well this took long enough

[insourarmor]

WHO: Duck, Fakir, Sanji, Rue, Mytho, Goliath, Maleficent, and, uh... oh, tag yourselves in, you buggers. You know who you are.
WHERE: the haunted/spider-and-bird-infested warehouse
WHEN: RIGHT NOW! *chord*
WARNINGS: giant... spiders? I DON'T KNOW.
SUMMARY: Fakir, Ken, and Duck go to save Mytho, are interrupted and joined by Sanji, and go fight big

Comments

[notadartboard]

Sanji was still getting used to the public transit system around the City, meaning he often found himself on the wrong routes or getting off at the wrong stops. He consoled himself by swearing that the maps were nigh-indecipherable and at least he wasn't Zoro just wandering lost in the middle of anywhere. He knew the streets, he just had to walk further to get to another transfer stop that would take him back to the MAC.

With his hands tucked deep in the pockets of his new wool peacoat and a cigarette dangling from his lips, he walked at a good clip up an unusually darkened street. He was tired from working at the club and just wanted to go put his feet up, but something arrested his attention en route. Youngsters traveling in a pack weren't all that unusual, but Sanji had been in this world long enough to gather that carrying swords was out of the ordinary. They were about to cross his path, so he called out, "Oi. What do you kids think you're doing?"

[notadartboard]

Annoyed with the antics of the younger kids, Sanji turned and strode up to the nearest door. Breaking and entering should be a piece of cake, he thought, since he was so used to it in his line of work. His foot shot out and effectively removed the door from its hinges in one blow.

The darkness inside seemed a little odd, though. It wasn't a huge, empty space inside like he thought - there was something in it. Something that made lots of clicking, rustling noises that seemed to be coming closer. And fast.

"Oh, hell," he muttered, clenching his teeth on his cigarette. His hands finally came out of his pockets as he poised to spring.

[swornprotector]

Goliath's feelings of dread are now given form. His wings spread, stepping in front of these youths to act as the first line of defense against the monsters approaching them.

Eyes glowing as he enters the mindset of battle.

notifs hate me

[insourarmor]

Before Fakir could snap at Sanji for busting down the door, he caught sight of the shambling forms in the darkness. He shoved Duck back toward Ken - his shield could protect her better than Fakir's sword right now.

When the monsters came into clearer view, he nearly reeled back in disgust and shock. In spite of this, he quickly dashed up alongside Sanji and Goliath, sword drawn. Somehow, expecting ravens and facing spiders was almost a relief. He'd never been afraid of spiders.

[notadartboard]

Sanji's instincts kicked in as well; without so much as a word he darted past Goliath, twisting his body at the last second into an agile high-kick. His boot met the nearest spider with a squelching crunch and sent it flying off somewhere into the darkness beyond. Of course, he had no idea what their exact goal was, where the captive was being held or what needed to be done to get there, but it didn't matter. As long as he was kicking the crap out of giant spiders, he would be content for now.

[easyopentabs]

Even though she could barely fit, Rue was lying next to him, having dozed off while watching him. For some reason, she could barely stand to leave his side these days. A strange anxiety always took her when she did, a fear that, if she left, when she came back he would be gone. It was a ridiculous thought, of course, he had neither the will nor the means to leave her.

And yet, even now, it still remained...

[swornprotector]

Goliath moves swiftly as the swarm hits their party, although he is suitably impressed by the courage of the nameless boy with the talented feet.

He does not waste time with admiration, however, as he immediately leaps upon the head of the lead spider, avoiding its fangs while clawing his way to the top, delivering a powerful blow to its cranium.

[Sorry for being late...]

[digikaiser]

Ken was only slightly surprised as Fakir shoved Duck in his direction the boy gently catching the girl as he narrowed his eyes... an eerie blue glow of energy forming around them as he tried to focus his power as an invisible force bubble formed around the two. He gave a slight nod and smile as he tried to reassure the girl.

Wormmon despite child-like nature was a fairly capable fighter. The small was quickly springing into action as it rushed towards the spiders. "Sticky Net!" The digimon called out before spitting out a large glob of silk which he quickly spun into a web around two of the spiders.

[notadartboard]

Meanwhile, Sanji was off on his own route, completely focused on the enemy and not paying that much attention to the other fighters. He could hear them on either side, but mostly just so he would know not to kick any spiders right into them.

He zig-zagged across the open floor at top speed, spinning into kicks and then vaulting onto his hands in order to pinwheel his feet around. The spiders kept coming at him only to be violently repelled, which coupled with Goliath's efforts, was beginning to open a path. It was harder to land single killing blows on the spiders, compared to other creatures, so Sanji sprang up and leaped into the air, only to bring down his weight onto one's head like a piledriver. His heel split some body part with a crack, and that spider flopped dead on the floor. Sanji was already off again, booting another spider clear up to the ceiling.

[easyopentabs]

Sounds from outside jerked Rue from her dozing, and she sat up, looking around for whatever made the noise. Someone was here, and she had a guess as to who. Scowling, she called to one of the ravens sitting on the bars of the cage.

"Go gather up your brothers and sisters and take care of that nuisance. And do it quickly."

[swornprotector]

Goliath is not letting up. Drilling double-axe-handle blows to the heads of these spiders to drill them into the ground, charging beneath them to claw their myriad legs out at the joints to collapse them into immobile heaps, and leaping off their bodies to barrel into the eyes of the next one - the path is indeed being cleared for the others.

And the gargoyle's battle roar echoes more strongly than any noise these beasts can make.

[malegnificent]

Maleficent felt the magic of their creation flowing back into her as the spiders were destroyed, and with an angry little growl she slammed the point of her staff against the floor.

Diablo, his feathers ruffled with alarm, came flapping out of Mytho's cage, pulling up frantically about a foot from his mistress's face.

"Lead the ravens," Maleficent snarled. "Peck their eyes out, tear their tongues out--make certain they go no further!"

ffff sorry. family. you know how it be.

[insourarmor]

For all his complaints about Sanji and well-contained distrust of Goliath, Fakir had to admit that they had already proved themselves indispensable in this fight. He was quick and agile, but he knew he wasn't strong enough to keep the path clear as Goliath could. He darted past the forerunners, lashing out with his sword at any creature that came too near. It was easiest to just sever their legs and leave them floundering on the ground, or slash them across the face. He could see his destination far ahead, ringed in green flame against the inky blackness of the empty warehouse. He wasn't afraid.

Then the ravens came. He didn't see them at first, their black feathers concealing them in the darkness. His heart nearly stopped when he heard their cries and realized that he had pressed on too far ahead, left himself halfway from his goal with no one to cover him.

He raised his sword in defense as the swarm swirled around him, trying to bat them away and still advance, staggering forward as they tore at his clothes and swiped at his face

[easyopentabs]

Rue watched the fighting in the distance with vague interest, quite certain that no matter how much help he had, there was no way Fakir would get through the spiders and the crows. But then she saw a figure breaking away from the fray, swinging his telltale sword at the ravens. Without further ado, a whirl of feather surrounded her, changing her into Kraehe.

"Tired, Fakir?" she called. "But the ravens have only begun to play with you."