show me how we'll end this, it's alright

[iluphone]

characters: All the assigned turncoats and all the rebels! 8) Idealistically.
location: Captured ship and the skies surrounding.
time: ...let me get back to you. A few days after the meeting?
rating: PG-13 for VIOLENCE?
open/closed: Closed to the above.
summary: It's time to wrangle us some rebels. &hearts

Comments

[erythrosi]

[ ooc; We're looking for you, Kunsel, get over here

[erythrosi]

[ If Kunsel thinks battle scars are supposed to sway his opinion, he's pretty wrong there. Isen's been a General for ten years, an army man for longer. He's seen men lose limbs and keep fighting. He's done so himself. Children scar themselves when they trip on the sidewalk. Isen had simply expected a better fight from someone who claimed to have something to live for.

He steps off the banister to move in closer, bringing his gun out again until the barrel presses against Kunsel's chest. He continues stepping forward, until Kunsel's back is against the wall of the ship's cabins and he's close enough to hear the soldier's heart beating. ]

At the very least, former soldier, I was expecting a reason to believe I'd be captured today.

[iluphone]

[ Kunsel doesn't have that luxury. If it came down to saving Zack's life, he'd fight tooth and nail to the very last breath, but if he lost limbs here, Zack'd... It'd break Zack's heart. His friend's just that kind of person, even if their feelings don't run the same both ways. If Isen shot him, at least they could tell Zack he didn't suffer. Which is a cold comfort, but sometimes cold comfort is all SOLDIERs can count on. ]

I'm sorry to have let you down. [ And he is, but he has priorities and Isen's in an unfortunate second place to Kunsel's raison d'etre. ]

But I wouldn't be here at all if I had a choice. [ Fighting Isen, talking to him like this. It has to be done, but that doesn't mean it doesn't make Kunsel sick to his stomach. ]

[erythrosi]

You've made your decision pretty clear.

[ And Isen could very easily pull the trigger right then and there. The man in front of him's a traitor, whatever reasons were involved in making that decision were irrelevant.

But it was discussion of those reasons before that holds him back. It could all be an act, some scum attempting to gain authority and wealth by lying their way up and deceiving him with stories. But in the event that it isn't, Isen doesn't want to be responsible for a broken heart. It's strange, he's killed plenty of enemy soldiers who'd had their families and their hearts broken. Why this soldier makes any difference is puzzling. ]

If you'll excuse me, [ and here Isen withdraws his gun, turning his back to the soldier and walking away ] my ship's under attack.

[iluphone]

...I'm sorry, General. I can't--

[ Shakily, Kunsel picks up his sword again, drawing in a ragged breath. This is suicide. Isen's spared him and is unlikely to show him the courtesy again. But with how strong Isen is and so many unknown variables on this ship, if he lets Isen go here the tide could very well turn. The mission could fail.

And Kunsel can't let that happen. He has to go home to Zack. He promised. If he doesn't take care of him, there's no one. ]

I can't let you go.

[ Kunsel's voice catches a little as he charges another blizzard spell as he launches at Isen, this time the spell aimed at that damn gun. He'll frost it over and if Isen tries to fire it then, best case scenario is the gunpowder's too wet to fire. Worst case, it explodes in Isen's hands. That way the gun's neutralized and Kusnel can afford to be a little more reckless. ]

[erythrosi]

[ :|; It's not a damn gun. It's Isen's favourite. You would be honoured to have been shot by this baby, you know.

But Kunsel's right about one thing. If Isen ever spares an enemy's life, it's only once, and it's his opponent's own damn fault for trying again. The instant he hears that phrase he turns back around, weapons at the ready- which unfortunately means that his gun gets the full force of that spell. Good news, he has another weapon to use.

The bad? The gun was held in his mechanic hand, and a full freezing spell is not a good thing to hit it with. The gun itself is useless, frozen to the point of being considered a block of finely crafted ice. But when the spell reaches his hand, the wires stiffen and snap, sending very unpleasant shocks up his arm. Isen nearly doubles over, wincing as he manages to lift his sword just in time to counter that next attack.

Great, now he's down to one weapon and one functioning hand. ]

[iluphone]

[ You know what, it's that thing that almost killed Kunsel, okay? And the full extent of damage caused by the blizzard startles Kunsy, as the boy was not fully aware of the condition Isen's in. He takes the opening for what it is, though, putting all of his strength in the next swing of his sword. If he can just disarm Isen, he can take the General into custody and end this.

And go home. ]

[erythrosi]

[ Oh, you're so dramatic, Kunsel.

His arm's still in shock, that ice spell almost feeling like a burn as the metal arm malfunctions and twitches until the frozen gun nearly falls from his grip. He's able to catch it, not entirely off guard, and manages to bring his sword up to block Kunsel's blade before it reaches him. But it was definitely a close one.

There's a brighter glow in his eyes as he pushes back, putting just enough distance between them so that Isen can slam the barrel of his iced gun hard into Kunsel's chest. Might not be useful as a firearm, but it makes a good bludgeoning weapon otherwise. ]

[iluphone]

[ Kunsel chokes as that blow knocks the air out of his lungs, making him wheeze as he feels a definite crack in his ribcage, followed by crippling pain that tears through him with each breath he tries to take. His eyes water as he regains his balance, teeth clenching. He's so close. He won't lose now.

He reaches out and catches Isen's gun by the barrel, holding it fast so that Isen either has to give it up or stay within striking range, then raises his sword in a hard downward slash. ]

[erythrosi]

[ Giving the gun up is definitely the better option, as Isen catches that sword lifting from the corner of his eye. But his mechanic arm takes just a split second too long to listen, and Kunsel's blade catches his shoulder before he's able to completely get out of the way. The cut isn't deep enough to be considered too serious, but ow that hurt.

A growl escapes from his throat as he lunges forward again, striking his blade hard against Kunsel's sword in an attempt to knock it from his hands. ]

[iluphone]

[ That strike sends sharp pain through Kunsel's body, both due to the cracked rib as well as the cuts in his arms. He feels himself tear that cut Isen made earlier wide open as his muscles tense trying to hold on to that sword, because he knows it's over if he lets go. So he bears it, Isen's blade sliding down the length of his sword. It catches against his cross guard, barely missing his knuckles before he manages to heave forward to try to throw Isen off him. The pain and the blood loss is beginning to make him dizzy but he holds his ground. ]

[erythrosi]

[ He's successfully pushed back, and he takes a moment to pause before he makes another attempt, checking his opponent's current state. He's wounded greater than himself, a malfunctioning robot arm not really counting as an injury. Isen has the advantage in this battle, and he could end it easily enough. But instead he hesitates, holding his sword up and ready to attack. Kunsel looks ready to pass out, and he'd rather that happen instead of having the battle end a different way. ]

Careful on your feet, soldier.

[iluphone]

[ Kunsel staggers just as Isen voices those words, forced to plant his sword in the ground to keep himself upright. This doesn't bode well, but he shakes his head, bringing a hand up to try to make the spinning stop. He can do this. He can managed another cast or two of blizzard, and.... ]

I have to get home.

[erythrosi]

[ Home, hm? Whether that meant to the world they came from, or his new home as a member of Avatican's army, either way it means nothing to him. Every soldier fought to come home one day. Every soldier had a different reason for doing so.

Kunsel's unstable, nearing his limit. Isen simply waits, his sword raised, waiting to see if his opponent has the strength to attack back. His mechanic hand still sends jolts down his arm, but it's nothing he can't handle. This fight won't last much longer anyway. ]

[iluphone]

[ Home's only ever been a person to Kunsel. Wherever Zack is, that's home. And when Zack isn't around, Kunsel's cut adrift without anywhere to go. Kunsel's entire body trembles with exertion as he tries to catch his breath, aware that Isen's stopped to study him. Neither of them want to be doing this, it seems, but Kunsel can't just give in. Not here. For him, his entire world is at stake. And it makes him a selfish bastard because he knows what Isen's been through, knows that this is Isen's home that's been burned to the ground, but--

Kunsel's never calculated the science of dying of a broken heart, but he knows if he lost Zack again, Hojo could probably do a case study on him. There's no describing that kind of pain, that kind of overwhelming sense of loss.

Zack Fair - SOLDIER 1st Class: Killed in action.

Tell me they're lying.

It's just a routine inspection.

Where are you?

Two samples escaped Nibelheim-- That's you, right?

I'll always be waiting for you to come back.

Just make it back alive, buddy. Promise me.

Everything'

[erythrosi]

[ It's admirable, at least. Seeing someone with a reason to fight that means so much to them. Even in a losing fight. Isen makes the decision of not killing him, he'd made that up in his mind a while ago, so this battle only needed to last long enough to disarm and subdue his opponent. There was no need to distress the soldier more than he already was.

Blade ready, the General rushes to meet Kunsel's attack. The magic spell, there's nothing he can do about that, so he outstretches his mechanic arm to take the full brunt of it. If it freezes and falls off, fine, it wasn't working anyway. His sword meets Kunsel's with a loud clatter, all of his strength and weight put into pushing his opponent back against the wall. ]