speaking a little softly but with a sort of low earnesty too. It's concerning, and he'd know—he resonated with Psii just a few hours earlier and was wearing goggles just like that. It was hard not to notice that when he slammed the flat of the blade right in its face. ]
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Do you think that person would know anything about it?
[ he doesn’t know if these are the kishin eggs he has read about, however, there are no souls as the books and other people described. For a moment, kaworu thinks they may not have killed the being that just attacked them and fell, but it didn’t move and it didn’t come after them either.
But whatever it was, whoever it may be related to, that’s something to deal with later. Right now, kaworu has something on his mind and that’s when he speaks out ]
Allen. I need to go to Death City Heights. [ that’s where takuto lives and Shinji lives with him. That’s why he wants to go there, and make sure Shinji is alright. That’s his only priority right now.
Or it’d be, because soon after, he realizes, they start being followed. ]
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He straightens for a second, getting his bearings in relation to that. It can take a moment. Allen tends to lose track of where he is in battle rather easily. ]
Mn. [ Even if it doesn't get into his voice, it's a gentler sort of concern behind that. The person Kaworu wants to find; of course it means Allen's concerned too. ] Who are we...?
[ 'looking for' ]
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Maybe just battle instincts, too.
It's still almost too late though, because as Allen whips around and quickly raises the blade, it's instantly met with a clang and something that's speed and silver and—claws?! more than it seems a creature or clown from before. ] !!
[ It only half resembles the thing from before really, the rest of it having some sort of canine appearance, leaning against the sword with its claws and trying to snap at his head.
And it's pushing him—back... ]
tch... [ It's instinctive, to brace and dig his heels in to keep from being pushed over, to try and latch onto Kaworu stronger—resonate stronger—like he would try to synchronize stronger. ]
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an animal-clown-thing?
He has no time to think it over, though. When he feels the being pushing forward and Allen reaching for Kaworu, the angel reaches back just as fast, just as strong, just as needy and he is quick to put his field up between the two and the clown.
Not only that, but he forces the Field against it, too, shoving the Clown backwards with some strength - enough to knock him down for a moment - and far away from them. Hopefully this will give Allen time to decide what their next move is, while the clown shakes its head for a second as trying to realize just what happened. And though it may not understand it, it isn't done yet.
With a growl that almost sounded like a dog's, suddenly gets up and is ready to attack again.
Kaworu thinks about putting up the field once more, but he decides to let his partner decide ] Allen- [ what next? ]
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He swallows; brings the sword around to his side. Tries to focus. ] I know.
—like before. We don't have a lot of time. [ Rough-soft and bracing. There's someone they need to look for in this, right? So best move fast and get this over with quickly. In fast for one hard strike past its defenses.
It lacks the reassurances Allen's left eye would give him about akuma, but given the lack of the it doesn't get more clear-cut what he (they) need to do. To destroy this sort of creature to protect others—it's absolutely what an Exorcist would do. No room for hesitation or worries, not right now.
(His heel digs in a little harder.)
So here we— ]
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The only tell the second creature gives is the shadow that passes over them. Enough to make Allen freeze and catch another, different sort of flashing silver from the corner of his eye as the other gets to its feet.
Oh...
This time he's not going to be able to move fast enough.
It's funny though. Because for a second—that agonizingly long second it takes to turn around again—it really does feel like slow motion. ]
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The A.T.Field, he has to put the A.T.Field up!!
Except that doesn't work this time. There is no time to focus on his weapon ability and make it happen, which isn't as automatic as it was back in his world with his A.T.Field. The real A.T.Field.
The clown's hand (paw?) manages to aim right at Allen, avoiding Kaworu (who is the weapon, so certainly it'll avoid Kaworu), which means the Meister is the main target and there is much the angel can do to protect him right now. Through their resonance, he screams Allen's name and the next emotion that fills it is concern for Allen. ]
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It's so different from how you usually are, Kaworu.
Actually, he feels a little bad for it. ]
Gh— [ It's probably lucky (lucky...) that it's a backhand that catches him, because that one looks like it might have gotten the idea in its head to try to morph into a bear. But head over heels, it sends him flying like a skipping stone. Bouncing like one, too, before he rolls to a stop in a heavy, bruised heap.
can't stay like that
get up, have to get up ]
Nn... [ Ow... his ribs...
—but he kept a deathgrip on Kaworu's weapon form the entire time. He'd have to be knocked near unconscious not to. ]
Didn't really... [ ragged, wheezing a little wetly; there's blood in his mouth ] expect them...
...this fast... [ this much faster than before, at least.
A little wobbly (no air), he struggles to sit up, to get back to his feet. He's going to need to dig the point of the blade into the ground through to leverage himself up, though. Sorry Kaworu, it doesn't really seem right, but... ]
Sorry... [ but it's sympathy and reassurance. calming. it's okay, don't worry. ]
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Two?! This is bad, they aren’t - Kaworu’s wavelength falters for a moment when he feels Allen being hit by the enemy and sent flying. It’s due to worry, of course, because he just realized they might be far too weak to deal with two clowns like this (one was already difficult , but two would be pushing it). At least, they need a moment to rethink their strategy somehow, but they don’t seem to have a moment to rest.
kaworu wasn’t hurt, even if he hit the floor or not. That is not the sort of thing that hurts him in his weapon form, after all (unless it’s a huge blast of psionic energy, then that certainly hurts). So Allen shouldn’t apologize to Kaworu at all and this is why the angel is worried for the other. After all, he is the one that got hurt.]
It’s fine… Allen, you- [ are hurt. “Can you stand up?” would be Kaworu’s next question but he realizes the other is getting up. Good, that means the angel can pay attention to the enemy at the moment. Kaworu’s eyes watch it but it’s only a second until one of the clowns (the canine.Apparently they are taking turns for now, but that may change soon when they realize attacking at the same time causes more damage) is rushing towards them once more, causing kaworu to strengthen their resonance ]
Allen, raise me! [ he will use the shield before the enemy is too close. And either his meister does rise Kaworu or not, the angel uses his weapon ability and forms the A.T. Field in front of them, causing the clown to slam hard against it before it falls back, too confused to realize what just happened.
Apparently the mister doesn’t have to keep kaworu up for the shield to be formed. As long the resonance exists, the Field can be used. That is very good news. ]
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...incredibly handy. (There's confusion and relief and gratitude.) He sort of forgets how much his body aches even and blinks in surprise.
But it's a funny thing, maybe. The more serious the situation seems, or sensing Kaworu's worry—the quieter Allen gets; the quieter and calmer his wavelength gets. A little more lockstep, like trying to stay grounded with Kaworu's or help to ground his. Burn quiet and burn bright. Even if it's not to say worry and fear and agitation isn't flickering there too. Of course it is. Allen's instincts are saying this is a really bad situation right now, too. It just isn't the first time for him being in one, either. Or ones far, far worse.
You just do what you have to then and breath past that. (And so maybe that's what he's trying to say without saying anything.)
Because it's probably mostly because of fighting like this. Fighting with someone so closely, feeling what they're feeling.
Otherwise he'd be a lot more openly agitated. (Although what the hell is up with these things, really.) ]
Kaworu—! [ to the side, jumping away and narrowly avoiding the other clown, the one that isn't recovering from slamming into the field, before the blow aimed for Allen slams into the ground instead.
the shield, so he can strike— ]
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Like this, reassuring Allen he is there and he is helping, perhaps it helps him too. Not that kaworu is agitated, but the fact that he can protect someone like this means a lot to him.
When he hears Allen, the shield drops just as fast, allowing him enough room to strike as he pleases. Kaworu, though, keeps an eye on the second clown, that it seems to have decided to strike as well ]
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! [ He could try to avoid the first clown as it closes the distance in a too-fast leap—
—or he could shift grips quickly in an overhanded swing to meet it head on, tip of the blade lodging into the creature's chest as it impales itself in trying to come down on top of him. And this is different and this is not fighting like he's used to but honestly Allen has to ignore all that and go on instinct, gritting his teeth and focusing on that connection like it's an anchor, that one flare of familiarity, everything we've got heels back and gritting teeth and digging deep, bearing down to cleave through instead of be pushed back, because just a little more—
Just a little stronger, sharper—
Just one and then we can get the other—
—but it feels harder than before. And he staggers for a second, blade sinking deeper but the snapping teeth coming closer too. ]
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However, the angel can't think too much about it right now because he has no time for that. When Allen impales the enemy, that doesn't seem to stop it and it attempts to get on top pf the pair like a furious mad animal that could see nothing else but its prey. The second clown is basically on top of them at this point as well, not even caring for the other clown and probably clwaing it.
Sorry Allen, but he has to do something.
And Kaworu activates the A.T.Field again, which basically pushes the enemy by slamming the shield against the two enemies violently. It's enough to get them off and give the two some room, at least for a second. ]
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He wouldn't consider it like that, but then that's why it's easy for Allen to fight right now without hesitation. Because for someone so deeply tuned to souls like Allen is...
It's only a sense, and if he had a moment to breath he might admit it's mostly hope (even if it's from the way his Meister abilities run), but there's a strong gut sense of there being no soul in these creatures. They aren't alive, not really. They aren't human or possessing humanity. Flesh and blood machines maybe that aren't flesh or blood; that's what his gut tells him.
It's not really killing then. At least, those are the beliefs Allen has to hold to to fight the way he does and do what seems to be brutal with gentle feelings; clear lines between destroying to put to rest, to save more than is destroyed, reduce suffering instead of create it—and murder.
There isn't really time to question that right now though anyway. Surviving sort of takes precedence.
So when Kaworu activates the shield, he's already twisting the blade out and dropping back. Because of feeling connected like this, this resonance—it's like a flickering foreknowledge, the intent that he's going to do that. Battle instincts, being connected to who you're fighting with and what you're fighting—it's hard to say where one ends and the next begins. And that exhilarating part of battle, and gentleness and desperation aside—it is what Allen lives for.
Being alive with purpose.
He does take a moment to take a step back and somewhat heavily catch his breath though, bringing the back of a gloved hand up to wipe a bit of the blood from his mouth as the two clowns—are they really clowns or anything that humanoid anymore?—lurch and begin to stagger back up, the one bleeding profusely silver. Watching and—trying to figure them out, really, and look for an opening. The heck are these things, anyway. ]
They seem like rabid animals almost. [ Or gone mad. ]
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And that's why things like "is it alive, is it a thing or is it a soul" don't really matter to him right now. The death of one doesn't matter to kaworu, even if he is so protective of the whole. it's ironic even if most would see it as completely weird.
Allen is hurt, he can feel through his connection to him and right now Kaworu is worried but also set on getting rid of those clowns. The shield remains up because he knows the enemy will attack right away and his focus on it and their resonance keeps them strong.
At least that's what he thought.
One of the clowns - the one that isn't bleeding - rushes towards them and Kaworu is ready to take the hit, but the moment the claw meets the shield it just... cuts. It cuts through the field and all Kaworu has time to do is to gasp before the claw meets the sword.
And he feels that. He feels it a lot more than before. Before he felt pain, but now it's just too much. And he screams in pain before he finally can't keep up his weapon form anymore, falling to the ground, weak - and that was the perfect chance for the clown to rise its other hand and aim it right at Kaworu's jaw ]
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Some quiet void where your first instinct is that something is wrong but you're too frozen to even see what happened. Because of how you can't hear your heartbeat anymore, no steady thump, and there's just that void and rending that feels like pain except you don't think you've been hurt.
That moment between ba- and -bump when the resonance pops like a bubble and then there's just screaming. ]
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Left arm flung up like a swordsman might parry to block the blow and dropped into a protective crouch to shield the other boy. ]
Nnh... [ His body shakes and gets pushed back under the blow, even with pushing back with his forearm and trying to angle the claws away, but he doesn't budge. But its flesh ripples silver though. Warps, bends—
(ew...)
—until the clown's hand is wrapped around Allen's still very human-seeming left one and it smiles in an almost curious, also suddenly-human sort of manner. It's enough to make him pause and still for a second, blinking.
Then it squeezes.
And it's a very audible pop but a swallowed scream this time. ]
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Had Kaworu his powers, he’d have done something incredibly vicious to the clown, but he doesn’t. All he has is some energy left to turn his hand into a blade and thrust it up to stab at the enemy’s arm.
The effect, however, is ridiculously small. It does cut, and the clown does bleed, but it doesn’t inch away. Instead, it suddenly kicks Kaworu’s stomach, throwing him few feet away from his meister. The angel eventually groans in pain and rises his head to look at Allen but the second forgotten clown – the one bleeding and half dead – kicks Kaworu in the stomach. That was enough to bring taste of acid to his mouth, but also blood. ]
Ugh… A-allen- [ his focus is, however, Allen.
Because Allen is in danger and it’s true that the angel never met Allen before, it’s true he focus his all on Shinji – but Allen protected Kaworu when he didn’t have to. Allen tried to help him, Allen –
Well, he didn’t have to. At all.
That’s why Kaworu has to protect him. Well, he hopes to, but right now he probably can’t do much ]
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[Cloud sweeps in next to Allen, aware that his partner will move beyond him to the clown attacking the other youth. His katana charges with energy as he resonates with himself and passes the charge down the blade that he's wielding.
He lifts the blade and removes the clown's arm with a one-handed slice of the blade, swinging his left fist to slam into the silver clown to sent it staggering back as he steps in between the clown and Allen. He doesn't pass more than a glance to make certain there isn't a mortal wound before he steps away to engage the shifting silver clown that was shifting limbs.
He side-steps a thrust before he leaps up and cleaves the clown in two equal pieces as soul energy surges around him in the strike and then he's landing to flick silver goo off of his blade.]
Nice day for a good fight, right Sephiroth? You're Allen and Kaworu, right?
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I would hardly consider this a 'good' fight.
[He wasn't being arrogant, for once, but instead simply stating the facts. There was a fluid motion in his next swipe as he cut the clown in half effectively killing it. With his eyes flicking around to source any other potential threats, Sephiroth left Cloud to ask about the health of the other two.]
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Or that Cloud looks like he does, with how that spiritual energy follows him as he cuts through. But regardless, to so effortlessly and easily when they'd been struggling—
It kind of feels like being sent back to square one all over again, to watch that sort of difference in power.
How... utterly depressing. ]
...yes! [ Belatedly remembering to answer the question. Which is confusing that they're known, but when Allen had spoken with Cloud and Sephiroth it had been through text so he doesn't connect the two right away. But him and Kaworu—
Oh. Kaworu—
—was injured worse than Allen. And with no sign of other threats he drops back and kneels to check on him in a flare of concern and protectiveness. Even if Allen looks like he was thrown around a fair amount earlier, sporting his own blood and yellow and silver, and can't seem to move his left hand...
(can't think about his left hand)
Ignoring all of that right now, and his eyes flick back to Sephiroth and then Cloud. ]
Thank you... [ It's still a little mystified. ]
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His red eyes turn to Cloud when he mentions his name, and then fall on Allen once more, but before he tries to move closer to the meister, he glances back again at the man that just saved him, mouthing a weak "Thank you". Only then he walks towards Allen. Slowly.
So very slowly.
He is exhausted. Using his weapon ability without even thinking of the consequences (or realizing that he'd be drained from his energy) isn't a good thing, obviously. At least the angel learns from his mistakes ]
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