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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.))
no subject
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. ]
no subject
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. ]
no subject
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 ]
no subject
[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?
no subject
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.]
no subject
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. ]
no subject
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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The two are injured, and he knows they shouldn't be left to find medical attention without some protection.]
You two need to see a clinic. It won't do anyone any good to be out of commission for too long.
[He shifts and stands closer to examine the pair of their injures. Yes, definitely medical attention.]
You two must have fought well to damage one of the clowns so badly. I bet you could have taken them both at any time. Sorry for ruining your fun like that.
no subject
When the child near him stirred, Sephiroth's sharp gaze drifted down to regard him. The boy's attention wasn't on him, something Sephiroth preferred, and he remained where he was as the child began to head back over to where his Meister was.
He wasn't much of a conversationalist and simply allowed for Cloud to do the talking for him. His partner was far more eloquent than he ever could be given the fact that he no longer cared about the words that left his mouth. When Cloud came over towards him, his attention shifted briefly to the blonde, a silent acknowledgement to the touch, before it once again returned to their surroundings.
If Cloud was intending to take these boys to the clinic, then he would voice no complaint.]
no subject
What a strange... gesture? knuckles, okay...And they got one— earlier...But it's not really a thing he feels proud of at all right now and Allen looks a little stricken or like he wants to protest the suggestion that they withdraw. It's just his hand, he can still move—
But Kaworu moves towards him so weakly and is so quiet that he steps closer immediately so the angel doesn't have to, quickly dipping a shoulder and putting his good arm around him to try and help give him something to lean on even if he's feeling more tired than he should too. Worried and wanting to ask if he's alright, but just doing so silently with the offered support and a concerned look for the moment. After all, the last time Kaworu lost his weapon form in the middle of transformation, he couldn't even move and passed out soon after. Now—
Well, he presses his lips together a little guiltily and looks up at Cloud. Just—he's grateful to both of you but Cloud is the one that's talking so that's who he's addressing. ]
...It's alright. [ It's a small sort of tired or lopsided smile. He does appreciate the sentiment, Cloud. ]
How far is it? The clinic.
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However, Cloud's words make him stop for a second. Manage to take down the clowns? No.
And kaworu, who often focus on what people do right and not what they do wrong, who usually sees mistakes as something that will help one to become better, is also certain of what he knows.
And they wouldn't be able to defeat the clowns. ]
I focused too much on my weapon ability and didn't realize I was being drained too fast. [ so he really wouldn't be able to take down the clowns, no. Not like that.
His focus is on Allen after ] Your hand - is it broken? [ he heard a crunch ]
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His eyes flick across the injuries again, taking stock of what needed to be treated first. A Weapon would recover energy, a meister would require their hand for most combat situations.]
I'm not a Weapon, but no doubt it's something you'll learn over time. These situations teach you where to focus your future efforts.
[He glanced at Allen before looking the direction of the clinic which he knew to be closest. He turned back and gestured at Allen's hand to take a look at it himself.]
Far enough that any serious injuries should be bandaged here. However, you just have to get there; you won't have to worry about fighting. Sephiroth will be the vanguard for us, right my stoic grumpy Deathscythe? [He casted a look towards the silver-haired man standing nearby.]
no subject
The conversation went largely ignored until he felt that gaze on him. Glancing back over to Cloud, then down to the other two, he tipped his head back slightly before glancing away with a soft grunt.]
Very well.
[He wouldn't have ever admitted to it, but he would have done it regardless. After being around with Cloud for so long, he had come to expect the need to accept situations like these and simply go along with them.]
But make it quick. There are already more amassing to the south of our position.
no subject
Er...
[ Allen will do you one better than having the tattered pride needed to straighten on his own with Kaworu—but he also gets a little skittish at the sudden attention from both Cloud and Kaworu on his injured hand. His glove's still on and it's dirtied from fighting, 'blood' from the clowns, but not from his own it seems. Nothing visibly wrong other than it's a deadweight from the wrist and he's favoring it. What a blessing gloves are.
He tries to manuever it back a little behind him somewhere less... visible. And tries not to grimace from it.
With a stretched, somewhat nervous smile that's hopefully reassuring: ] It's fine, I can still move like this. [ Besides—
He sort of needs to ignore it. And is more worried about the beating Kaworu took after he lost his form. Allen's used to that; Kaworu isn't. He lost his whole arm once. He can deal with his hand being injured. hahaha.. ha...
So even if Sephiroth hadn't just mentioned the situation; ] We should hurry. [ He is going to try to dust it aside. And still with that sheepish—bright side, attempting to distract but still nervous bright side—smile, to Kaworu: ] Do you think you can move...?
[ He does trail off in a gentler, sobering concern though. ]
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And he is right, they should move.
kaworu nods to answer Allen ] I can. And we have to go. [ now he turns to Cloud ]
Thank you. [ since he last thank you was to Sephiroth ]
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[He could use some of Sephiroth's senses to know what they would be facing, but his main focus was on the two in front of him right now. He wasn't quite sure why they were doing what they were with regards to their injuries, but he made no comment about it as he inclined his head to the silver-haired man to indicate that they were ready to move.
He didn't need to watch to know Sephiroth had strode away to deal with the massing clowns alone and he shifted his sword to hand as he looked between the two.]
No need for thanks. That's what we're here for, though a little more 'ooo'ing and 'aww'ing might be necessary for future rescue attempts. [Teasing, teasing, he promises before turning and leading the way towards the clinic that is closest to this location.]
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Cheesy. ]
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Encouraging, but apologetic too. And it's alright, don't worry about leaning on him, he'll be fine.
Moving to follow Cloud—whatever pace it seems Kaworu is able to, he'll try to oblige and help support him, it's him Allen's far more worried about than his own injury after all—the smile slips as he glances back to the older man, more curious and suddenly remembering something. ]
You're Cloud, aren't you? From before. [ He didn't realize it at first, not until he mentioned Sephiroth by name. The person he spoke (wrote?) to on the mirror. ]
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Aha, so they have met too. Kaworu did, but during the morning training, not through the mirror ]
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He stayed in front of the pair, though continually glanced back to make certain that their backs weren't about to be attacked. He looked at Allen and nodded his head.]
Yes, that's me. We spoke on Demise, I think.