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05. bang bang
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[ So it eases: flake on frost on bite on water (turned) on pale velvets on the tips of his blushing fingers. 'Snow'. The first wave of it comes down well past morning, between breaking fast and the hour of vagabond cats that traipse in looking for treats before lunch has even drawn. The second snowfall's in the afternoon, thick enough to coat the window sill til Tsugiri — huddled on his knees inside — can spy it close.
Then there's the evening snow, and Tsugiri's protest that it's absurd to expect three coats of white thing imposing on his roof and his windows and his doorway (if he walked outside, if he cared to). But then, Enju's not here to listen, Enju won't return for a despairing two days' while, and he won't deliver Tsugiri his second and third and fourth blanket, either. There's a legion of them in the one nook and cranny Tsugiri hasn't searched tonight, he's certain of it. For now, there's only the obnoxious 'snow' and his obnoxiously thin and too-short sevice blanket and the single other obnoxious source of heat the house can offer (grudgingly).
He has never cuddled a trapped large owl on his lovely window-side sofa-seat before.
Ne has never quite cuddled a large owl anywhere before.
He thinks owls might not be entirely designed for cuddling, but he finds he'd rather test the practice than the theory, clinging on to Myoubi with both arms bound, crushing white feathers and white fluff and pointedly not likening them to snow. ]
Shouldn't this be more comfortable, now that you're so — fat?
Then there's the evening snow, and Tsugiri's protest that it's absurd to expect three coats of white thing imposing on his roof and his windows and his doorway (if he walked outside, if he cared to). But then, Enju's not here to listen, Enju won't return for a despairing two days' while, and he won't deliver Tsugiri his second and third and fourth blanket, either. There's a legion of them in the one nook and cranny Tsugiri hasn't searched tonight, he's certain of it. For now, there's only the obnoxious 'snow' and his obnoxiously thin and too-short sevice blanket and the single other obnoxious source of heat the house can offer (grudgingly).
He has never cuddled a trapped large owl on his lovely window-side sofa-seat before.
Ne has never quite cuddled a large owl anywhere before.
He thinks owls might not be entirely designed for cuddling, but he finds he'd rather test the practice than the theory, clinging on to Myoubi with both arms bound, crushing white feathers and white fluff and pointedly not likening them to snow. ]
Shouldn't this be more comfortable, now that you're so — fat?
Huh! [ So the guy had a good gauge on reflex. His tranquility only stokes her petulance. Her anger. ] Is that so?
[ Yang shoves the helmet aside, dismounting her bike in a flourish of color. Her hair fans with the impression of flame, incandescent and chaotic. Elbows crooking at their angles across her body, she plants her feet on the asphalt, halfway to a fighting stance. Despite being incomplete, a gesture that alludes to much more than just her physicality, there's prowess to it. A raw sort of animal strength that sears her all the way down to bone. To whatever it is that she has left. She can't back down now. It's all over her, bold words scrawled in an open book.
Once the blade makes its appearance, her eyes tick at their corners, suddenly sharp. It reminds her of another fighting style. Fluid, precise, dark. Her heart's in her throat. ]
Sorry to burst your bubble there, but if you think I'm gonna be one less problem, then you've got another thing coming!
[ Yang's fists ball. Her right streaks with a glow that seems separate from the rest of her. Not just in how it looks, but how she treats it, also. ]
[ Yang shoves the helmet aside, dismounting her bike in a flourish of color. Her hair fans with the impression of flame, incandescent and chaotic. Elbows crooking at their angles across her body, she plants her feet on the asphalt, halfway to a fighting stance. Despite being incomplete, a gesture that alludes to much more than just her physicality, there's prowess to it. A raw sort of animal strength that sears her all the way down to bone. To whatever it is that she has left. She can't back down now. It's all over her, bold words scrawled in an open book.
Once the blade makes its appearance, her eyes tick at their corners, suddenly sharp. It reminds her of another fighting style. Fluid, precise, dark. Her heart's in her throat. ]
Sorry to burst your bubble there, but if you think I'm gonna be one less problem, then you've got another thing coming!
[ Yang's fists ball. Her right streaks with a glow that seems separate from the rest of her. Not just in how it looks, but how she treats it, also. ]
[ Yuko blinks at the sudden scribbling, trying to get a peek at what he might be doing. It's a little difficult to see around his arms, though... so she balances the hefty plate of croquettes on one arm, suddenly trying to wave with the other. ]
Ah! I couldn't possibly! Just for today, we're having a special, you see. They're completely, one-hundred-perfect free —
[ Then the paper comes up, interrupting her for a long moment while she stares at the offering. ]
Ah! I couldn't possibly! Just for today, we're having a special, you see. They're completely, one-hundred-perfect free —
[ Then the paper comes up, interrupting her for a long moment while she stares at the offering. ]
[ This is utterly ridiculous, even by her standards. Not only had this icy abomination ruined the holy grounds of Harper Sutherland's favorite ice cream parlor, but it'd also made a complete nuisance of itself by being difficult to kill and disobedient of its master. Or so Harper assumes, if her current face-off is anything to go by. Part of her isn't even surprised to find Alexandra on the other end, and another part of her is already incensed by her reckless antagonism.
On a school night, no less!
So here it has come to be that Cure Rhythm faces down Eas. In the dark. Shivering. Dressed like the most fancy of ice cream cones. ]
Th-th-that's right! [ ...okay, so she'd intended that to come out a little more forcefully, but the teeth-chattering has already begun. She huffs, watching her breath cloud. ] No thanks to you! C-Couldn't you have chosen s-s-something a little more, ooh, I don't k-know, convenient?!
[ Sheesh. ]
On a school night, no less!
So here it has come to be that Cure Rhythm faces down Eas. In the dark. Shivering. Dressed like the most fancy of ice cream cones. ]
Th-th-that's right! [ ...okay, so she'd intended that to come out a little more forcefully, but the teeth-chattering has already begun. She huffs, watching her breath cloud. ] No thanks to you! C-Couldn't you have chosen s-s-something a little more, ooh, I don't k-know, convenient?!
[ Sheesh. ]
[ Messer would like to think that he is a measured, work-minded man, capable of withholding comments that have little to do with the battle raging overhead. Something this person is clearly not concerned with. As it is, he cranes back, looking caught somewhere between being perplexed and completely incensed. ]
Did you hit your head on something? [ And there it goes. ] Get in here!
[ All pretense of formality has taken a nosedive, and Messer, despite himself, still isn't going to leave someone to die. Less than prudent inclinations aside. Which is why Zevran will find the battroid's "hand" coming down on him, sweeping him up into its grasp. While it's not a gentle affair, much like the disposition of its pilot, it is secure and precise. Up he goes, towards the nose of the craft, where it unceremoniously dumps him into the seat directly behind his own. His comm systems are blaring with a multitude of voices. Orders, warnings, and perhaps most peculiar, singing. The source of it comes into focus, finally. Large hologram projections juxtaposed over the explosions in the sky.
Something he's maybe a little too eager to get back to, as the pitch of the fighter changes. But hey, there are the pretty girls, at the very least. ]
We're going up. Brace yourself.
Did you hit your head on something? [ And there it goes. ] Get in here!
[ All pretense of formality has taken a nosedive, and Messer, despite himself, still isn't going to leave someone to die. Less than prudent inclinations aside. Which is why Zevran will find the battroid's "hand" coming down on him, sweeping him up into its grasp. While it's not a gentle affair, much like the disposition of its pilot, it is secure and precise. Up he goes, towards the nose of the craft, where it unceremoniously dumps him into the seat directly behind his own. His comm systems are blaring with a multitude of voices. Orders, warnings, and perhaps most peculiar, singing. The source of it comes into focus, finally. Large hologram projections juxtaposed over the explosions in the sky.
Something he's maybe a little too eager to get back to, as the pitch of the fighter changes. But hey, there are the pretty girls, at the very least. ]
We're going up. Brace yourself.
Do you not think this should be a more grateful affair? [ What a rude boy. ] I do not recall submitting myself to you.
[ Myoubi cannot recall distinctly denying him, either, but that's neither here nor there. His fingers carve into the ample down that lies beneath her silent, combing feathers, and she flares to greet him. Warm, unkind, disobedient softness. Owls are not known for their down, but Myoubi only bears the ancient, glaring face of one. Anything else is left to her whimsy, the practicality of her simple form divorced from the complicated aesthetics she keeps. Claws and lace, fur and fright. She contains chill enough to shame the snowfall beyond the window, and also the heat necessary to destroy it. She could bestow it upon him, if he wished for it.
But no, he hopes. Just as she hopes, full of bizarre somedays that force them to endure these things that they both hate.
She is warm as Tsugiri is warm. Not to themselves, but perhaps... ]
Just as you do with my warnings, hm?
[ His touch is full of childish memory. Power. Delectable swirls of it that heed to no one.
Save perhaps Enju, but Enju controls the snacks, as well as the bedding. ]
[ Myoubi cannot recall distinctly denying him, either, but that's neither here nor there. His fingers carve into the ample down that lies beneath her silent, combing feathers, and she flares to greet him. Warm, unkind, disobedient softness. Owls are not known for their down, but Myoubi only bears the ancient, glaring face of one. Anything else is left to her whimsy, the practicality of her simple form divorced from the complicated aesthetics she keeps. Claws and lace, fur and fright. She contains chill enough to shame the snowfall beyond the window, and also the heat necessary to destroy it. She could bestow it upon him, if he wished for it.
But no, he hopes. Just as she hopes, full of bizarre somedays that force them to endure these things that they both hate.
She is warm as Tsugiri is warm. Not to themselves, but perhaps... ]
Just as you do with my warnings, hm?
[ His touch is full of childish memory. Power. Delectable swirls of it that heed to no one.
Save perhaps Enju, but Enju controls the snacks, as well as the bedding. ]
[Of course Alexandra was being difficult on a school night. It wasn't like she was about to go home and study diligently, things like that were for goody goody honours students. Not her style in the slightest.
The dramatic pose doesn't last very long, she feels one arm wrap around her waist in an attempt to keep herself warm. The jacket of her outfit did very little to fend off the cold. She blamed the lack of sleeves for this, but also Harper for no reason in particular.]
Th-this is perfectly convenient!
Win or lose, y-y-you'll still freeze!
[Sure. It might work the other way around, but she wasn't going to worry about details.]
P-p-pre-prepare yourself!
[And she's going to make a charge at Rhythm, though it's nowhere near as fast as she'd normally go. Her arm raising shakily to throw a punch at the frilly skirted magical girl.]
The dramatic pose doesn't last very long, she feels one arm wrap around her waist in an attempt to keep herself warm. The jacket of her outfit did very little to fend off the cold. She blamed the lack of sleeves for this, but also Harper for no reason in particular.]
Th-this is perfectly convenient!
Win or lose, y-y-you'll still freeze!
[Sure. It might work the other way around, but she wasn't going to worry about details.]
P-p-pre-prepare yourself!
[And she's going to make a charge at Rhythm, though it's nowhere near as fast as she'd normally go. Her arm raising shakily to throw a punch at the frilly skirted magical girl.]
[An open book. Clear as day. Whatever your metaphor of choice, it's all there. Her strength, he can see it in both her aura and her body. Her skill, he can see in her stance. Her anger, he can see blazing off of her like a fire. Her fear, he can see being drowned in that anger. And he can see her disgust in the way she holds her right arm. Not as a part of her but as an extension. Unwanted.
Fear. Anger. Hurt. Brashness. All coming together to take the place of pride, of the confidence of the warrior she falls just short of truly becoming. He sees all of this in her. He can see it because all of those things were once a part of himself as well.]
Do I? [He anticipates and adjusts, the slightest shift in his stance in preparation of the attack he seeks to draw in.] If you are going to boast, you should do it only after you have managed to strike me. If you can manage to do so.
[His blade flickers, a slight gesture of challenge.]
Come.
Fear. Anger. Hurt. Brashness. All coming together to take the place of pride, of the confidence of the warrior she falls just short of truly becoming. He sees all of this in her. He can see it because all of those things were once a part of himself as well.]
Do I? [He anticipates and adjusts, the slightest shift in his stance in preparation of the attack he seeks to draw in.] If you are going to boast, you should do it only after you have managed to strike me. If you can manage to do so.
[His blade flickers, a slight gesture of challenge.]
Come.
If you know my name and you still wanna go, then don't complain when you're in pieces!
[ That he knows her burns in her gut, but she can use that. She can use that fire. No one was supposed to know what happened to her, that day. Maybe he doesn't.
Just the prospect makes her blood stir.
He beckons, and she shifts in answer. A golden bangle at her left shifts, morphing along the contour of her arm. It expands, metal whirring and clicking and locking. Ember Celica. Or half of it. The rightmost becomes something completely different. Yang doesn't wait for it to finish its sequence, melding what once looked and felt human into this... thing, this familiar and yet completely phantom mass she now carries. She vaults off the cracked pavement and charges him as her right arm continues to unfold, leading with her left. It's not her dominant side, but she doesn't need it. Not to win a fight like this.
With a loud growl, Yang takes a leap, focused on the pale glow that defines him against Vale's darkness. Ember Celica loads, and her swing levels at his solar plexus. Right through the middle — fast, uncomplicated, aggressive. She cares so little about defense.
As long as she can deal a hit, she can take a hit. ]
[ That he knows her burns in her gut, but she can use that. She can use that fire. No one was supposed to know what happened to her, that day. Maybe he doesn't.
Just the prospect makes her blood stir.
He beckons, and she shifts in answer. A golden bangle at her left shifts, morphing along the contour of her arm. It expands, metal whirring and clicking and locking. Ember Celica. Or half of it. The rightmost becomes something completely different. Yang doesn't wait for it to finish its sequence, melding what once looked and felt human into this... thing, this familiar and yet completely phantom mass she now carries. She vaults off the cracked pavement and charges him as her right arm continues to unfold, leading with her left. It's not her dominant side, but she doesn't need it. Not to win a fight like this.
With a loud growl, Yang takes a leap, focused on the pale glow that defines him against Vale's darkness. Ember Celica loads, and her swing levels at his solar plexus. Right through the middle — fast, uncomplicated, aggressive. She cares so little about defense.
As long as she can deal a hit, she can take a hit. ]
( FAIRYTALE GONE WRONG | 3:28AM | HALLUCINATION ) ...THIS IS THE ONLY THING I CAN THINK OF THAT'S FEASIBLE
[ She sees him all the time. In her nightmares, on the cusp of wakefulness that she hurtles towards constantly ever since the day that Vale, her home, cracked. Yang has come to despise that witching hour between night and day, where her skin breaks with sweat over dreams that are never quite dreams. Because he's always there. Red, and black — she had come to trust black, the beast. She had come to trust Blake, enough to fight for her, and this is where it's all lead to. Another nightmare, more red clawing through darkness. Through black. ]
You're...
[ Here, again. What, for her other arm? Yang feels lucid, but everything around her is hazy and thick. This must be a nightmare, because she can feel her fists clench. Both of them. ...Can't she? It burns, she's sure of that. Oh, does it burn. In her blood, through her skin. Enough to turn everything around her to ash this time. ]
You're a monster.
[ She sees him all the time. In her nightmares, on the cusp of wakefulness that she hurtles towards constantly ever since the day that Vale, her home, cracked. Yang has come to despise that witching hour between night and day, where her skin breaks with sweat over dreams that are never quite dreams. Because he's always there. Red, and black — she had come to trust black, the beast. She had come to trust Blake, enough to fight for her, and this is where it's all lead to. Another nightmare, more red clawing through darkness. Through black. ]
You're...
[ Here, again. What, for her other arm? Yang feels lucid, but everything around her is hazy and thick. This must be a nightmare, because she can feel her fists clench. Both of them. ...Can't she? It burns, she's sure of that. Oh, does it burn. In her blood, through her skin. Enough to turn everything around her to ash this time. ]
You're a monster.
I would do it again, if I could.
[ Because it's been as grounding for him as it's been beneficial to her to learn like this, to have someone nearby who not only has learned to match him, but enjoys what he can offer. For him, nothing resonates louder than that kind of acceptance. Allelujah wonders if she knows just how big of an impact she's had since they started this.
When the question comes, he has to focus, gaze flicking back over to her almost sheepishly. ]
I'm ready when you are. ...ah, let me join you.
[ Pushing up from his spot, he doesn't mind keeping his gaze on her as he moves to the edge, so he won't spoil the moment. ]
On three?
[ Because it's been as grounding for him as it's been beneficial to her to learn like this, to have someone nearby who not only has learned to match him, but enjoys what he can offer. For him, nothing resonates louder than that kind of acceptance. Allelujah wonders if she knows just how big of an impact she's had since they started this.
When the question comes, he has to focus, gaze flicking back over to her almost sheepishly. ]
I'm ready when you are. ...ah, let me join you.
[ Pushing up from his spot, he doesn't mind keeping his gaze on her as he moves to the edge, so he won't spoil the moment. ]
On three?
[ Harper almost groans aloud, hoping Alexandra would just... think she was stupid and a waste of time (both untrue, naturally, but she can be quite enterprising, when the right situation arises —) and call the whole thing off. But no, they were doing this the hard way. ]
Really? You know, if I freeze, you're just going to go right along w — ah!
[ As Alexandra goes for the gold, Harper decides she'd better just get to preparing herself for this really unenthusiastic-looking attack. Knowing the motions, she has plenty of time through her chittering and chattering to scuff her heel back to try and brace herself.
Except scuffing her heel doesn't work when the floor is frozen over. ]
Whoop!
[ She'd intended to raise her arms to block, and what actually happens his that her foot slips on the ice, sending her into a wide-eyed, undignified flail. ]
Really? You know, if I freeze, you're just going to go right along w — ah!
[ As Alexandra goes for the gold, Harper decides she'd better just get to preparing herself for this really unenthusiastic-looking attack. Knowing the motions, she has plenty of time through her chittering and chattering to scuff her heel back to try and brace herself.
Except scuffing her heel doesn't work when the floor is frozen over. ]
Whoop!
[ She'd intended to raise her arms to block, and what actually happens his that her foot slips on the ice, sending her into a wide-eyed, undignified flail. ]
[Unfortunately for Harper, Alexandra only knows how to take the hard way. If she weren't making things more difficult for others and herself, it just wouldn't be her.]
[Alexandra manages to pick up a bit of momentum as she gets closer to Harper. warming herself up slightly from actually getting up and doing something. It's short lived though as Harper's slip and flail is the last thing she had expected. She tries to grind to a halt but she continues to slide along the icy sleek floor right into the brightly dressed magical girl.
Instead of an exhausted and halfhearted punch, she accidentally crashes into Harper and sends them toppling over onto the ground in a mess of frills and black leather.
She let's out a groan.
This was not her day.]
I'm blaming you for that.
[Alexandra manages to pick up a bit of momentum as she gets closer to Harper. warming herself up slightly from actually getting up and doing something. It's short lived though as Harper's slip and flail is the last thing she had expected. She tries to grind to a halt but she continues to slide along the icy sleek floor right into the brightly dressed magical girl.
Instead of an exhausted and halfhearted punch, she accidentally crashes into Harper and sends them toppling over onto the ground in a mess of frills and black leather.
She let's out a groan.
This was not her day.]
I'm blaming you for that.
I know more than your name.
[There it is, just as he'd expected. It's a good attack, swift and powerful, likely enough to topple many opponents with ease but it's reckless and unprepared. Her right arm is still shifting into its combat mode and she's clearly not at her best with her left. With training, perhaps, but now....
He shifts to the side when she makes her attack, the blast from her weapon blowing past and doing little more than adding to a broken chunk of rock's woes. Seizing her arm, he twists, using the momentum from her wild charge against her to destabilize her and throw her aside.]
I know you still fight guided only by your anger. Have you truly learned nothing?
[There it is, just as he'd expected. It's a good attack, swift and powerful, likely enough to topple many opponents with ease but it's reckless and unprepared. Her right arm is still shifting into its combat mode and she's clearly not at her best with her left. With training, perhaps, but now....
He shifts to the side when she makes her attack, the blast from her weapon blowing past and doing little more than adding to a broken chunk of rock's woes. Seizing her arm, he twists, using the momentum from her wild charge against her to destabilize her and throw her aside.]
I know you still fight guided only by your anger. Have you truly learned nothing?
[Maybe he's come for her hair this time. Not that wit would make much of a difference; when was the last time she recognized herself when she looked in a mirror? Maybe he's here to take a leg this time, not that such a thing would matter much as well. She hasn't left the house in ages; where would she even go?
But its always something different when he comes, always just one more part of her that he cuts away, piece by piece, until there's nothing left.]
And you're a fool. [She can recognize the stance he drops into; its the same one he used when he took her arm. The same stance he uses whenever when slices through another part of her. He all but dares the little huntsman to come at him again.]
But its always something different when he comes, always just one more part of her that he cuts away, piece by piece, until there's nothing left.]
And you're a fool. [She can recognize the stance he drops into; its the same one he used when he took her arm. The same stance he uses whenever when slices through another part of her. He all but dares the little huntsman to come at him again.]
[ Yang thinks it shouldn't be so easy to fall into line with him. To stand tall where he slinks like shadow. He is fluid and she is firm, but stability is lost somewhere between them. Two forces who can only destroy what appears in their path. Right now, one another. She recognizes that the man across from her is not sane, but it's not in the way she knows. What she knows is of no consequence, not when fire wreathes her, when anger clouds the edges of her vision, making him appear all the sharper. ]
No! [ His insult hits her square in the chest without even touching her. ] I'm not wrong!
[ Digging her heels in, she raises her arms. Both of them... both of them. In a flash, she's off the ground, her footsteps and heartbeat pounding in her ears. She'll get him, this time. She'll end this nightmare, and Blake will come home. ]
Protecting what's important to me isn't wrong!
No! [ His insult hits her square in the chest without even touching her. ] I'm not wrong!
[ Digging her heels in, she raises her arms. Both of them... both of them. In a flash, she's off the ground, her footsteps and heartbeat pounding in her ears. She'll get him, this time. She'll end this nightmare, and Blake will come home. ]
Protecting what's important to me isn't wrong!
[ Yang hits nothing. Like trying to harm the wind itself. She breathes in, lungs igniting with the taste of ash and her own flame. She grunts against the sudden shift and throw, equilibrium flipping. Yang twists midair and hits the ground skidding back on her heels, concrete grinding to dust beneath her. With knees at a sharp bend, she stabilizes herself as she comes to a stop by lashing out and grabbing the road in front of her with her right hand. Asphalt cracks under her grip, the robotic limb finally whirring to life with a sentient orange glow. When she looks up, her eyes have gone red, teeth grit. ]
I learned plenty! [ Bracing, she orients herself and launches forward again, arm pouring fire and steam, electrical currents latticed throughout. ] And you know what good it did me?
[ Slamming herself down, she spins, throwing her weight into her arm as a clothesline. ]
Nothing!!
I learned plenty! [ Bracing, she orients herself and launches forward again, arm pouring fire and steam, electrical currents latticed throughout. ] And you know what good it did me?
[ Slamming herself down, she spins, throwing her weight into her arm as a clothesline. ]
Nothing!!
Me?! [ Harper's voice shoots up an octave as she tries to wriggle away. ] I was just trying to avoid you!
[ With an indignant huff, she tries to keep her palms stable on the floor to push up, but it's futile when her nails scrape on ice, causing her slip and faceplant right back into the other girl. Everything about her seems to puff outwards in anger. Her hair, her wealth of ruffles. Like a cat. A very ornery, very sparkly cat currently trapped by all of Alexandra's gangly limbs. (Shut up Harper, you're just as noodly.) ]
That's right. [ Muffled, but as threatening as she can manage. ] This is your fault!
[ With an indignant huff, she tries to keep her palms stable on the floor to push up, but it's futile when her nails scrape on ice, causing her slip and faceplant right back into the other girl. Everything about her seems to puff outwards in anger. Her hair, her wealth of ruffles. Like a cat. A very ornery, very sparkly cat currently trapped by all of Alexandra's gangly limbs. (Shut up Harper, you're just as noodly.) ]
That's right. [ Muffled, but as threatening as she can manage. ] This is your fault!
[He turns with the momentum of the throw, spinning to face her direction and crouching slightly in preparation for a follow-up. When he sees her land on her feet, stabilizing herself and regaining her equilibrium there's the slightest upward tilt of his head.
Impressive.]
You say that while refusing to live by the lessons you have learned! [He ducks under her wild clothesline, spinning and leaping backward. His left arm flashes out and a trio of shuriken hum through the air and curve toward her.] You will never move forward if you continue to fight a battle you have already lost!
Impressive.]
You say that while refusing to live by the lessons you have learned! [He ducks under her wild clothesline, spinning and leaping backward. His left arm flashes out and a trio of shuriken hum through the air and curve toward her.] You will never move forward if you continue to fight a battle you have already lost!
[ There's no going back, so she can only rush forward. Dangerously, quickly. Towards whatever there is left. She'll get there eventually, she doesn't have to prove it to anyone that she's strong enough for it. Yang stands her ground, going on the defensive in one practiced blur of movement. Her arms raise to meet the projectiles; a tilt has one pinging off half of Ember Celica, then two. The third whizzes past her as she dips aside, raking off a few strands of her hair.
Growling, Yang follows the volley with a rush, hair aglow. Land a hit on her, c'mon... ]
I've always done things my own way! [ Coming up on him, she brings her leg around to sweep into a low kick. ] No matter who leaves!
Growling, Yang follows the volley with a rush, hair aglow. Land a hit on her, c'mon... ]
I've always done things my own way! [ Coming up on him, she brings her leg around to sweep into a low kick. ] No matter who leaves!
[Again, impressive. This girl is talented, there's no doubt about that, her reflexes and timing are impeccable but then, what else is to be expected from somebody of her lineage? If only she fought with more control, more caution. As it is, she relies only on her power and that alone will never be enough.
Perhaps it's time to finally drive that point home.]
You cling to the familiar out of fear! [He slips back out of range of the kick.] You remain the person you were. The one who failed!
[He doesn't retreat from this exchange, instead pushing forward with a flurry of attacks from fists and feet and blade. Rapid, harrying strikes. Never quite powerful enough to give that boost to her Semblance but enough to put her on the defensive and chip away at her Aura.]
Perhaps it's time to finally drive that point home.]
You cling to the familiar out of fear! [He slips back out of range of the kick.] You remain the person you were. The one who failed!
[He doesn't retreat from this exchange, instead pushing forward with a flurry of attacks from fists and feet and blade. Rapid, harrying strikes. Never quite powerful enough to give that boost to her Semblance but enough to put her on the defensive and chip away at her Aura.]
[Alexandra grunts as she feels Harper's face slam into her. She grits her tries to give Harper and indigent shove away but their tangled mess of limbs unfortunately doesn't help with this plan, when she shoves she feels one of her ankles catch against Harper's leg and she's pulled right along with the overly ruffled girl.
Still despite the current situation, she was starting to feel a bit warmer than she had a few moments ago.]
My fault? Don't blame me because you don't know how to dodge, cupcake!
Still despite the current situation, she was starting to feel a bit warmer than she had a few moments ago.]
My fault? Don't blame me because you don't know how to dodge, cupcake!
[ Power is her security. Her Semblance is her gasoline, her fuel. And the loss she feels the kindling that threatens to send it all up in a glowing inferno of smoke and ash. Let it burn, she'd argue. Yang does argue, with her fists instead of her words, because what had words ever done for her when she could just rip her way through whatever threatened her.
...except, she knew that often wasn't enough. It wasn't enough to go as hard as she could on her own. It'd nearly cost her life. Ruby's life. It'd probably saved Blake's — but she was gone. Her eyes blow wide at his dodge, the red streaking against the dark, hollowed out backdrop of the city. Vale.
The city they'd failed. That he knows they failed. ]
It's not fear! [ Yang stumbles beneath the flurry of hits, grunting in frustration as she fruitlessly tries to block and drive them off. ] I want to fight!
[ A pitched growl leaves her as a kick resounds off her arm, blocked, only to have a fist connect with her side. It's like she's being played with, the connections enough to immobilize her without causing enough harm to activate her Semblance. Her Aura dips, hair flickering. He must know. Her teeth clench so hard in her mouth that her jaw aches. ]
No, I — I have to fight! If I want things to go back to the way they were!
...except, she knew that often wasn't enough. It wasn't enough to go as hard as she could on her own. It'd nearly cost her life. Ruby's life. It'd probably saved Blake's — but she was gone. Her eyes blow wide at his dodge, the red streaking against the dark, hollowed out backdrop of the city. Vale.
The city they'd failed. That he knows they failed. ]
It's not fear! [ Yang stumbles beneath the flurry of hits, grunting in frustration as she fruitlessly tries to block and drive them off. ] I want to fight!
[ A pitched growl leaves her as a kick resounds off her arm, blocked, only to have a fist connect with her side. It's like she's being played with, the connections enough to immobilize her without causing enough harm to activate her Semblance. Her Aura dips, hair flickering. He must know. Her teeth clench so hard in her mouth that her jaw aches. ]
No, I — I have to fight! If I want things to go back to the way they were!
Oh? [ With that, Harper goes still. Almost alarmingly still, for an armful of pure spite and bitter rivalry, which she would deny if asked, thank you very much. (Because it's a waste of her time, naturally.) Then, without warning, she whips up, staring Alexandra down. Her cheeks are bright red from the cold and the embarrassment, but at least the blush is a warmer option. Even if she hasn't realized it yet. ] I suppose you think that "punch" of yours was just top notch, don't you?
[ YEAH. YEAH. TAKE THAT. ]
Well, I've got some news for you —
[ News which is cut short by her wobbling on her arms and attempting to not just slip and end up back where she started. ]
[ YEAH. YEAH. TAKE THAT. ]
Well, I've got some news for you —
[ News which is cut short by her wobbling on her arms and attempting to not just slip and end up back where she started. ]
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