004 » [Video]

[churchninja]

[A frantic struggle has inadvertently turned this communicator on, broadcasting the final moments of conflict across the network. Paper talismans are strewn from floor to ceiling, walls singed, furniture laying broken…]

Shibari-bane![Off camera, the rustling of paper, accompanied by the dull thump of heavy weight striking the floor, signals the

Comments

[VIDEO] /PLACEHOLDER

[tothelastbreath]

[Allen doesn't even have time to worry about how evil!Link has just outed the whole Order to Nesreca. He's heard enough to guess how the fight went, he's taken in the damage, and he's furious.]

Don't bother. I'll come over.

[Click. He'll be entering through the window a moment later, Crown Clown already invocated.]

1/2

[churchninja]

Walker!

[That'd be the real Link from the floor, squirming with his cheek pressed against the wooden floorboards.]

Don't-!

2/2

[darkfeathered]

[But whatever he might be trying to say is swiftly cut short by the flapping of countless ofuda. It seems Link's evil twin has arrived with a massive stock of them to expend on his given task.]

Allen Walker, you are to be taken into custody for suspected treason. Come quietly.

[tothelastbreath]

[Barely has time to spare a tight smile for the real Link before he's snapping:] Taken into custody where?

[Crown Edge sends a barrage of projectiles tearing through the ofuda, but the attack is controlled, just enough to stop the twin from binding him. They're in the only inhabitable building in Nesreca. Allen would like to keep property damage to the minimal.]

Central doesn't exist here. You're not taking any of us anywhere.

[darkfeathered]

As your loyalties are questionable, you will be confined for interrogation.

[He's an evil twin, Allen. Your logic does not sway him, and neither does your care for the building's well-being. Another talisman is waved with a quiet fwip.]

[tothelastbreath]

[Just this look of angry disbelief. Despite what Link and Rhode have told him about recent events back home, despite his own unvoiced, snowballing doubts about the Order, Allen still considers himself an Exorcist. Even now, four months away from home, his loyalties have remained with the Order. He's been doing his job all day until you decided to arrest the only two Exorcists in Nesreca, when there are copies of Noah running around unchecked.

In short, you've just gone and hurt one of his comrades for the stupidest reason ever.]

[with a defiant lift of his chin] No.

[And he's streaking across the room for the real Link, intending to grab him and get the hell out of here. Better lure the twin away from the apartments before bystanders get hurt.]

1/2

[darkfeathered]

[Link's twin interprets Allen's lunge as an attack and reacts appropriately.]

Assaulting Central personnel will only worsen your sentence. I suggest you rethink your actions.

[He quickly places himself between Allen and the other inspector, delivering a quick burst of talismans towards-]

2/2

[churchninja]

[A charm-free hand suddenly grasps his ankle, yanking backwards to throw him off balance. His talismans miss their mark, plastering to the wall inches from where Allen had been mere milliseconds ago.

The real Link may be down, but he's not out.]

Walker!

[Be swift!]

Re: 2/2

[tothelastbreath]

[Allen doesn't need to be told twice. Crown Clown's mantle billowing around him to ward off any further attacks, he touches down beside Link for just an instant to gather him up with Clown Belt's help, and is ghosting out of the nearest window in the next eyeblink. He'd been able to carry Miranda while fighting his way through a portal, and now he's managing to bear Link's weight without trouble. Much trouble. These talismans, mister, they make you a lot heavier than you ought to be.]

Link! How do I get these off? Just tear at them?

[Demanded... Right in the middle of their free fall, but don't worry, Allen's always been the sort to hit the ground running.]

[churchninja]

[And just like that, he's swept up and toted off like extra baggage. He's never gone out a window quite like this (in Crown Clown's loving grasp) and can't help an uneasy flail as they begin their descent.

Behind him, he can hear his other self calling out Allen Walker, cease and desist! Yeah, fat chance. ... Does he really sound like that?]

Yes! If you release my other hand, I can reverse the incantation!

[tothelastbreath]

[Yes, Link, yes you do, except it's usually more along the lines of Allen Walker, brush your teeth! Remember it and remember it well, because when all of this rubbish is done with, Allen will probably tease you and be merciless about it. Hope you don't mind having his arms around you for a bit (CARRYING PEOPLE SEEMS TO BE A RECURRING PATTERN OF LATE), between gravity and the added weight of those talismans, he really doesn't want to risk dropping you. You'd probably throttle him yourself before the twin gets here.]

Your--? Oh, right.

[He does hit the ground running, skidding into the shelter of a broken wall to dump Link more or less gently on the ground. Hopefully it'll keep them hidden long enough for the inspector to free himself.]

Hurry!

[churchninja]

[Squirm, rustle, writhe. All it takes is a small tear for Link to get his hand free, and he's instantly forming the correct seals to release the spell. The talismans flutter to the ground as he staggers to his feet, a few of them peeking out of odd places like his trouser pocket and cuff.

Before they form a suitable plan, first things first.]

Are you all right? Has your twin-

[A voice exactly like his own interrupts, a stoic 'En Ba' echoing across the clearing. The accompanying BOOM is a nice (though very alarming) touch. Their hideout wasn't damaged, but considering it was one of the few things left standing besides the apartments, that might change.]

[tothelastbreath]

[Allen's lips twist in clear anxiety at the mention of his twin. How does he say the situation's probably more complicated than that, that he's on the lookout for two twins instead of one?]

[completely bypassing the first question:] I haven't-

[Whatever comes next is lost in the sudden explosion. Allen's peering around their shield before the gusts of hot air have even died down, dismayed by the noise (the last thing they need right now is more attention) and the damage. Well, if there's one way of distracting someone from hurting other people or causing unnecessary property damage, it's to present them with the target they're after.]

We need to stop him.

[And with that, he steps into plain view, obviously intending to draw the twin away from the apartments.]

[churchninja]

[Link grabs for Allen's wrist, trying to catch him before he can get himself ofuda'd. He'd like to think his other self would be professional about it, but the only one permitted to slap a binding talisman on Walker is him.]

I agree. He aims to go after Kanda next, and who knows what trouble he might stir up with the Noah. I fear he may seek out Alma and impart one too many details as well. However, a killing blow would be impossible without restraining him first.

1/3

[tothelastbreath]

[MARCHING OUT LIKE A PROPER SHOUNEN HERO―foiled again. What is with you people and your refusal to let him fling himself in harm's way. And it's a good thing you didn't say that aloud after this morning's admission, Link, or Allen will start pegging you as the creepily jealous sort.]

2/3

[tothelastbreath]

[Allen tugs on his wrist, but makes no move to leave again -- for now. He's clearly disturbed by Link's efficient summary of their situation, and has to remind himself that they're only facing a doppelganger, one of Libitina's creations, not some horrid, alternate incarnate of Link from another world. One where Link's a ruthless bastard, where Allen Walker and Kanda Yu have both defected from the Order, where Alma Karma is still beyond help.]

I know, that's why I―