Dai looks down at the ice at his feet, studies the long white splintered fingers like bones where the ice has cracked from the two jagged bullet holes. They're still spreading outwards through the thick ice under his feet. With deliberate slowness, his eyes drag up to Namae, smile abolished from his dark lips.
Honestly, now. Between the residents and Caim - who's already hungering for battle by the tone of his voice, the higher thought processes of his mind collapsing back to rely on something more subconscious and cold, something ingrained - this is undoubtedly going to end in blood and tears. But, well. There's no helping that, is there? Regardless of what Dai does at this point, Caim is an unavoidable obstacle.]
You easily dealt with the first two sets of keys. There are three keys left. [His eyes flick across the sea of faces.] One of which is in the Ice Magister's possession. Naturally, on hearing of this, I came to assist.
As for his health... [His mouth twitches up at the corners, attention settling on Roxas.] Well. He intends for his ordeal to become your ordeal, as it were. You'll understand more about it, soon enough.
[action log]twilightcallDecember 18 2008, 02:43:18 UTC
[ If ever he had to recapitulate how, why, or where he had gone during that first fall, Riku would fail miserably. Besides ... There wasn't much to remember from plummeting into darkness with the others to waking up from aforesaid fall with a hard thud that knocks the breath out of him entirely. He lies there momentarily, eyes shut tight and mouth hung slack in silent formation of some pained utterance or another, when less than a second later, his body shifts forward an inch, and down the ice path he goes.
He's deposited at the far end of the cavern in a surprisingly gentle heap compared to first impact. Partly hidden behind a formation of ice stalagmites, he carefully climbs to a stand to find conversation in progress. ... Important conversation from the sound of it.
His gaze falls upon the Ice Magister in the near distance, separating him from the crowd almost as quickly as Roxas with eyes that narrow thoughtfully in the span of a single, troubled blink. He's not surprised to find him here, especially in a place this cold, but something's gone deeply wrong, hasn't it? Barely catching the tail end of the Inquisitor's two cents, there's no doubt about it.
[action log]omoidezukuriDecember 18 2008, 03:01:40 UTC
[Ritsuka's relief upon seeing everyone more or less in one piece quickly evaporates with one glance at Caim. He doesn't know what it is afflicting the Ice Magister, but Ritsuka knows when things aren't right, and he knows that this is not the Caim he remembers from Niflheim.
Dai's explanation tells him very little - why Caim is acting so strangely, why Dai has to assist them in retrieving the key, what the keys are even for - and Ritsuka has been told explanations would come later enough times to doubt that very much. He takes a step closer to the Inquisitor, watching Caim out of the corner of his eyes.]
So how do you propose we go about retrieving the key? And how do we get Caim back to normal again?
[action log] jiosd I'm sorry for replying again, chaps! It's just to give you more to go on.redeifyDecember 18 2008, 06:04:28 UTC
[Some part of him is distantly aware of the arrival of the others - many others, and all in rather good time, too - though his eyes don't divert from studying Caim with an idle, detached sort of interest. Even though he's there, trembling, sick, perhaps dying, nothing remotely resembling sympathy passes over his face. In fact, he smiles slightly at Ritsuka's questions.]
Does it bother you to see him like this? ... Don't worry. I'm sure you'll all be able to make him feel better soon. After all, it's no simple virus he's down with. I imagine there's something much more insidious going on in that body of his.
The truth is, the Magister himself won't be your opponent today, but what he's keeping inside of him...
[He takes a few steps closer to Caim.]
... Magister. Why don't you show them? It's hardly fair to keep them waiting after dragging them all down here, is it? And leaving me with the burden of explanation, at that. I feel embarrassed for you.
[ the tension in the air is thick, suffocating, not at all helped by the fact that more and more people are turning up -- and Nagi can't help but notice that quite a few seem like noncombatants. things could grow ugly here quite quickly, and the last thing he wants is an uncontrolled brawl out here in unfamiliar territory.
still, he can't help the fact that his Branch of Sin is reacting so readily to his wariness, orbs of blood circling him slowly, bristling ever so slightly at the Inquisitor's words. there's something about that tone of voice that's ever so slightly unnerving -- but no, no, there's no use in suspecting anyone right now. it's only after an uneasy pause that he speaks up, words tinged with hesitation ]
You speak as if we will have to hurt him, in order to destroy what is afflicting him.
[ and pale eyes flicker over to the Magister's ill form -- clearly dangerous, but still, it's hard to consider someone in such poor condition a fair opponent.
Is there no other way to deal with this situation? Especially given this location, and the number of people present -- these are hardly favorable conditions.
[Trish stands with her arms lightly crossed as she listens to the ones who are rather intensely searching for answers. They could do with a bit of subtly, but then she's sure some are having a hard time coping with their new found situation. As the crowd grows it becomes apparent that those left behind have developed quite an interest once they had nothing else to occupy them. It made things more difficult for her purposes. However, Trish didn't let her annoyance show and kept her eyes on the two Magisters.
At Dai's suggestion she raises an eyebrow. The pair continue to become more interesting by the minute. But as interested as she is in finding out what Dai is implying, she's careful to not appear malicious. After Nagi's protest, she politely interjects.]
I don't believe any of this will be favorable to everyone. We're all hoping for same outcome, so perhaps we owe him the benefit of the doubt.
[action log] UHHH... part II idk *sobs* I didn't feel like splitting them up sorry.undeifyDecember 19 2008, 01:26:47 UTC
[Maybe it's Ritsuka. (After all, it’s strange to hear anyone, nevermind one so young being concerned over his wellbeing.) Maybe it's Nagi. (Because, he too, is talking about ‘helping’ him rather than simply accomplishing their mission.) Maybe it just simply is the overbearing sense from Trish that is so similar to Dai. (So similar, such a lie.) Or, maybe, it's just Dai. (Fucking traitor.) Whatever it is, when he sees Dai step forward, he tenses, and then finally makes a small shift back. He may be in a unique state of mind, particularly with the drugged effect going on as he's slowly broken apart, but Dai is ingrained in his senses and something-someone-he does not have to think about to really know how he should be reacting.
Because any reaction is a bad one. But, his inability to currently stand his ground towards this one doesn't take away his hate for Dai, and it certainly doesn't make him seem regretful of any past decisions, either. Being able to ultimately take down a friend, a teacher, or not, it's clear healthy or ill that he'll die in his bitterness, in his turmoil over this once partner, and nothing is going to change that.]
[But, his gaze flickers at Dai’s provocation, momentarily, nonetheless. My my, Dai was never unobservant, but Caim is just about willing to admit he’s almost impressed. Then again, perhaps not, judging from past experiences. Now if only these people weren't... siding with him.]
...You always did talk too much, Fire Magister. [And for someone so weak looking, his decision and his actions are performed amazingly fast, and the only sound he makes if one can hear over the sudden shattering and cracking of ice, a “Dalamar, contege.” before the entire cave implodes on itself.]
[--> While your characters may be thrown about and experience a few initial bruises, cuts/etc. from the ice cracking/shattering/collapsing/breaking/dhjskfhjan inward on them; they will for the most part be spared the full force of a cave in by a sudden reinforcement shield of ice splattering itself around them to protect from the projectiles and shards of ice. It’s a similar effect that the sword and the shield used to protect people who suffered at the hand of meteor, although the sword and the shield Nagi and Zack have remained inactive for this. Instead, it seems the one responsible for the barrier is the large animal that has been trotting around more like a dog than a cat after Dai the entire journey and has at some point pitted itself in about as much of the center of all the people around as possible. Its tail twitches-one, two, three-and it’s not quite possible to judge what it's thinking. But, when it become deathly silent-at least not including the potential of any noise from the group-it gives a light snuff and claws at the ground, the barrier peeling away. The ice that had been collapsing in on the group is now refrozen, remolded into a rather awkward display and not quite as pretty as it was before. To say the characters won’t have a difficult time getting through it would be a lie, but at least it doesn’t seem they have to worry for the moment about the entire thing coming down on them as well as getting out.
As for Caim? He’s gone. But that doesn’t mean the opponent that Dai mentioned to the group is gone as well. So, careful, now.]
Dai looks down at the ice at his feet, studies the long white splintered fingers like bones where the ice has cracked from the two jagged bullet holes. They're still spreading outwards through the thick ice under his feet. With deliberate slowness, his eyes drag up to Namae, smile abolished from his dark lips.
Honestly, now. Between the residents and Caim - who's already hungering for battle by the tone of his voice, the higher thought processes of his mind collapsing back to rely on something more subconscious and cold, something ingrained - this is undoubtedly going to end in blood and tears. But, well. There's no helping that, is there? Regardless of what Dai does at this point, Caim is an unavoidable obstacle.]
You easily dealt with the first two sets of keys. There are three keys left. [His eyes flick across the sea of faces.] One of which is in the Ice Magister's possession. Naturally, on hearing of this, I came to assist.
As for his health... [His mouth twitches up at the corners, attention settling on Roxas.] Well. He intends for his ordeal to become your ordeal, as it were. You'll understand more about it, soon enough.
Reply
He's deposited at the far end of the cavern in a surprisingly gentle heap compared to first impact. Partly hidden behind a formation of ice stalagmites, he carefully climbs to a stand to find conversation in progress. ... Important conversation from the sound of it.
His gaze falls upon the Ice Magister in the near distance, separating him from the crowd almost as quickly as Roxas with eyes that narrow thoughtfully in the span of a single, troubled blink. He's not surprised to find him here, especially in a place this cold, but something's gone deeply wrong, hasn't it? Barely catching the tail end of the Inquisitor's two cents, there's no doubt about it.
Just what was going on with these two ... ]
Reply
Dai's explanation tells him very little - why Caim is acting so strangely, why Dai has to assist them in retrieving the key, what the keys are even for - and Ritsuka has been told explanations would come later enough times to doubt that very much. He takes a step closer to the Inquisitor, watching Caim out of the corner of his eyes.]
So how do you propose we go about retrieving the key? And how do we get Caim back to normal again?
Reply
Does it bother you to see him like this? ... Don't worry. I'm sure you'll all be able to make him feel better soon. After all, it's no simple virus he's down with. I imagine there's something much more insidious going on in that body of his.
The truth is, the Magister himself won't be your opponent today, but what he's keeping inside of him...
[He takes a few steps closer to Caim.]
... Magister. Why don't you show them? It's hardly fair to keep them waiting after dragging them all down here, is it? And leaving me with the burden of explanation, at that. I feel embarrassed for you.
Reply
still, he can't help the fact that his Branch of Sin is reacting so readily to his wariness, orbs of blood circling him slowly, bristling ever so slightly at the Inquisitor's words. there's something about that tone of voice that's ever so slightly unnerving -- but no, no, there's no use in suspecting anyone right now. it's only after an uneasy pause that he speaks up, words tinged with hesitation ]
You speak as if we will have to hurt him, in order to destroy what is afflicting him.
[ and pale eyes flicker over to the Magister's ill form -- clearly dangerous, but still, it's hard to consider someone in such poor condition a fair opponent.
Is there no other way to deal with this situation? Especially given this location, and the number of people present -- these are hardly favorable conditions.
Reply
At Dai's suggestion she raises an eyebrow. The pair continue to become more interesting by the minute. But as interested as she is in finding out what Dai is implying, she's careful to not appear malicious. After Nagi's protest, she politely interjects.]
I don't believe any of this will be favorable to everyone. We're all hoping for same outcome, so perhaps we owe him the benefit of the doubt.
Reply
Because any reaction is a bad one. But, his inability to currently stand his ground towards this one doesn't take away his hate for Dai, and it certainly doesn't make him seem regretful of any past decisions, either. Being able to ultimately take down a friend, a teacher, or not, it's clear healthy or ill that he'll die in his bitterness, in his turmoil over this once partner, and nothing is going to change that.]
[But, his gaze flickers at Dai’s provocation, momentarily, nonetheless. My my, Dai was never unobservant, but Caim is just about willing to admit he’s almost impressed. Then again, perhaps not, judging from past experiences. Now if only these people weren't... siding with him.]
...You always did talk too much, Fire Magister. [And for someone so weak looking, his decision and his actions are performed amazingly fast, and the only sound he makes if one can hear over the sudden shattering and cracking of ice, a “Dalamar, contege.” before the entire cave implodes on itself.]
[--> While your characters may be thrown about and experience a few initial bruises, cuts/etc. from the ice cracking/shattering/collapsing/breaking/dhjskfhjan inward on them; they will for the most part be spared the full force of a cave in by a sudden reinforcement shield of ice splattering itself around them to protect from the projectiles and shards of ice. It’s a similar effect that the sword and the shield used to protect people who suffered at the hand of meteor, although the sword and the shield Nagi and Zack have remained inactive for this. Instead, it seems the one responsible for the barrier is the large animal that has been trotting around more like a dog than a cat after Dai the entire journey and has at some point pitted itself in about as much of the center of all the people around as possible. Its tail twitches-one, two, three-and it’s not quite possible to judge what it's thinking. But, when it become deathly silent-at least not including the potential of any noise from the group-it gives a light snuff and claws at the ground, the barrier peeling away. The ice that had been collapsing in on the group is now refrozen, remolded into a rather awkward display and not quite as pretty as it was before. To say the characters won’t have a difficult time getting through it would be a lie, but at least it doesn’t seem they have to worry for the moment about the entire thing coming down on them as well as getting out.
As for Caim? He’s gone. But that doesn’t mean the opponent that Dai mentioned to the group is gone as well. So, careful, now.]
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