IV .

[desolavi]

ACTION | PARK | BACKDATED TO JUNE 3, LATE AFTERNOON & EVENING | LOCKED TO weaponsparked

[ despite all the fuss and chaos that spilled over the city -- plenty of killing and fighting going around, apparently -- the quiet areas of the park were still seki's sanctuary. he never really broke his habit of visiting the park during the afternoons and evenings, dozing

Comments

[weaponsparked]

[He doesn't want to do it. He said he would never do it.]

[But he believes they've already engraved the sigil into his skin, already recolored his eyes. What else can he do? He has to protect Jolt. At all costs -- they can't hurt him, no matter what they force him to do.]

[One of his arms is in a sling, but he's still carrying the knife. He doesn't really expect to run into anyone, least of all his assigned target. So... when he does stumble across him, Sideswipe just stands there, staring.]

[desolavi]

[ ah. there's some guy staring at him.

seki notices only after a few moments that some guy with a broken arm (?) is staring at him from a short distance away. he doesn't say anything at first. maybe it's just some do-gooder who's gonna tell him he should be safe at home.

eventually, though, he looks over to study the guy for a bit and quietly deadpans, ] ... that's kinda creepy. If you have something to say you should go ahead and say it.

[weaponsparked]

[He can't bring himself to answer right away. His chest feels tight. Like something big and heavy is trying to crush it. He swallows.]

[And then steps forward.]

[When he speaks, his words are flat, hollow. They match his expression.]

I'm sorry... I have to... I need to kill you. I'm sorry.

[desolavi]

[ ... ah. that makes sense. seki just stares flatly as this guy forces the words out. and when the guy's done, he just quietly gets to his feet, pulls stupid paring knife out of his pocket and holds it loosely at his side. ]

Okay. I was wondering when someone would come for me.

[ a small sigh before he stands in a vague imitation of a sparring position. he has no idea what to do with this stupid knife, to be honest. ]

[weaponsparked]

[His knife falls into his hand, but he can't seem to make his legs work. The tightness in his chest just gets worse.]

I'm sorry.

[He can't seem to say anything else. Even as his body tenses, falling into an easy, practiced crouch. Despite the broken collar bone, muscle memory knows what to do.]

[desolavi]

[ this guy looks experienced, judging from that stance. that's a bad thing, huh. but that additional apology makes seki narrow his eyes. ]

Kinda stupid to be apologizing in this situation ...

[ a slow half-step forward at first, then another, before he lunges forward to try and ram the knife into the guy's side. that's how knife-fights work, right? ]

[weaponsparked]

No. You don't understand... I'm sorry. I wish I...

[His voice falters, and he falls silent, standing there and waiting. As the human rushes, Sideswipe slips to one side, the knife held between him and his opponent. As he moves, he slashes at the human, at the ribcage.]

[desolavi]

[ his reflexes save him. just barely. he throws his body back when the knife comes whistling forward, and the blade slices through his clothes, scrapes across the skin of his chest. a grunt, as seki falls back a few steps, stares down at the blood beading from the shallow cut, then looks back up. ]

What is there to understand?

[weaponsparked]

I don't have a choice. That's... what.

[He tries not to look at the wound. Tries not to look at him. If he can pretend it isn't a human he's fighting, maybe he can do this. For Jolt.]

[That decided, he lunges again, making a feint for the left, before driving straight forward toward the other's chest.]

[desolavi]

[ a quiet, cold deadpan: ] Bullshit.

[ no time to snark, though. this guy moves fast -- too fast -- and seki falls for the feint. tries to dodge back, but isn't fast enough -- the blade slices a deep cut between his ribs. amidst the staggering pain, seki tries to slice the guy's face to ribbons with a backhand swing of his own knife. his aim's off, though -- he's bleeding pretty bad. ]

[weaponsparked]

No--!

[His hollow facade is cracking, and his expression shifts. There's a lot of pain there.]

I have to protect him. If I don't do this, they'll go after him! I have to!

[He ducks his head sideways, catching a couple slashes to the face before shifting his stance, to drive the knife toward the human's throat.]

[desolavi]

[ though there's some trace of accomplishment when he manages to slash the guy's face, it's quickly quashed when seki sees the stab aimed at his throat. he drops his own knife, throws his arms up to protect his face -- feels the blade stab straight through a forearm.

ah, it hurts. a low grunt as he throws his weight back, hitting the ground on his side. it takes him a moment to struggle to his feet, good arm wrapped around the gash in his ribcage. his voice is strained as he hisses, ] Good for you. -- but I don't really care why you're doing this.

[weaponsparked]

[He doesn't press the attack. Not yet. He lets his opponent pull back, standing still, his knees bent, body tense for the fight. He shakes his head.]

You need to know. You just... need to know. I'm sorry.

[Yes, he will keep repeating the apology. In his mind, it's got to help something. He tightens his grip on the knife, and tries to move around to the back, to hit hit his target in the back, where it's harder to defend.]

[desolavi]

No I don't. [ it's meant to be a deadpan, but his words are starting to slur, and he's feeling sort of dizzy. it's probably 'cause he's bleeding, isn't it?

seki's movements are growing sluggish and he can't follow this guy quick enough. the blow to the back sends him crumpling to the ground with a grunt and it takes him far too long to struggle back to his feet, wheezing for air, glaring at sideswipe with a quiet anger. he's too stubborn to just lay down and die. ]

[weaponsparked]

[He stands there again, like he's waiting for his target to rise. He can't bring himself to attack someone who's down. That just seems like too far a fall, despite the fact he's already killing someone.]

[Instead of moving in fast, he approaches slowly, gauging the human's state. It isn't good. Even he can see that. And somehow, this makes it worse -- he brought someone this low. Someone he has nothing against.]

Yes. You do.

[He shuts his eyes a moment.]

I'm sorry.

[And then lunges in again, knife first aiming for the throat, then slipping down to target the chest.]

[desolavi]

[ he's too tired to try and defend himself any more -- seki makes a half-hearted attempt to guard his throat, but it ends up being pretty meaningless. the knife slams into his chest down to the hilt and rips the air out of his lungs.

there's blood rising in the back of his throat and his words are slurred as he mumbles, ]

-- stop apologizing. ... 's pissing me off.

[ one last burst of adrenaline enables him to grab the collar of sideswipe's shirt and slug across the face with his free hand, but it's a pretty flimsy attack.

the momentum of it throws him off-balance and he hits the ground with a gasp, panting for air as blood pools around him. ]