IC || THE LAST CASE || VIDEO

[incriminating]

[From the moment the video feed rolls, the audio is distorted with static and a tinny, dual-toned laughter that lacks any real warmth or cheer. No, the sound is instead cold and cruel, cutting through the tranquil silence of night like a knife, as sharp as the smile that now twists its owner’s lips. Crowing, Tohru Adachi stares straight-on at the

Comments

ACTION THREAD FOR BRIDGE || RESERVED FOR KARKAT

[incriminating]

[ooc || please respond here if you are Karkat and have come to die :)) ]

[sdrawkcabsllort]

[He shows up at the bridge, Clawsickle and Regisickle out, scar livid across his face as his scowl pulls it and twists it further. He walks forwards, eyes burning, every single word blistering over and over again in his head. John, Jade, Feferi, Tavros - even Dave. Even Minako. He's not going to kid himself - he's not coming out here for them. He doesn't believe Adachi can do it - not really. Not when his only experience of him beforehand is that dumb cop act. No, he's not going out there for him. He's going out because he's boiling with fury, smarting at every single word about him this idiot spewed from his stupid mouth...

... But even still, he knows, somehow, that he will try. And he knows that he can't let that happen to them. He's the leader. Maybe not of the kids, maybe not of Minako and maybe not of Yenyoji - but whatever he feels for any of them won't let him just sit by and let it happen.

If he kills the bastard - if he at least kills that red thing behind him - he can stop it. Like a good leader. Like a good friend. Like

[incriminating]

[Magatsu Izanagi greets Karkat from where it has taken vigil at the center of the bridge, its eyes following the movements of the boy. From where he has been peering into the water's edge, Adachi finally straightens and stands, brow knotted. His reflection...well, it's no matter.

When he addresses Karkat, it is with a dark, distracted air.]

You're either the biggest chump this village has seen or suicidal. [Drawing abreast of his persona, Adachi stares down Karkat, a cold smile playing at his mouth.] I should let you know...I'm not going to "cry like a fucking wriggler." You won't be the first brat I've wiped off the face of existence...do you know Saki Konishi? She was my second.

You can be my third.

[sdrawkcabsllort]

[Karkat doesn't waste a moment. Spending some time with Jack Noir (his Jack, not the demon Jack) taught him that walk, stab, walk was more effective than seeing who can piss the furthest in a fight. When it really got down to it, you attacked first. Bitching and pissing could come later.

He threw the Regisickle at Adachi in a backhanded, full bodied swipe. With that sickle lashing through the air, he darted off the ground and leaped over Adachi's head at Magatsu Izanagi, Clawsickle wicked and glinting.]

[incriminating]

[With an unspoken command, Magatsu Izanagi's impressive glaive cuts through the air and slams into the ground before Adachi, deflecting the sickle. Floundering, Adachi instinctively ducks down as Karkat leaps up, allowing his persona more room to reach out to seize Karkat's weapon hand with a vicious claw.]

Funny [Adachi calls up, brave now that the god is taking the brunt of the attack], I would have thought you'd spend at least an hour verbally abusing me.

[sdrawkcabsllort]

[He felt the bite of those claws and began to thrash, bracing his feet against the persona's chest and trying to force himself back. A look of sudden fear spasmed across his face as he realised that he might be completely in over his head - but he shoved it away as he physically tried to shove himself away.

He dropped the Clawsickle and caught it in his other hand. This wasn't his dominant hand, but it was better than not being able to use one.]

Fuck you [He literally spits it, and tries to swing the sickle from his precarious position. Pain lances from his wirst, and he doesn't need to look to see that his own bright red blood is trickling down his wrist.]

[incriminating]

[He watches the troll struggle unsympathetically, like a spider watches its prey thrash futilely in a web. Standing, he cards his fingers through his disheveled hair and laughs.]

I'll say it again for you! Maybe this time, my message will penetrate your thick skull: you are going to die.

[Magatsu Izanagi is nothing if not cruel. Tightening its hold on the boy, it holds him at arm's length to avoid getting kicked in the face, the sickle bouncing off its steel armor harmlessly.]

Geez, is this really all you've got? No special attacks? No powers? You're just...a goddamn big talking loser. I'll be sure to tell your friends about your embarrassing attempt to fight me. It'll give them something to think about while I kill them off. "Gosh, that Karkat! What a weakling!"

[Staying on the opposite side of the glaive in case Karkat decided to swing around and kick him, Adachi shakes his head with mock sorrow, tsking quietly.]

[sdrawkcabsllort]

Shut - the - fuck - up! [Each word was punctuated by a clang from the Clawsickle against Magatsu Izanagi's armour. At the final shout, however, he reverses his grip and sinks the Clawsickle into the god's own wrist. It's dangerously close to his own hand, but he doesn't care right now. He just twists the sickle and triggers the crushing mechanism. The Clawsickle begins to constrict around the Persona's wrist like a crab clacking its claws shut.]

You have blood like I do. You have my blood! I'm the reason you're covered in that candy red fucking swill, because I gave my blood to humanity! LISTEN TO ME, YOU SHIT. [He twists the sickle again, continuing to crush into the wrist. His words seem to take on an air of authority even as his vision swims at the rivers of blood coating Magatsu Izanagi.]

LET. ME. THE. FUCK. GO!

[incriminating]

[Suddenly from below, Adachi screams, eyes wide with horror. Cradling his own wrist, he experiences the pain his persona should, even if he does not bear the injury to match it. Dropping to his knees, he frantically pats his wrist, as if double-checking it has not been sliced off or crushed. His bones ache.]

Hngh...! Izanagi!

[The god releases Karkat, black blood twisting down its hand. Taking hold of its glaive, it slides in between the boy and its host, yellow eyes narrowed to tiny slits.]

K-kill him!

[Magatsu Izanagi charges, wielding the glaive.]

[sdrawkcabsllort]

[Karkat falls and throws out his hand. His mangled wrist shatters on impact with the ground and he screams in pain, but he has enough of his wits about him to roll away from the gore-covered glaive. The Regisickle glints close to his hand, but he can't dual-wield with his wrist a usless packet of broken bone, and between the two, the Clawsickle is the better weapon.

He leaps to his feet, vision swimming and bile rising in his throat. You are the Knight of Blood, dipshit, he snarls at himself, This thing is covered in your blood. It exists because of you. Don't be fucking scared of something that's in your own fucking veins!

... And trickling down his arm, but he's had worse injuries.]

Fuck you. You're not killing me tonight, you crazy son of of a bitch! You are fucking insane, you know that? Shitslurpers living under bridges drinking their own fucking piss shun your fucking company. You are a prancing lunatic!

[He dodges another swing from the glaive, but it's apparent that he's a wasp weaving away from someone with a swat. He can

[incriminating]

[Adachi's expression is utterly unimpressed as he listen's to Karkat's tirade. He goes to make an overly dramatic yawn as if to punctuate how few fucks he gives about whatever the troll thinks, but then Karkat is moving. Years of academy and field experience have the detective reaching for his gun before he can even think beyond, shit! Leveling it on the troll, he shoots, mouth a terse line.]

[sdrawkcabsllort]

[Mid-run, Karkat leans back back, tries to focus his swimming vision on the god, he triggers the crushing ability again and launches the Clawsickle at its head.

If there's a clang or a wet thunk as it connects, Karkat can't hear it. He lurches back with a spray of red. The shot catches him in the juncture of neck to shoulder, ripping through muscle and fat and vital, vital veins. The expression on Karkat's face is one of pure shock. He clamps his good hand over the entrance wound. When he withdraws it, his vision blurred with pale red tears, he sees the slick red blood coating his palm.

For a moment, he stands there, just looking at his hand.]

M-motherfucker...

[Blood leaks from his lips and dribbles down his chin when he speaks. He teeters where he stands

[incriminating]

[Sighing, Adachi slumps wearily before quickly regaining his composure, holstering the gun and exchanging looks with the god. Somewhat tentatively, he approaches Karkat's body and sinks to his knees before it. The boy doesn't move.]

...ha.

[He reaches out, rolling the troll onto his back and leaning over him, the livid red blood painting his jacket and pants. The wound is ugly. Nose wrinkling in distaste, the detective presses his fingers on the opposite side of Karkat's neck and checks for a pulse. Nothing. Magatsu Izanagi watches impassively.]

...aha. Haha...ahahaha!

[Rubbing his face, Adachi stands and sways.]

I warned you, brat. I told you.

[Laughing, Adachi gestures to Magatsu Izanagi and abandons the scene of the crime, heading into the village.]