[Closed]

[justiceisdue]

Characters: aiursfavoredson, justiceisdue, soulparadox, dungenessmaster

Location: Romania

Rating: PG-13

Time: December 8th

Description: Team Three Aliens and a Clone head to Romania to take care of a fire breathing dragon.

Comments

[soulparadox]

It seems as though it is now up to them to finish the job. One of the ribbon ends turned toward the blade, as though to offer recognition for what Karkat and Selendis have already done. With the second head now disposed of, he wonders if the other can even really survive on its own. It is scratching about the ground, but it seems more in the throes of death than able to offer anything else. No more fire, no more resistance. He did not like how he has been swung left and right by the best all this time. Nor did he like that Tassadar could have fallen. Nor was he particularly fond of the thought that those who came with him could have died.

So many things that he did not like as he tightened his hold around the dragon's neck. He had the length now to be able to wrap around to properly choke the beast -- foam and bits of red splattering down from its mouth. Nataku always tries to explain how a ribbon can be used as a Weapon, and he wondered if Karkat could help him explain now. The tightening continued at an alarming rate as he quickly tore through the creature's neck to eventually decapitate it.

This was considered a victory -- somehow, it felt a lot more than the ones that had come before. Nataku wondered why.

[aiursfavoredson]

He did what he could to hold the beast in place, but he had every faith in Selendis and Karkat when it came to taking out the next head. They did so quickly and efficiently. Without waiting for them to deal with the third and final head, Tassadar could feel Nataku's intentions moments before he felt his Weapon beginning to tighten his hold.

When the head was severed from the dragon's body, he tugged on his arm to gesture for the young Weapon to recoil back against him even as the Kishin Egg slumped to the ground lifeless. It didn't take long for the body to disappear, and in its place stood two glowing and pulsating orbs.

'You fought bravely today, Nataku,' he murmured to his Weapon before eventually turning his attention to the other pair. 'I trust that you are without injury?' While there may have been some small injuries he couldn't see from a distance, he could not see anything substantial, and for that he was thankful.

[justiceisdue]

She was ready to take on the third head, but backed off when she saw the way the ribbon constricted around its neck. Had Tassadar told him to do that, or had Nataku done it on his own? She couldn't even begin to guess, considering how little she understood about Nataku's mind.

Selendis didn't approach until after the head hit the ground and the beast was reduced to nothing but the two red orbs. It was a short walk across the mud, snow and crisp grass, but she didn't let Karkat go until she was a few feet away from Tassadar. They had all come out of it mostly unscathed, but her skin still felt dry and tight from the fire. At least her armor wasn't hot to the touch anymore.

"Yes," she said, looking away from Tassadar, instead focusing on her partner. Most of her anger had faded when the kishin fell, but what was left was directed at herself. "Thanks to Karkat."

[dungenessmaster]

Karkat had been braced for more action as well, but Nataku beat them to it. And, he had to admit, as annoyed as he was with not getting the killing blow, it wasn't often someone got to watch a ribbon kill a dragon. That was almost cool enough to make up for the mild disappointment that came from the denial.

Once they reached the other pair, Karkat transformed back and went to grab one of the souls. Weird. One monster, three heads, two souls. He wasn't going to wring out his sponge over an issue like that, at least it had all worked out pretty well for their group, but it was still strange. "We're damn lucky it turns out I have all these secret powers to unlock," he answered, "and maybe we'd better get working on figure out what else we can do."

He crammed the soul into his mouth, chewed, and swallowed. Then, almost as an afterthought, he turned back to Selendis. "What the hell were you doing out there, anyway?"

[soulparadox]

"Just as bravely as you have fought, Tassadar." Nataku reverted back to his human form as he stood next to his Meister. His hand was on the Protoss's arm, a sign of the trust that he felt between them, in his own quiet way. "Karkat is someone who did his best for his Meister, too. That is all that there is to it."

The clone explained his own belief as to what had happened -- Karkat did not want Selendis to be hurt and so a power emerged to grant this Wish. He nodded once, agreeing with his thoughts, as he walked over to pick up the soul that had appeared. "Thank you for the meal." It seemed right to say before he opened his mouth to eat the glowing red orb. He chewed in a thoughtful manner, still trying to decide what it tasted like.

Swallowing, he decided. "It is delicious. I suppose."

[aiursfavoredson]

'Indeed, it was a good battle,' Tassadar murmured in return. He remained where he was as Selendis approached. Inclining his head to her answer, his softly glowing gaze still regarded her for any untold injuries even as she spoke to her Weapon.

He felt Nataku leave his side to go and retrieve the soul. As the question was fired from Karkat to Selendis, he thought it best to allow the pair to discuss what had occurred. That was why he turned to move closer to his Weapon. Selendis was more than capable of taking care of herself, and as Nataku ate his meal, he found himself amused by the commentary.

While it was impossible to see any amusement, the subtle chuckle within Nataku's mind was more than enough of an indication it was there. 'There is a flavour to the souls, Nataku?'

[justiceisdue]

"Complacency," Selendis said, as if that excused everything. Of course it didn't, but it was the truth. She'd spent her entire life knowing those shields were there, and her confidence had gotten the better of her. "A mistake. It will not happen again."

She wasn't oblivious to Tassadar putting some distance between them, even if she felt it was unnecessary. Then again, not everyone was as keen to sharing everything as protoss were. She could discuss it with him later, but at the moment Karkat had her full attention.

[dungenessmaster]

"Well, we were damn lucky this time," Karkat grumped in reply, "at least I was able to pick up the slack." He glanced down at his hands. "We should practice that move some more when we get back. I could barely keep that shield up, and there's no way a move like that isn't going to keep coming in handy."

Through resonance he had felt her doing something on the battlefield, even if he was unaware of the details. He already knew she hadn't meant to put them in danger, but he was still shaken up and a little aggravated. If he hadn't managed to find some crazy obscure power at the last second, Selendis would have been hurt, maybe even killed. He wasn't sure if he could be burned in weapon form, but he wasn't interested in finding out.

[soulparadox]

"I cannot say that there is a flavor, but when I eat one... I think it is delicious." He blinked a few times at his hands, before looking up at Tassadar. That seemed to be enough of an answer for him now. Nataku has mastered what it was to be considered delicious even if he still was not sure what his likes or dislikes were.

"I am still ... happy ... that you both are still with us." Even if he has mastered this very small feat, he still stumbled a little over the word 'happy' as though he was not sure that was the right one that he wished to use. All the same, he did turn toward Selendis and Karkat separately so that he may smile lightly at them.

To show his relief, to show he cared about their continued survival.