019 - You Play In The Sun As In A Tidal River - Action

[worldofourown]

[In the forest, chaos erupts. Sparks of light. Billowing smoke. Birds flying from crashing trees.]

[A blinding force swoops through the area. Bluish and blurred, it has no shape. Energy crackles at its edges, the heat enough to blacken trees and scorch skin. In its wake, it leaves a wasteland: vast and boiling in fumes. The stink comes next: smoldering wood, charred earth, the spilling blood of many creatures, like garbage left out to rot.]

[At times, the bright blur seems to be a creature. Draconian yet human—red-eyed, covered in blood, screaming like a banshee.]

[But the glimpse is fleeting. Mostly, it remains indistinguishable. Racing on and on. The air behind it is smoky. Ash and sparks drifting like snow. From the distance it seems surreal— a hallucination.]

[It may be hours still, before this beast tires itself out.]


[OOC: Karl's tldr post is here for details, and if anyone has questions. Characters with superpowers are free to try curbing his tantrum. Also, any forest-dwelling citizens are free to comment on the rukkus. Police involvement to be kept at a minimal pls <33]

Comments

[beyourarmy]

[Not that Setsuna has anything against setting fire to the forest at this point, but it's the fact there are other people involved, and animals, and he has a weighted idea of who it is causing this destruction when he gets a glimpse of the monster. He's seen it already. That and...he doesn't want the police getting involved, for both sides, or anyone else getting hurt trying to deal with said creature.

[That's why the blond idiot is in the sky, quick, all six wings on display, Nanatsusaya at the ready, aiming to get in front of the next move Karl makes, energy ball in his hands to get Karl's attention.]

Hey! Not that I'm the biggest fan of the forest, but you're being an asshole! What the Hell is this about, Karl?

[worldofourown]

[The angel's voice pierces through Karl's fugue.]

[But it isn't enough to shake him out of it. His cyclical, self-destructive rage has snowballed after learning of Saya's departure. Sweeping him in a tide of ferocious violence. He's beyond words or reason now.]

[Bright-red eyes lift to acknowledge Setsuna. But they don't flash with recognition.]

[In this feral state, everything around Karl is a threat. And must be attacked.]

[beyourarmy]

[Fine by Setsuna. When there's no verbal communication, he lets that energy ball fly - he's not going to solely be on defense this time.]

Talk to me, Karl! What the fuck is going on?

[The guy wasn't sane at the best of times, but this was the first time Setsuna had seen him resort to this.]

[worldofourown]

[The flying energy ball - whizzing too close for comfort - confirms beast!Karl's ferine instincts. The intruder is a threat. Setsuna's question falls to his ears like white noise - indecipherable. Unnecessary.]

[Instead, with an ear-splitting roar, the Chiropteran launches an energy blast of his own.]

[He has enough stymied rage to tear the forest apart. No one should dare interrupt.]

[beyourarmy]

[Setsuna dodges the energy ball and flies right at the source. He doesn't want to waste time playing around.]

Karl! I'll knock you out if I have to! [Never mind that's probably not...an easy thing to do. Setsuna doesn't care about trivial matters.]

[worldofourown]

[Through Karl's preternatural vision, the forest is a wash of brilliant colors and intense sounds. Everything tinged in blood-red, like his thoughts themselves. He registers only two things:]

[The intruder is quick. And needs to be devoured.]

[His form is all sinews and fangs, wings erupting from his arms like a dragon's. Roaring again, he launches himself at Setsuna.]

[A mid-air, lightning collision.]

[beyourarmy]

Dammit! [Setsuna really hadn't wanted to hurt him, and doesn't realize his own impulsive nature might have made this worse. Whichever, he goes headlong into their collision. Nanatsusaya is aimed to pierce, in case he needs it.]

I'm sorry.

[worldofourown]

[Even if Setsuna had tried reasoning with Karl, it wouldn't have worked. He's in the throes of a manic fit. Violence is the only answer here.]

[Teeth bared, the talons of his feet curled like a hawk about to nab a mouse, Karl lets momentum carry him toward Setsuna. In his state, he doesn't register the upriased sword. And even then, little weapons aren't a concern for Chevaliers.]

[Let the enemy stab him. He'll heal ultimately.]

[But he'll sink his teeth into the boy's neck first.]

[beyourarmy]

[Once in front of Karl, Setsuna had intended to use the sword to fend him off - anything, but the feel of teeth piercing into his flesh stops him cold.

[Setsuna's eyes widen, and he about panics hands reaching out to push Karl off, mind scrambling. He couldn't have explained the reaction if asked, but his feet about kicked out, the sword forgotten. Then he settles, calming immediately, one thought crossing his mind. Karl didn't actually need subsistence. He implied he took care of that at the bar. And yet.

[Setsuna's expression softens his body going slack and closer, his hands going to Karl's shoulders gently, touching that creature he considered ugly.]

You need this, don't you? It's okay.... Go ahead. Just don't take too much. [A pause as he looks at Karl, expression sad.] And I'll warn you. It regenerates me. Giving my feathers to people gives them life. You want to die, not live. Just keep that in mind, okay? I don't know what it'll do to you.

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[sympathyforme]

Blood of my blood, hm?

[Good luck reading that expression.]

How do you like it?

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[worldofourown]

A bit too lively for my tastes.

[Avoiding looking at you, Kira. For...reasons.]

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[sympathyforme]

Of course. Dead, dying, failing creature. Hardly worthy.

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[worldofourown]

This City seems to collect the type.

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[sympathyforme]

And so he stands out.

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[worldofourown]

Would you rather you were the bitten one?

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[sympathyforme]

I doubt you'd have liked it quite that well, little fly.

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[worldofourown]

He all but offered to be fed on.

Who am I to refuse?

[He's wearing Setsuna's clothes, Kira. Just FYI :|]

[shall_yield_us]

[ To -- ...well, Hell with interference. He'll be taking his pleasure from his view and his seat on a nearby, darkened log. There are ashes - everywhere, and he's loathe to see them pour down on his clothing, picking each with the tips of fingers. ]

...my, my. How we've made a mess.

[worldofourown]

[Karl is startled by the voice. But only for a moment. Given the disoriented state he's in, it little wonder Rosiel managed to catch him off-guard.]

...I'd have made a better one, if I hadn't been - interrupted.

[By Setsuna and his strange paralyzing blood.]

[shall_yield_us]

[ His - primping carries on uninterrupted, fussing here and there where the dirt's bitten too much of his sleeves. ]

And why in the world would you think a mess something to be encouraged?

[worldofourown]

[The finicky fussing reminds him of Nathan, in all honesty. Not that he's about to point it out.]

Because someone's encouragement - or discouragement - isn't my concern.

[I do what I waaaaaant.]

[shall_yield_us]

[ ...and so a bit of the dirt is thrown Karl's way haphazardly. ]

But it isn't someone's. It's mine.

[worldofourown]

[He's had indignity upon indignity heaped on him today. What's one more to add to the list?]

[Oh, wait.]

[You missed, Rosiel.]

Should that make a difference?

[shall_yield_us]

[ It is a day for missing, apparently. He considers at some length. ]

Yes. No. I don't know. You had a woman you loved well. She is - I can wager - uglier than I. If someone fairer than your lady love asks something of you... I imagine it must make a difference.

[worldofourown]

Allow me to regretfully inform you that it doesn't.

[It's not a matter of ugly or fair. Saya is Saya, just as Diva was Diva.]