[ he won't respond to her. he doesn't have time for this. he'll just make a mental note to come back for her in his hurry to escape. her and riful are pretty tiny, so he should be able to carry them both, right?
ugh, he'll think about that later. for now he's continuing along his quiet little war path, slowing when he nears the room that riful, arthas, and legato are in. he stops for a moment to listen, just to make sure riful is in there, before he moves.
he may not have super human speed anymore, but it still happens quickly, and without warning. he runs, and as soon as he reaches the doorway, he throws his free hand out. all of his energy is thrown into this assault, creating a massive flash of light that fills up almost the entire room, enough to blind anyone.
and he doesn't waste any time slowing down, using the light as his own shield as well in the sprint to where he had spotted riful, the sword deathwing forged him aiming right for her throat. he already knows a regular injury won't do it, so if he has to cut off her head, then so be it ]
[Rin's movements were suspicious and irritating on the back of his mind, and he didn't tune into her in time to pick up whatever it was that she was babbling at the door. This bothers him. He tries to dismiss it as nothing, but he eventually gives into the paranoia and moves from his place by the window, heading toward the door to go check on her personally.
--And that's when he is struck by what he did not sense. What he should have sensed. Suddenly, his eyes go painfully blind, mind washing white with the dumbstruck thought that this is an attack, and he automatically lashes out. He doesn't know who is there, but he knows that someone is, and he knows exactly where they are heading... and this is unacceptable.
Reflexively, he throws his mind in that direction and rakes, sinking hooks into any nerves he touches, and pulls.
[ there's nothing joshua can do to defend against such an assault. he had always known legato's powers, but never experienced, and when it happens, he feels sick. the blinding light fades, revealing joshua standing over riful, the tip of the silver blade mere centimeters from her throat.
the frustration and shock is plain on his face, cursing everything mentally. no no no no no NO. only one second later... if legato had simply been a second later, it would have been done. maybe joshua couldn't have escaped, but at least riful would be off the map for two weeks, and the other residents would stand a better chance.
but of course, no. no, nothing ever goes according to plan. he was a complete idiot, and now he recollects the warning the man gave him in the forest. had he known? of course he had. then why hadn't he done more to help?!
joshua says nothing, even if he's able. to be honest, what can he say in this situation? he expects to be skewered any moment now, and he just hopes abel and colette won't be too upset or angry with him ]
[ The surprise on Riful's face only lasts a moment as she stares up at him, her arms out by her head. She lies pliant beneath him as if she hadn't even meant to defend herself...but there's something about the glint in her eyes; arrogant and confident that pulls her lips into an upward curve and which softens her features into a mirthful--but appreciative--smirk.
She speaks softly to him, her voice almost gentle. ]
It's too bad...a moment more and you might have taken my head. You must have been hoping for something quick to beat the odds. It was a bold move...I'm impressed.
[ She lifts one arm out to him as if to bid him to assist her in standing... ]
[ But instead razor-sharp tendrils shoot out instead in a pounding mass as solid as steel. It first barrels into and then wraps around his torso, shoving him first through the ceiling before they arc--and slam him down into the flooring hard, breaking not only the wooden planks but damaging the stone foundation as well. The manor practically shakes with the force of the impact.
And then a half-step later there's the distinct sound of metal slicing into flesh as a second volley of smaller, sharper pieces of her body pierce his shoulders, pinning him into the rubble. ]
...But in the end it was a foolish move. What did you expect to accomplish out here on your own you arrogant brat? Did you really think I would fall to an impatient babe, an impudent little child like you?
[ again, it happens too quickly for him to properly react. as soon as he hits the ceiling, the sword flies from his grip, landing on the floor and skidding away.
when he hits the floor, the tendrils wrapped around him absorb the impact enough to keep his skull from breaking open and all of his ribs from breaking, but it's still enough to severely crack them, and then of course there's the stabbing... this is not exactly going well.
honestly, it's all he can do to gasp out his shock. the pain is nothing, honestly. he's felt worse in his fits. it's the shock, and the frustration, and the stress to his body making his lungs rebel. his breaths are raspy, his coughs raking as he struggles to gain his breath and spit out some sort of response. something. anything ]
You...killed him. You broke...the deal. I told you- I never...lied to you.
i'm starting to notice that everything is dog puns with me /stares at handslionbeforelambsJuly 31 2011, 13:45:38 UTC
[Arthas looks like he's been slapped, judging by the way he's hunched over. Fucking Light. There's definitely a small scent of burnt flesh in the air, and its taking all of the knight's self control not to do something to Joshua while he's pinned.
Instead he will just. Try to regain his vision and hulk with his fist in one of his eyes like a chained and kicked Rottweiler.]
[and on the opposite side, the other guard dog too struggles to hold his own chain against rending Joshua apart where he's prone. Legato's eyes are positively gleaming with protective wrath, even as he straightens and pulls himself together.
The only thing keeping him from acting or speaking at all, is Riful. She exudes control, and it is enough for him to bite his tongue and wait in his place]
It was his own fault for snooping around where he had no business being. Really...I had hoped you wouldn't find out but I suppose there's no helping it. In a way it's kind of convenient for me--it was a real pain having to hold myself back for your sake.
But we really did need you to feel welcomed here...so I suppose it was a small price to pay. Now we can progress without regret. [ she tightens her tendrils around him now, coiling. ]
[ his OWN fault?! he knew riful was insane, but to actually think that statement has any logic to it is beyond crazy. of course he doesn't get much of a chance to have any argument, the steady pressure making him cry out ]
[aha... right. Centering himself on the matter at hand, there is a task to be done-- someplace for all this vicious energy to go. In his fury, a smile cracks]
Killing you would be a shameful waste. Don't you realize that we wouldn't let that happen, after all we've gone through for you?
[ his breaths are escaping him in broken wheezes now, as his constricted lungs fight for oxygen. what are they talking about. what are they...TALKING about?
disappointing them again? ]
I can't... I can't help you. I won't help you. I tried that, to trust you, to try and redeem you! But none of you wanted it and you... [ a choke, and a gasp. a fit is just around the corner, he can fill it ]
You spit in my face for my efforts! You turned me...into a traitor! Made me...such a fool! For you, who obviously aren't worth fighting for! You're all monsters! Irredeemable!
We never tried to pretend we weren't...we've always been upfront with what we are. Did you honestly think I would make a deal with you if it didn't ultimately benefit me? I've just been waiting for the right time--which you've given to us by coming here alone and unguarded.
[he reaches into his coat, undoing the clasp on a pocket that he'd sewn into the lining some months ago... and out come a certain pair of horns, held close as though they are a set of precious artifacts]
ugh, he'll think about that later. for now he's continuing along his quiet little war path, slowing when he nears the room that riful, arthas, and legato are in. he stops for a moment to listen, just to make sure riful is in there, before he moves.
he may not have super human speed anymore, but it still happens quickly, and without warning. he runs, and as soon as he reaches the doorway, he throws his free hand out. all of his energy is thrown into this assault, creating a massive flash of light that fills up almost the entire room, enough to blind anyone.
and he doesn't waste any time slowing down, using the light as his own shield as well in the sprint to where he had spotted riful, the sword deathwing forged him aiming right for her throat. he already knows a regular injury won't do it, so if he has to cut off her head, then so be it ]
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--And that's when he is struck by what he did not sense. What he should have sensed. Suddenly, his eyes go painfully blind, mind washing white with the dumbstruck thought that this is an attack, and he automatically lashes out. He doesn't know who is there, but he knows that someone is, and he knows exactly where they are heading... and this is unacceptable.
Reflexively, he throws his mind in that direction and rakes, sinking hooks into any nerves he touches, and pulls.
Stop.]
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the frustration and shock is plain on his face, cursing everything mentally. no no no no no NO. only one second later... if legato had simply been a second later, it would have been done. maybe joshua couldn't have escaped, but at least riful would be off the map for two weeks, and the other residents would stand a better chance.
but of course, no. no, nothing ever goes according to plan. he was a complete idiot, and now he recollects the warning the man gave him in the forest. had he known? of course he had. then why hadn't he done more to help?!
joshua says nothing, even if he's able. to be honest, what can he say in this situation? he expects to be skewered any moment now, and he just hopes abel and colette won't be too upset or angry with him ]
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She speaks softly to him, her voice almost gentle. ]
It's too bad...a moment more and you might have taken my head. You must have been hoping for something quick to beat the odds. It was a bold move...I'm impressed.
[ She lifts one arm out to him as if to bid him to assist her in standing... ]
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And then a half-step later there's the distinct sound of metal slicing into flesh as a second volley of smaller, sharper pieces of her body pierce his shoulders, pinning him into the rubble. ]
...But in the end it was a foolish move. What did you expect to accomplish out here on your own you arrogant brat? Did you really think I would fall to an impatient babe, an impudent little child like you?
Don't insult me.
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when he hits the floor, the tendrils wrapped around him absorb the impact enough to keep his skull from breaking open and all of his ribs from breaking, but it's still enough to severely crack them, and then of course there's the stabbing... this is not exactly going well.
honestly, it's all he can do to gasp out his shock. the pain is nothing, honestly. he's felt worse in his fits. it's the shock, and the frustration, and the stress to his body making his lungs rebel. his breaths are raspy, his coughs raking as he struggles to gain his breath and spit out some sort of response. something. anything ]
You...killed him. You broke...the deal. I told you- I never...lied to you.
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Instead he will just. Try to regain his vision and hulk with his fist in one of his eyes like a chained and kicked Rottweiler.]
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The only thing keeping him from acting or speaking at all, is Riful. She exudes control, and it is enough for him to bite his tongue and wait in his place]
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But we really did need you to feel welcomed here...so I suppose it was a small price to pay. Now we can progress without regret. [ she tightens her tendrils around him now, coiling. ]
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Riful! If you kill me, you will regret it.
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Killing you would be a shameful waste. Don't you realize that we wouldn't let that happen, after all we've gone through for you?
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And you won't be disappointing us again, boy.
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disappointing them again? ]
I can't... I can't help you. I won't help you. I tried that, to trust you, to try and redeem you! But none of you wanted it and you... [ a choke, and a gasp. a fit is just around the corner, he can fill it ]
You spit in my face for my efforts! You turned me...into a traitor! Made me...such a fool! For you, who obviously aren't worth fighting for! You're all monsters! Irredeemable!
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But you're right: we're all monsters.
And now you will be, too.
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[he reaches into his coat, undoing the clasp on a pocket that he'd sewn into the lining some months ago... and out come a certain pair of horns, held close as though they are a set of precious artifacts]
We only want to set something right.
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