Halloween Town

[Elf]

Forest

Forest tilted her head as she sensed something coming from Nika.  It felt like the other blonde was pushing her will out in sort of intimidation method.  To a human, Forest reasoned it would have been pretty damn terrifying and made that instinctual part of the brain want to run in terror from what ever was doing this.

Some of the beings were becoming uneasy, but not enough for them to just cut their way to the front.  She did tilt her head though, it also meant that Nika wasn't one of Valerie's vampires.  Which could be a good thing all on its own.

"That leaves the normal way." Nika sighed. "Things like this remind me I'm just one of many sharks in the pond. I'm fine with getting carried by the currents then rather than going against the flow, this one time."

Forest was about to reply when she noticed the bouncers were checking others for weapons and making those that were armed check their weapons.  She saw Nika look her over to see if she had anything when she noticed the Colt Nika had holstered.  It was a nice gun, one that probably had a lot of memories and history behind it.  "You may not have to check it," Forest said in a soft voice as she began to tap her feet to the beat of the industrial rock of a band who liked NIN a little too much.

She didn't want her .44 taken away from her, that was sure as hell.  The two of them walked closer to the bouncers at the bar.

[Kotomine_Rin]

Zeke

The seraph slipped away from the burning blow - but its destructive nature wasn't halted. The explosion shattered everything around him, burning the beautiful pillars and arches in an instant. Thus, the nuclear waste impacted, and thousands of molten droplets launched straight at Ivanna, obscuring everything behind for a second. Without delay, Zeke zigzagged behind the burning trails, hiding behind the waves of lava with compact and focused footwork.

"But I suppose I'm no different than you... Nanako."

After all, he was an outsider.

The thought managed to make him smile a bit.

With a dark wave of his hand, he channeled more of the plundered energy he robbed thus far. Before one could even gasp, three suns were launching into the skies in quick succession, orbiting around each other as they flew towards her other blind spots with monstrous speed. However, two of them were deceptively weak, and the third flew past Ivanna entirely, missing its mark.

Ivanna could feel the fist approaching from her left side, where the weakest sun hit.

[Panda]

Nanako

To Nanako's consternation, Ivanna flew up out of her reach while the squirrel girl was recovering from the spear in her flank. As Zeke flew up to follow, the squirrel girl was left at ground level with little recourse to follow them and only the dark man's words. Only his claim that they were the same.

"You...how the hell is that enough to make us the same, idiot," Nanako shot back. They were out of her reach now, both in the literal sense, and the figurative one, tearing at each other like wild animals. Shaking her head, the squirrel girl turned her back on them, zipping off into the distance as their duel continued.

[SINIB]

Zeke

The seraph slipped away from the burning blow - but its destructive nature wasn't halted. The explosion shattered everything around him, burning the beautiful pillars and arches in an instant. Thus, the nuclear waste impacted, and thousands of molten droplets launched straight at Ivanna, obscuring everything behind for a second. Without delay, Zeke zigzagged behind the burning trails, hiding behind the waves of lava with compact and focused footwork.

"But I suppose I'm no different than you... Nanako."

After all, he was an outsider.

The thought managed to make him smile a bit.

With a dark wave of his hand, he channeled more of the plundered energy he robbed thus far. Before one could even gasp, three suns were launching into the skies in quick succession, orbiting around each other as they flew towards her other blind spots with monstrous speed. However, two of them were deceptively weak, and the third flew past Ivanna entirely, missing its mark.

Ivanna could feel the fist approaching from her left side, where the weakest sun hit.

Ivanna

Ivanna's flames coiled around her wings like a spring ready to burst outwards. She soared upwards into the sky, followed closely behind by Zeke.

<GOOD> Ivanna thought. He was exactly where she wanted him to be-flying, in her domain, where she held the advantage, and away from the boorish squirrel. Her flames burst outwards to meet the suns arcing towards her with biblical fury, enveloping the weak attacks and pushing them back, keeping them away from her wings.

She soared down towards him with a raised fist and an outstretched spear.

[Kotomine_Rin]

Zeke

The abyssal man and the holy seraph were already far from the ground when their bodies collided, shaking the clouds away from each other. Yet it was a strange sight, oddly hopeful in its own way. As the two reached each other, what kind of expressions did they make? If their fists could connect and bump like this... could their hearts as well?

Of course not.

CRACK!

Ivanna's fist shattered under the weight of Zeke's ambition, pulling bone straight out of her knuckles. The arm Nanako buttered up was ruined by that well-placed strike, but Ivanna's lance lived on, a chunk of his breast off with a burning slash.

SLASH!

The line went down from his left shoulder to just above his liver, and would have burnt viscera, muscle and bone alike in a moment. The fact he used his own punch’s momentum and reflexes to turn away and fall from the thrust’s range certainly saved him the trouble of being poked on a stick.

Zeke’s blood vaporized in a split second.

But instead of falling, he used his spinning momentum launch a kick at the back of Ivanna’s head.

[SINIB]

Ivanna

Ivanna used her momentum to meet his foot with a wing, interdicting her holy defenses in the path of his swift attack with the expertise borne of a billion battles. It was effortless. She didn't even need to think terribly hard.

It was better this way.

The axe moved fluidly, instantly halting its momentum and arcing forwards once more towards his stomach. There wasn't even a single wasteful movement, not a single opening left for him to take advantage of.

Could he overcome one blessed by the lord? Only time would be able to tell.

[Kotomine_Rin]

Zeke

There was no time to be surprised by her block. The reaper's eye whirred, and his arm swung a dark blade - conjured in an instant to intercept her fiery lance and parry it, draining whatever energy it could in the process.

Only for it to shatter.

"Kh." Zeke's fangs grit, both were launched back. The outcome was clear. Zeke's arm was broiling from the parried impact - causing the reaper's eye to gleam brighter; as Zeke fell, bichromatic black and gold met two deep orange crosses. But their gazes were too far apart. The searing pain on his chest registered barely as he fell into the peak of the tallest pillar, and the skin of his right forearm evaporated. Muscle and bone exposed, but it was preferable to losing the limb entirely.

The other Zeke would have been cleaved cleanly in two by that.

But the current Zeke's expression was also unlike before. It was a chilling stone, devoid of anything else but pity. He flipped to land on his feet atop the pillar, and kicked back to soar towards her once more, launching another sun that expanded in its dazzling flight- from the girth of a mere bear until it became as massive as a household.

[SINIB]

Zeke

There was no time to be surprised by her block. The reaper's eye whirred, and his arm swung a dark blade - conjured in an instant to intercept her fiery lance and parry it, draining whatever energy it could in the process.

Only for it to shatter.

"Kh." Zeke's fangs grit, both were launched back. The outcome was clear. Zeke's arm was broiling from the parried impact - causing the reaper's eye to gleam brighter; as Zeke fell, bichromatic black and gold met two deep orange crosses. But their gazes were too far apart. The searing pain on his chest registered barely as he fell into the peak of the tallest pillar, and the skin of his right forearm evaporated. Muscle and bone exposed, but it was preferable to losing the limb entirely.

The other Zeke would have been cleaved cleanly in two by that.

But the current Zeke's expression was also unlike before. It was a chilling stone, devoid of anything else but pity. He flipped to land on his feet atop the pillar, and kicked back to soar towards her once more, launching another sun that expanded in its dazzling flight- from the girth of a mere bear until it became as massive as a household.

Ivanna

"Death. Destroy. Kill. Punish. Execute. Serve. Annihilate. Purge. Exsanguinate. Defenestrate. Perish." Ivanna's crosses glowed with divine power. Her voice was even, her actions robotic, without a single wasted movement, without a single mistake. She didn't even seem to be fully conscious anymore, instead babbling what seemed to be a prayer.

She was a killing machine designed for destruction by God. Nobody could take that away from her, nobody could seperate her from this onerous duty.

Not even her. She was bound by divine law to her job.

She instantly spun around, meeting where he was coming at her from with the blade of her scorching axe. It left a glowing streak of plasma through the air as she swung it. "DIE THE DEATH!" She shouted at Ezekiel.

[Hibiki]

Nika

Damn, she was one of those guys, huh? She wasn't overtly surprised at this twist about Forest. Mental compulsion was one of the inherent qualities of the bloodsuckers like her companion, but Nika wielded her mind like a sledgehammer. There wasn't anything subtle in approach, while this was done with such surgical precision that someone less observant wouldn't maybe even notice that.
She was in awe, honestly, but nothing like jealousy creeped in her thoughts about this useful trick. A competitive maniac like her wouldn't have even patience to begin with to try to refine her own ego to such pinpoint precision.

At least, she wouldn't have to leave her favorite gun either. If rules can be broken without repercussion, then screw rules. The bouncer was probably still confused by the mental command as he didn't bat an eye as she marched by without relinquishing her arms. At least few people in the line behind them also took that golden opportunity to walk into the bar strapped. She cared not for the consequences of armed people inside, and honestly why she would?

Anyway, triffling matters like security concerns aside, the place was already decently filled with people who just wanted to have fun and some even jump like primal beasts to the sounds of the metal jungles, a sentiment she could relate to. But for the bar was a nice destination too. A drinking hole to gather by, get some drinks (she'd not shun alcohol, but getting that other kind of drink would've been a neat opportunity), talk about their good old days and then go have more fun when the place got even more livelier.

"So, a drink before we lose ourselves to the music?" She winked at Forest, ready to sample the alcoholic beverages offered here. Last time she got some alcohol was, well, back in 1970s, pretty much.

[Kotomine_Rin]

Zeke

"Kuh!" Two comets collided, burning into the skies. The roar of the heavens was clear... Ivanna's cut through the dark sun like butter. And the scream of the axe slashing at air deafened all. Not just the plasma, it split everything cleanly - and ravaged whatever was behind to nothing.  But as the two halves of the violent star swooped far past Ivanna, a dreadful sight assailed her.

The one she cut down wasn't Zeke.

Or rather, it wasn't the Zeke she pointed her blade at. As the knight, the crownless king let out its last final gasps, it clutched at the wound and smiled. In silence, it uttered its final words.

"Mission accomplished."


A Prayer of Courage

Spoiler for Hiden:

Oh Lord, grant me the strength to protect the weak.

Oh Lord, grant me the power to uphold the truth.

Oh Lord, grant me the wisdom to see the future.

The young king made three prayers to God, but what he found was nothing more than treachery. His vaunted strength, for all its worth, crumpled to naught once his enemies crushed his gates. His power, despite all valour, was stripped and used against him and his people. And his great wisdom only showed him nightmares of a forbidden future. One that was rushing into the present. And yet, fearful for the first time, holding his dead lover... he dared make one last prayer.

Oh Lord, grant me the courage to see this through.

But by doing so, the knight violated the Trinity. There were no more miracles. No more blessings. The heroes ripped through his throne chamber's gates. Now, the king grips his sword and rises.

This prayer, he'd answer with his own power. If this world would deny him, if God would deny him, then...

"No." Zeke had barely dodged to Ivanna's side and delivered a tremendous slash. Looking at him, you could see the darkness stitching up his wounds, even the ear that had just been lobbed off was being sealed by many. And yet a third horn of crystal growing out his scalp.

"We're not done. Dying isn't good enough. Even when we die, even after we die, we still have something to fight for. A purpose we chose ourselves and entrusted. A purpose I will see through." Thus, Zeke speaks. Thus, he fights. A slash. Then another. And another. Until the disappointment in front of him stopped fighting. No, until he overcame Ivanna's own desire to fight.

"Pugno, ergo sum."

[SINIB]

Ivanna

"STOP FUCKING AROUND WITH ME, LITTLE WORM!" Ivanna's scream reverberated with the noise of ten thousand voices shouting in concert, echoing throughout the entire district with reckless abandon. She spun around to face him, but it was too late. His mightly blow slammed directly into her side, sending her flying away from him.

However, she wouldn't let him simply get a hit in uncontested. As she hurtled away to the side from the force of the impact, she hurled her spear directly at his chest with blinding speed, wrapping herself in a coccoon of her wings to protect herself from counterattack.

A dull pain began to throb throughout her entire body.

[Kotomine_Rin]

Zeke

His eye gleamed when the miracle occurred, when his fist reached the seraph. But that's the thing about miracles.

Shit.

Miracles don't happen twice. "Gkhrh...!" His glare burnt like the sun, for the first time more than just hollow. Dissappointed,  so very disappointed. He roared in agony and pushed the lance deeper into his flesh, the lance that had avoided his heart out of sheer luck, that shot straight into his lung. He sealed it with his dark organisms to quell the hemorrhage.Instinct. A fluke. Nothing more. And now, nothing at all.

Yet a beautiful redhead  bubbled over his shoulder like mud , gently comforting the dying body. "My, my~ Aren't you the sorriest hunk around. Getting manhandled by such a child..." She licked her lips and caressed Zeke, like the petit morte rushing for him.


A prayer of warmth

Spoiler for Hiden:

Un: Hey, you wanna play with me? I wanna play with dolls too!

Trois: Eh? Oh, uh, don't worry about it! Deux is busy working, heehe. He sure gets picked a lot lately, maybe that's what people are into nowadays.

Quatre: Um, I'm fine. It doesn't really hurt, and I've got a few tricks that make it easy once you know them. So you don't worry about me, just focus on being happy. That's good. If you're happy, I'm happy.

Trois: Let me give you a useful tip: always be sure to say, 'It would be my pleasure.' Saying that makes everyone smile! No matter what you have to do or what people do to you, always respond with, 'It would be my pleasure.' Heehee. Funny how that works, right? After all, it's the customers you're pleasing, not you!

Un: They said it was some new kind of game, but I don't really get it. Don't worry about me though, I'm fine! Honest!

Deux: I'm back. Sorry, that took a bit longer than I thought. Eh? You're playing with dolls? Waha, that's so childish!

Quatre: Don't sweat it! We'll keep working hard for you, so just keep playing and  don't worry about a thing. You don't need to do anything other than that.

Un: We love you, you know? You're really important for us.

Un, Deux, Trois, Quatre: We'll always be there for you.

The girl smiled, but deep down, she wished someone would come and help her friends too. Maybe a prince charming would come and yank them out of this tower. She wondered if he'd be her age. She never really thought about those kinds of things.

She was protected all the time, but it would be nice if she had the power to protect them too. They could have cakes every day, nice warm beds, and lots and lots of books! Wouldn't that be nice?

Heh, don't tell me to give up. I'm just getting started, I'll make sure you'll have plenty of cake, queen sized beds and toys to play with.

"My, isn't that just a good boy~ So don't kick it already, got it?"

Grinning, Zeke didn't stop, gritting his body, even while his blood sizzled like cooked meat. "A worm I may be... even so... I'd rather die a worm... than a slave!" And with the most painful motion of his life, he pulled at it and yanked at one of Ivanna's wings, exposing the girl underneath to headbutt her brutally. "You hate me, do you? That's fine. I detest you too. A coward hiding wrath behind pretty words like justice. It's nothing like the pure and perfect Seraph I've heard of." Vomiting blood, he fell backwards, approaching the ground.

Even up close, she could see just how empty Zeke's eyes were. A fourth horn rippled from his skull, and the end approached.

"There's no reason for us to kill each-other, no reason for you to slay any of my treasures, no reason for me to claim the people of this land. We're the same, killers looking for something beyond the hell we make."

[SINIB]

Ivanna

"I told you to be quiet!" Ivanna shouted back at him. "Shut up! Zip it! Be silent, worm!" A fist came hurtling out of the ball of feathers to greet his face. Her weapon throbbed inside of him, cooking him alive and searing him with its unimaginable heat.

Soon, she knew it would be fatal. She just had to persist for a little bit longer.

"Monster!"

[Kotomine_Rin]

Zeke

Unbearably acidic, with the acrid smell of sulfur and burnt filth. Horrible as it was, it didn't even compare to the feeling of one's insides cooking while being vomited out of their body. Hellish, a sensation one couldn't even scream out. If there was anything left to spew, it probably sludged out of Zeke's throat like fire - past the tip of the spear and into the skies, burning a hole within the clouds.

Yet the fist barely moved the vessel at all.

Barely conscious, no, conscious because of this unbearable pain, Zeke refused to relent. Turning one's head against her punch, hollow eyes glared hungrily. As if to say they liked the name. What did Zeke see, beyond the hell he made? And what did that hell see as it gazed back?


A Prayer of Piety

Spoiler for Hiden:

Beware the Jabberwock, my son. The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun, the frumious Bandersnatch!
He took his vorpal sword in hand; Long time the manxome foe he sought—
So rested he by the Tumtum tree, and stood awhile in thought.
And, as in uffish thought he stood, the Jabberwock, with eyes of flame, came whiffling through the tulgey wood, and burbled as it came!
One, two! One, two! And through and through, the vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head, he went galumphing back.

The mysterious monster called the Jabberwock. It is a nameless man who defeats that monster. Why did that nameless man feel compelled to slay the Jabberwock? To begin with, it was a poem written by Lewis Carrol in nonsense verse. The greatest nonsense poem is told as a parody of an epic.

A mysterious monster.

A nameless hero.

Many words that never existed before.

A parody of an epic.

It's just like that void's own existence.

Regardless of its wishes, the Jabberwock is crafted to be a terrible creature. Despite the odds, the hero is crafted to slay the Jabberwock. It's an unavoidable destiny prescribed by the author. One might even call it fate. But it's even simpler than that.

The two simply follow their nature. The ink just fills in the gaps.

And yet, even when free from its shackles, beyond towers and horrors and wonders of old worlds past, the jabberwock curses its fabricated existance. Because no choice made was truly its own. It is merely following the script. Even its attempts to rebel are nothing more than part of a story.

Even if it finds something beyond that story, that in itself is the story.

Thus, the void consumes. Because it was created to do so. Because it cannot even fathom living any other way. Whatever pretense of a choice it declares is no more tangible than nonsense words put over a sheet of paper. The Jabberowck destroys, and is destroyed by the hero in turn.

And yet, even if it is nothing more than nonsense stories, the beast dares to dream. It lulls sleeping minds into its maw and coalesces it towards that same dream. Like stars in the sky. One day, perhaps it will find an answer for its existence.

But that day will never come.

The fifth horn was the emptiest, a jagged crystal that slipped out of Zeke's spine. Yet even that nameless void was beautiful in its own way.

But it all came down to Zeke and Ivanna. Their embrace was just too twisted. Take a blow to deal another, scream at the heavens, pay every shred of pain with brutality. The outcome was a struggle that couldn't be called elegant or refined in any manner. A barbaric display of violence and raw will, maddeningly unlike either of them.

"Make me."

It was a pity that they couldn't calmly exchange techniques, but this was fine too.

And fittingly, a fist came to return Ivanna's favour tenfold, crashing against her eye socket so fiercely it cracked it like porcelain. Both were hurled by the impact to opposing ends of the arena, to lick their wounds and suffer the price of foolishness.

[Elf]

Forest

"I'd love to.  Mayhap get something absurdly fruity that comes with a small fruit salad in the glass," Forest spun her index finger in a circle with a grin.

Getting inside was simple, she just didn't expect a couple of passersby jumping on the bandwagon as well.  Still, at least she and Nika still had their weapons on them, which was the important thing.  She tilted her head at the music, listening to the beat for a moment.  "Good use of tempo and base . . . With this nice undercurrent of 80's horror movie sound track dread with the synth undertones.  I might have to find out who this band is and look them up."