4 [Video]

[stealsumbrellas]

[The PDA turns on to show quite the sadistic smile -- ash gray skin, a crown of thorns, and brilliant golden eyes.

And... singing.]

The Mil~len~ium Earl is searching~♪... he is searching for a pre~cious heart~♪... let's check to see if you are it~♪... he is searching for a pre~cious~heart...♪

[A shrill giggle as Rhode rocks forward on her toes,

Comments

1/2 [VIDEO]

[tothelastbreath]

[Allen doesn't quite know what's going on yet. To him, it just looks like the truce is over.]

2/2 [VIDEO]

[tothelastbreath]

[There's a flash of something sad and complicated in his eyes, before they harden to a steely gray.]

Rhode. Where are you?

[VIDEO]

[stealsdreams]

Allen Walker.

[It's practically purred, but not with the usual jovial tone that Rhode uses when speaking to Allen.]

Waiting.

[VIDEO -> OFFLINE]

[tothelastbreath]

[A beat of hesitation, of confusion, but he pushes it aside. No time. The feed whirls as Allen snatches up his communicator, already on his way.]

I won't be long.

[And the feed's cut. Expect an Exorcist crouched in your window a moment later, Crown Clown already invocated.]

What happened?

[Something must have.]

[OFFLINE]

[stealsdreams]

[Her eyes are cold and, the moment Allen appears in her window, her candles appear around her.]

Being trapped makes me angry.

And the people here aren't dead, including you.

[OFFLINE]

[tothelastbreath]

[A thought is all it takes to gather the cowl around him, ready to fend off any attacks. Allen doesn't answer, choosing to study her hard for a long moment.]

[evenly] We've been over this before, and we agreed.

[OFFLINE] 1/2

[stealsdreams]

We agreed?

Humans really piss me --

[OFFLINE]

[stealsumbrellas]

[There is suddenly a loud 'bang' from the closet door -- like someone just kicked it, as hard as they could.

Rhode tosses a glare towards it, irritated.]

[OFFLINE]

[tothelastbreath]

[And immediately, Clown Belt is snaking its way over to yank that closet open, to rip the door right off if that's what it takes. Allen isn't thinking, just reacting. Whoever's in there, he's not leaving them trapped with Rhode like this.]

[OFFLINE] 1/2

[stealsdreams]

[Rhode immediately raises her candles to shoot towards Allen, but the girl is knocked backwards, a candle imbedded into her shoulder as she slams into the wall.

But instead of looking like she's in pain, she laughs.]

She won't die --

[OFFLINE]

[stealsumbrellas]

[The individual inside the closet is the actual Rhode, who is ripping her own candles out of her body with a snarl of fury. She pitches forward into the room, dripping with her own blood.]

Those are mine.

[To use them against Allen is something punishable by death.]

1/2 [OFFLINE]

[tothelastbreath]

[STARING.]

2/2 [OFFLINE]

[tothelastbreath]

[And then it all clicks neatly into place. Allen isn't all that smart, but he's always been quick. He's at the real Rhode's side in the next heartbeat, cowl furling around both of them.]

[low and urgent:] Libitina?

[OFFLINE]

[stealsumbrellas]

She threatened Tyki.

[It's a barely contained snarl as she yanks the last candle out of her shoulder.

And flings it at the other Rhode's arm, to lock the other hand into place against the wall, to prevent her from chucking a ready-made volley towards the both of them.]

[OFFLINE]

[tothelastbreath]

[That's all Allen needs to hear to draw the Sword of Exorcism. If this Rhode had threatened her own Family, then everyone else is in danger. He can't afford to lose.]

[Taking a stance in front of her, sword raised diagonally before him in both defence and offence with its edge facing the other Rhode.] And Tyki, is he alright?

[OFFLINE] 1/2

[stealsumbrellas]

[Rhode instantly moves away from Allen, as soon as the sword is drawn. She has bad memories attached to that sword, of what it did to Tyki, aboard the Ark.

There's a tiny growl in her throat. Because if she has an evil twin, then so does Tyki. So does Allen.

And so does the Fourteenth.]