(Untitled)
[It's a Tyki. In that outfit. You know the one. White, form fitting, revealing. Black leather pants. He doesn't seem particularly bothered by his own appearance at least, long hair neatly tied back, posture relaxed
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One stray man down. One left to go. He can't really move thanks to the stubborn boy, but he wasn't completely immobile. His options were not ideal, but hey, when are they ever?
Just as he gets right down to talk to him, to whisper that he's going to leave, Tyki slams his head forward against Allen's. It hurts like hell and his vision does go black for a moment, but he doesn't give it any heed. He tries to pull away from the cloak pinning him down and roll them over to pin the boy beneath him despite his lack of eyesight.
Best idea he has to keep him from leaving, but he'll have to see if his own constitution can handle the maneuver.]
***
[Solo would protest that it isn't him carrying around the cursed luck, but hey, people not present can't state their mind, can they?
The two creatures bob their heads down at him in a synchronized manner. As the cat's head goes down, the iguana's goes up and visa versa. The cat leaps down first, skidding quite agilely down Cardio's side to rest its back feet on the man's belt buckle as it digs for, yes, a poker chip in his pocket. It is best not to dwell on how it manages to get one out, but it bounds away to land on top of the water. It sits as if on solid ground and looks up at Tyki with the chip in its mouth. Seems as if one is the toll. He still has more than half a dozen of those chips in his pocket. Was it worth the price?
The iguana will just appear out of thin air and stand next to the Cheshire cat.]
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Tyki!
[It's hard to pin a squirmy teenager when you feel as if you're about to black out from pain. None of the physical injuries are actually there, true, but the memory of them is real enough. They happened, and to Tyki the sensation is just like it was then, as sharp and real and blinding painful to move think, exist...]
[Of course it's all an illusion, a trick. It's just a matter of convincing his mind to listen to what he knows as opposed to what the place is telling him is going on.]
[And naturally it can't be as easy as pinning Walker. The scuffle and commotion brings the Crow back, several hooded figures jumping out of the bushes to fling seals around. Allen's sword comes up to deflect them before they hit Tyki, and the kid makes a heroic shove at the man to get him off.]
You're going to have to run. [He says it apologetically, like he's sorry about this but that's how it has to be.]
***
[Tyki never has quite as exciting a time without Solo--but hey, at least it's not the horror hall. Then again, as far as Cardio sees it, this whole adventure hasn't been too bad. A little violence, a swim, some strangeness. Nothing over the top. Sort of a refreshingly interesting stroll. Now if only he can collect his companion.]
[He shrugs. If the cat wants it that bad, fine, he has more of the chips. They're strange animals, maybe they have no idea where his companion is, maybe it's a trap, but why not find out?]
Well all right. You have what you want. Where is he?
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He was having a hard time separating reality from fantasy. He knew it wasn't then. Wasn't back so many years ago when fire and blood boiled the landscape. But he wasn't sure if this was a nightmare either. They'd become less frequent, but they were as vivid as that night when he had them. The pain. The shouting. How he knew what was going to happen next and could alter the short term, but never the result of the night.
And he remembers that he always died in those nightmares.
It was because he couldn't help himself. He couldn't stand and simply watch. It wasn't about saving Allen Walker. It was about killing anyone and everyone who dared come here. His home. The cheating boy was just an ally at this point.
He called for Relo as he rolled to his knees placing his palms on them before standing up. His stunt from before still blurred his vision. He couldn't see straight. Only blobs and colors. But that was fine. There was no mistaking the white blur that was the cheating boy. He rasps out not even sure if the Exorcist could hear him. Head pounding the entire time. Limbs like lead.]
Or you can give me a hand. What do you say, Allen Walker? They plan to kill you anyway.
[He grabs the nearest Crows with a whip like hand crushing his windpipe. He couldn't use Joyd. Couldn't get in range. Lustul it was then.]
***
[The cat deposits the chip into the piggy bank on the iguana. The both approach the man circling him twice before the iguana climbs back up on Cardio's shoulder. The cat flicks its tail back and forth and then darts off down the river. Wherever its paws touch small, glowing, gold paw prints lie in wake.
Tyki will hear the waterfall to his right as they take a detour left. With actual footprints and the green glow brightening the way, the cave was actually a crisscross of many tunnels. Almost like a maze. A wonder anyone could navigate it.
They eventually reach a shore which turns to cobblestone road. Tyki has been here before. It is the main road that leads to the Kamelot estate. If he squints he can see the manor in the distance... but its orange in color. Fireworks. No entirely too much smoke.
Was it burning?
The Cheshire cat darts off the road through the tall grass, but this time no paw prints are left in its wake. Tyki will have to keep up and with the animal as brush as tall as the cat hide it and the trees cast shadows over the ground. It will be a tall order to fill indeed.]
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[Anger. Of course. Always compassionate for life, even those trying to kill him. But he is on Tyki's side for this one at least, even if the other's method pisses him off. He's fighting for his life, made all the more difficult by the fact that he's trying very hard not to truly hurt his opponents.]
[Two more Crow maneuver around Tyki, one on either side, as the first he took out falls, blood welling out of his throat. Seals fly towards the Noah from both sides. Difficult to dodge in his state.]
***
Handy, aren't you? [Tyki comments to the cat as the iguana makes itself at home and the three of them trek down the maze. When they get to the road with the mansion int he distance Tyki looks forward in surprise. Was it burning truly?]
[And then the cat is taking off at full speed. Surprised, Tyki sprints after it, running through the tall grass. He doesn't feel anxious, but he does nearly lose his guide several times before the three of them--cat, iguana and man--burst forth into the little clearing much closer to the mansion.]
[At first Tyki's only staring at the burning building. That really is the most eye catching after all, but the clash of metal and Allen's shouts do draw his eyes.]
[The cat is a shadow in Solo's shadow. Not really sure of what's going on, but with the sides obviously drawn, Tyki invites himself to the melee. A quick move to the left and the Crow moving to Solo's left finds his hip broken, and Cardio moving on to take down one trying to ambush the two from behind.]
Here I was worried, and you're having all the fun without me. [Not that he was, in fact, worried. And something is wrong with how Solo moves, not that he's paying much attention.]
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He is about to pull his right arm out to attack when a force causes him to stagger forward a step. It feels like the air getting pushed out of his chest, not that he was breathing normally to begin with, but it didn't have weight. It was familiar. He just couldn't place it that it was the cat.
And then he sees a third blob coming at his left. Great. That made two on his left and one on his right. Well, might as well go toward the better odds. His shifts his weight again, but then he hears a voice he recognizes all too well. And he's actually quite pleased at hearing the more chipper than normal tone.]
You're the one who missed the ride. [Leaving the other to watch his left, he focuses on the right. The seal slaps on Tyki's left wrist, but his right hand goes cleanly through his heart even if it felt like drilling through lead to do so.
The Crow with the injured hip will fall to one knee putting up a barrier to fend off an attack as another comes to assist talismans already ready and aimed at binding the two Noah.
Allen himself is having a more difficult time. It is three or four against one. Once he gets it down to two, it seems one of the fallen will get back up just increasing the odds. They aren't pulling their punches either. As far as their concerned, he is just as large of a threat as the Noah.]
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I was going to say the same to you. We might want to find a new way out by the way, back to start seems to be off the tour. [He takes down the new Crow on his side, carelessly ripping out half a lung as he steps back, back pressing to his lookalike--someone's got to watch this one's back, right? A few Tease and a judicious use of Dark Matter remove the immediate threat of binding, leaving the two of them amid a couple corpses and one Crow who hardly looks ready to attack anything.]
Oi lad, got a way out? He's with us I take it? [Tyki half glances over his shoulder at the other man to confirm. As he does Allen makes a startled noise, a blade piercing his chest through.]
[As Walker falls, he dissolves into ash, and the Crow do the same, dissolving into char and burned matter in the shape of men. The roar of the fire from the burning mansion becomes the roar of water from the waterfall, and the two men stand ankle deep in glowing water.]
[In front of the older man is the dapper gentleman in the tophat. Solo's mirror image.]
Patience is a virtue, Earl. But procrastination to this point could be considered sloth. Has it not been long enough?
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[The answer is short and direct. He can't be bothered at the moment to come up with something more eloquent than that. He flexes his fingers and tilts his head to see where the other Crow are.
Tyki squints as large five pointed blurs get compacted into much smaller, compacted shapes. At the returning sound of the waterfall his vision sharpens back to its normal clarity with a dizzying effect. He presses his back and one hand against the other's side to steady himself as he closes his eyes to try to keep the disorientation at bay. Also, it is to confirm the other man is still there and not part of whatever that was. And if he was real to see if his skin still felt like putting a hand in the oven.
But at least a small blessing. He didn't see Allen Walker fall.]
My, my, if you are so worried about the time then by all means. Get the plans in motion for me. I'll catch up eventually.
[He still keeps his hand at the man's side as he ignores the being in front of him. A question. It has been bothering him.]
Any particular reason you let go?
[It was the golden rule, wasn't it? Not to split the party.
There are a few shifts in the water as another form joins the older man. Its shoulder and fingers seem to have healed as it walks forward with hands in pockets. On seeing the exchange, it walks up to the man with a cane and turns. It leans back to back with the other with arms and ankles crossed in an almost mocking gesture of the other two. Silent. Still. Not intervening.]
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[Allen's fall, the fall of the Crow, the change in scene--maybe he's just used to this place now. There was surprise and then it's gone, because really, they could have turned into puppies and it would have been par for the course in this place, right?]
[But Solo is acting injured. Even if Tyki can't actually see anything wrong with him.]
It has to be you. [The mirror image says it with kind patience and good humor, leaning lightly back against the figure in white behind it, hands propped on it's cane.]
You're getting too easily sidetracked.
[Tyki nudges Solo with his shoulder, shifting it back to get the other's attention. Not sure if he moves the other will stay upright.]
My my, I didn't know you missed me so. I caught a leech, that's all. [His eyes, as much as they can be are on his own mirror. How did it catch up so fast? He thinks that perhaps they shouldn't be talking to these images of themselves, he's not too fond of them.]
Lovely catching up, but say goodbye to your friends. We really must be going.
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Am I? If you have any pointers, I'd like to hear them. As it stands now, there aren't really any options, are there? I don't see how moving now will be anything more than a slaughter, and I hardly believe in miracles. You'll need a cheating boy for that.
[The last part drips with heavy sarcasm intentionally. After all, he didn't enjoy the Order walking free after their victory. And while it hadn't been the foremost goal in mind, he hardly neglected it. Or that's what he told himself at least. But he's too intrigued to just walk away right now. If there is something that can help or put a plan in motion he needs to know. Even if his retirement plans don't include his own world, he can't pass up this information.
However, that hardly means he trusts the pair. Not in the slightest seeing how the other is describing his shadow. But he could entertain a possible devil, couldn't he? At least for a moment.
The younger shadow snorts at the insult and meets Cardio's gaze. Well as much as a blurred face can meets someone's gaze. But there is a quiet aura about it. Like calm before disaster daring the other to try to leave before the man with the cane was finished. It was up for another game of cat and mouse.]
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When you think something is free is when you should be most concerned. Where do you think you'll go, when you go with that one? What do you think you'll give up for it?
Is it worth the cost of admission?
[Tyki really doesn't take well to challenge--or rather, perhaps he takes to it too well. He can't resist rising to it. The cat materializes on Solo's shoulders as Tyki closes his hand around his companion's wrist, keeping his eyes on his own shadow.]
We'd love to stay but really, left the stove on, have to be going.
[And then he's tugging Solo with him. Trying to pull them both down a side tunnel--he can see the ghost of fading golden pawprints that way, after all.]
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But the hell will reality. Expectations. This is what he wanted. And he wasn't going to give it up. Not even an ounce of it. Who says he couldn't go world hopping and conquer his own world as a five year milestone?]
Such a terrible thing to say. I suppose you mock all the offers of free samples when you go to the market as well.
[He shifts his gaze when something furry brushes his cheek and then he's being pulled along. He doesn't resist for the first few steps. Actually, after a moment or two he's all in favor of leaving the two ghostly figures behind.]
[Cardio's shadow grins with malice as he watches them go. He taps the other, older being on the shoulder. A silent exchange that needed no sound. He begins snapping his fingers one per second.
One. Two.
The pair are probably out of eyesight by now. Their footsteps following the path back to the edge of the cave opening.
Five. Six.
Going around a bend. From here the loud crashing of the waterfall can barely be heard. But they aren't at the beginning of the golden trail yet. Not to the overturned boat.
Nine. Ten!
And it's lights out again. A dark chuckle echoes from the walls.]
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[He turns to look at his companion with the blurred face, grin getting wider as the man snaps his fingers.]
[Meanwhile, back down the tunnel, Cardio stops abruptly as the lights go down.]
Why is it, [He asks, conversationally, fingers tightening on the other's wrist.] That any time the lights go out something bad always follows?
You know I'm starting to think you're cursed.
[He doesn't sound put out by it.]
[The sound of the waterfall is behind them, and then there's the sound of both of them, and water dripping near by. But no indication but memory of the direction the way out is.]
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You know, I might be. Are we going to have to start canceling Friday poker nights because of it?
[Tyki places the hand not captured on top of the other's. Fingers brush the back taking feel of the skin. Trying to confirm somethings he wasn't sure of. But then he takes a large step up in the air and tugs the other to do the same. Time to break the rules. Who says there were only two exits to this cave anyway?]
[The shadow draws a line in a kill motion across his throat almost in question to the man with the cane. It is jovial mocking of course. He couldn't kill the one man because then there would be no choice between duty and negligence. And he couldn't kill the other, because then who would chose? So with a wordless chuckle and a wave, he heads off now that the seconds had gone past ten.
The longer haired shadow seems to have no qualms walking in pitch blackness. Nor does it feel it needs to hide its movements either. The sound of footsteps breaking the surface of water drowns out the dripping. A lazy stroll. Faint but getting louder and louder.]
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And miss all the fun? I wouldn't dream of it. [He sounds like he means it. He's actually enjoying himself.]
[Tyki follows the other up, reaching above them to see if his fingers contact stone at any point. Hate to knock his head into something he could phase through.]
[The man with the cane smiles at the shadow and shakes his head, tucking the cane under his arm as the other takes off ahead to chase and maim. A little pain is a good lesson. A little adversity builds character.]
[But the real problem is making sure the character builds in the right direction. The younger shadow is too eager for long term planning, but this one has a goal. And it will return to see it bloom, tend it, nurture it. In the mean time, the chase will be interesting enough to watch.]
[The splashing of footsteps is close now, right beneath them. And though this reflection doesn't seem to speak, or perhaps doesn't want to, it does laugh. Something cruel and hungry and then Solo will feel something slam into his side.]
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A bit irritable. Perhaps. Tyki was always a little off balance, but the conversation with top hat and cane had still yet to settle in his stomach. So when he reaches to Joyd for Dark Matter it is raw and unrefined. Black and purple energy that seems at home and at odds in the darkness. Tyki uses it as a ram of his own to knock aside the opponent with blunt force.]
Think you can manage a skylight?
[They were close to the top, weren't they? Cardio's fingers will tap up against the rough ceiling. If he tries to press through it will work, though, it feels more like trying to wade through jello than the phasing he's used to. But he can make it through nonetheless.
The iguana will flick out its tongue once on reflex. If the other listens he can hear the very faint sound of wing beats. Hundreds of them flying higher in the cavern. Cardio will feel a few of them land on his back and arm and try to burrow into him. As if their rightful place was inside alongside the rest of the Tease.]
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[Meanwhile the shadow in white is regaining his footing from the blast the other slammed him with--definitely injured but already healing. The light helps track his movements as he jumps up, climbing through the air to grab Solo's ankle and pull him down, trying to get on top, punch to the face, the ribs, sink fingers under flesh if he can.]
[The Tease are also blocking visibility, flying everywhere.]
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