poly_chromatic | ♦ ♦ 10th Contract [Action/Video]

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darker than black - hei

♦ ♦ 10th Contract [Action/Video]

[ Rustles and shaky breaths. Li, tense and grimy, appears onscreen. He seems to be huddled under the planks of a boardwalk. The darkness around him is slatted with threads of pale-yellow light from the lamps glowing above. ]

Wh-What's going on? Does anyone know?

[ A tiny voice. Edging into panic. ]

Everywhere I look, there's m-m-monsters and -- H-e-e-ey! Hey! Let go!

[ Wild scrabbling. A strangled scream. The device spins, topsy turvy. And a terrifying face is glimpsed. ]

[ Abruptly, the feed ends. ]

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[ (Damsels & Derps: Li) He's racing at full-pelt down the street. Chased by a horde of decaying zombies. And a sharp-toothed clown. Wielding an axe. It's rather like he's leading a parade. The single most horrific parade in history. ]

[ Someone save him, pls? ]

[ (Thrill Kills: Reaper) He's known he'll encounter trouble during recon. He's counting on it. In a dark narrow lane, he finds himself cornered by an eerie group of creatures. And that clown again. They give him a fight. ]

[ Finally. ]

[ A real fight. ]

[ Thrilling to snap bones. To spill blood and break into sweat. Thrilling to feed on adrenaline and put his abilities to use. ]

[ He battles the creatures for a solid hour. By degrees they edge him into an empty underground lot. Fluorescent lights flicker above, creating a surreal strobe effect. The air is thick with the smell of blood and rotting garbage. Blade at ready, Hei dodges between swiping claws and glistening fangs. With his black coat and eerie white mask, he almost resembles one of the monsters. ]

[ But even battling them, he's fearless, like it's nothing. He leaps upon a fanged demon, who roars when Hei grabs his head. He twists the jaw, hard and fast, and lands on his feet as the opponent crumples under him. Lunges, in the next blink, at the cackling clown. His dagger strikes the axe, steel clanging on steel. ]

[ He's going in for the kill tonight. Why hold back? ]

[OOC: Just a warning, guys. If you have horror-movie phobias, don't click the links. Particularly the clown one. I understand a lot of people don't like scary psycho clowns ;; ]

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[ Tyr almost scrambles back in panic himself as that zombie comes up behind him. ]

Damn it-

[ He sets his staff beside the window before grabbing at Li's arm and yanking him up further. ]

Kick it off!

[ He does kick. In graceless 'Li' fashion. But with a bone-crunching crack. The zombie staggers, loosening his death-grip on Li's leg. Li snatches the distraction to kick again, harder. Uses the fulcrum to launch himself into the apartment. ]

[ He hits the floor in a sprawl, face-first. ]

Oof!

[ He might be clumsy, but Tyr can tell Li's not exactly weak. Or light for that matter. His arms are definitely going to have bruises from that fall... He tugs Li further once he's very securely on the ground. ]

Ugh...

[ That could not have felt good for Li... But more importantly: window. Tyr just spares Li a few words before he runs back over to close the window behind him. ]

Are you okay?

[ Pretend-wincing, Li straightens. He's not weak. Or light. Or clumsy. But there's only so much he can play up while in danger. Self-preservation is a Contractor's main goal. ]

I-I'm fine. [ Rubbing his aching head. ] Thank you, Try. [ He casts a worried look at the window. The zombies snarls are muffled but close. ] Wh-what if they break inside?

I'll worry about that if it comes up. [ He glares at the zombie at the window as he grabs his staff again. ] If they do get in, they won't be able to surround us in here, so it's still better than staying out in the open like that...

[ Huff. Tyr isn't really a fan of dying either. After a second, he looks Li over. ]

Can you fight?

[ Sure enough, the zombies are rattling at the window. Wary, Li crawls further away. His eyes widen at Tyr's question. ] Fight? [ Emphatic shake of head. ] No. B-But I'll do whatever I can to help. [ He regards the staff curiously. ] Is that a magic-staff?

[ Tyr scowls and starts walking faster along the hallway. He's not even sure where to go in here. ]

Then you should walk in front of me so I can watch out for you...

[ Though he really doubts Li can't fight at all. Maybe it's a confidence issue, and either way, Tyr won't push it. ]

And nah, this is just a normal staff... [ A normal, fancy, wooden staff with sculpted metal ends. ] I didn't always use magic, you know.

[ At the window, the zombies rattle harder. Li scrambles to his feet, following Tyr. Fidgety, tense, round-eyed. The epitome of the innocent civilian. But his suggestion reflects years of latent training. ] Or how about flanking? I'll keep an eye on the rear, and you watch up front. [ He's sure Tyr suspects. But right now, it's unimportant. Once the curse ends, it'd be simple to erase the boy's memory with a light electric-dose. ] Really? It's so ... decorative. Do you, um, know bojutsu?

[ He looks back at Li curiously. It's getting a little hard to believe his story of just being clumsy now... But more importantly, his suggestion. He looks ahead again as he considers it. ]

I don't know... The rear is exactly where I think they'll be coming from if they break in, and if I'm right, you'll be stuck in the middle then... [ Also known as in the way. Though honestly, they're in a pretty good position to be flanked, he thinks. He doesn't exactly have an army here.

And just because he's a little unsure of Li now, for the first time in his life, he'll honestly play his abilities down. ] As for bojutsu, I just studied it for a while when I was a kid... My staff is just like this because of my family's status.

[ His voice is so fond talking about this despite the immediate concern of monsters lurking just beyond a few thin sheets of glass. And who knows what's in the building already when it's so dark... ]

Don't worry about me. [ He flashes a shaky but reassuring smile. He can snap windpipes to pulp in eyeblinks. In a crisis, he'll defend himself. He can always deal with Tyr later. ] If they attack, I promise I won't be in the way. [ With Tyr on one side and Hei on the other, they'll at least have covered any openings if the zombies converge. Hei is used to being outnumbered and overpowered. And winning. ]

[ It's why he's the best in his trade. ]

I see. So your family's ... nobility, or something? [ Tyr is free to talk. Hei is on full alert. Has been, since the curse began. Absorbing odd sounds, menacing footsteps, even as he listens to the boy. ]

[ He sighs quietly, shoulders slumping a bit. ] All right, then you can watch the rear... [ If nothing else, he's pretty sure Li won't attack him. Maybe the atmosphere has just been getting to him...

And talking calms him down. Not that he isn't paying attention as well, but it's harder to concentrate when he's questioning his only ally here. ] My dad was a general, so we were in my country... What about you?

Got it. [ 'Li' isn't exactly unarmed. Two daggers concealed in his belt, a throwing knife in his boot, explosives in his jacket, and his abilities as a Contractor leave him more than prepared for contingencies. He won't attack Tyr, either. Not until the crisis passes. Waste of a potential ally. ]

A general, huh? [ Interesting. ] Did you want to get into the same line of work? [ At the question, he shakes his head. ] My parents weren't anything special. [ Humans. Civilians. He hasn't thought of them in years. His only family was his sister. A Contractor, a killer -- just like him. ]

[ Not that Tyr knows any of that, or he'd turn from unsure to outright disturbed. He's trying very hard not to think of Li's potential lies because of that. ]

At one point... [ He just trails off. He sure did...Right until the end. ] But I like travelling more; I don't have any regrets now.

Anyway, having parents with normal jobs was probably better. Were they chefs?

[ 'Li' grins. ] There's always more charm in traveling. Excitement. Variety. [ As a Syndicate agent, he's had so much he's sick of it. Bitterly jaded, at any rate. ] It is. [ Yes. Why not pretend they were chefs? Whatever disposes cleanly of the family issue. ] My father was one. My mother was a housewife, but she wasn't bad either. You could say I picked it up from both. [ That's easier than admitting he and his sister were on their own since childhood. That Hei had to play both parent and brother to look after her. ]

[ He frowns then. Not at any peculiar noise. More at the silence. ] It's stopped. The rattling, I mean. [ Had the zombies given up? ]

Exactly. [ He gladly agrees. They both win by just agreeing with each other. ] And now that you say that, I really need to try your cooking sometime... [ Tyr won't pry any further. It's not like he hasn't met a lot of people who were orphaned... It's a side-effect of war.

All of that is dropped immediately when Li points out the silence. He frowns with him, stopping in place and straining to hear anything else. ] They might have decided to find another way in...

Once this curse ends, I'll bring something by at your place. As a thank you for helping me out. [ Hei and Pai weren't accidentally tangled in a war. They were conscripted. Contractors were weapons in his world. Expendable tools. They were treated accordingly. ]

They might have. [ The thought occurred to him the moment silence fell. ] I'd ask if we should split up and check. But that's how everyone dies in a horror-movie. [ Gallows humor. It'd be tactically unwise to split up, anyway. Instead, 'Li' sidles to the window. Peers past it, head concealed, with the practice of a sniper or burglar. ] No one's there.

Should I treat you for helping me, too?

[Li's doing very well for himself for someone who's so clumsy. It wouldn't exactly surprise Tyr if he was a combatant in some war. He watches 'Li' as he looks out.]

...We should stay together anyway. I don't want to hear that you were killed tomorrow just because something wanted to get in a sneak attack.

[Or, more likely, it's already hit midnight. Tyr makes no move to check that, though.]

[ At the question, the timorous 'Li' smile slips in. ] Me? Help? [ Laughing sheepishly. ] All I did was end up leading zombies to your place. [ He checks his wristwatch. 5 minutes past midnight. The curse must've dissipated. Good. He can focus on silencing Tyr. Outwardly, he nods, assuming a touched expression. ] All right. Thank you, Tyr. You're a really good guy. [ In Heaven's War, good guys were the first to die. Combat was a stew-pot that way. It was always the opportunists, the monsters, the dregs, who floated on top. ]

[ What a pity. ]

At least the zombies are gone now. [ He double-checks even as he says it. Slips smoothly from his lookout point, and toward Tyr. ]

[ Tyr knows he shouldn't be so trusting - it's not like it's never come back to kick him in the teeth before - but it's not really an easy habit to drop. He still kind of wants to think Li is a good person, liar or not. Tyr's stance relaxes as he waits for Li to come back towards him. ]

Right... [ Especially since Li checked the time. ] And you're not a bad guy either, Li. You helped me watch out after we got in here...

[ Hei was a trusting child too. And a devoted brother. It's why he'd joined the Syndicate after Pai became a Contractor. To watch over her. But war and bloodshed had sucked dry all those cushy parts. (All of them? Is that true? He shakes it off. ) ] It's the least I could do. Anyone else wouldn't have helped me into their place. They'd have shut their window tight and called for help on their Network device. [ He steps closer. Claps a seemingly companionable hand on Tyr's shoulder. But there's a chilling flatness in his eyes. Nothing like Li's warmth. ]

[ He might have been smiling a little before, but he can't keep it on. His body tenses up again, and he takes a quick step back to get Hei's hand off of him. He doesn't think he can do anything just by touching him, but that look in his eyes creeps him out. ]

Not everyone- If I didn't come, someone else would have helped you instead... Have some faith. [ All said very hastily just to keep them talking. ]

Maybe you're right.

[ Except Hei's done talking. In the space of a blink, he's behind Tyr. Palm fitting against the back of his skull. His eyes glow red. The room is filled with a brief blue glow, a crackle of electricity. None of which Tyr will remember tomorrow. ]

[ Much like their meeting itself. ]

[ You're a dick, Hei.

Tyr can't be mad about - or terrified of - something he doesn't, though. He can't even react or process what's happening before he blacks out from the surge of electricity that passes through him. ]

[ He's a Contractor. Same difference. ]

[ He catches Tyr before he hits the floor. Hefts him up easily and settles him on a couch. Tyr will awaken with a slight headache. But no recollection of their meeting beyond dim dreamlike flashes. ]

[ With the curse over, it's safe to leave him alone. Casual as you please, 'Li' sees himself out. ]

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♦ ♦ 10th Contract [Action/Video]

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