Search and disaster

[redcladidealist]

Who: Lloyd and Eridan
Where: Floating mountain
Style: First
Status: Closed

[No matter how long he's been here, Lloyd still hasn't given up his search for the other side of the Otherworldly Gate. There's been nothing so far, no sign or evidence that it even exists, but that hasn't dampened his motivation in the least. It's out there, and he knows

Comments

[forevveraglub]

[It wasn't that Eridan needed much excuse to be anywhere, with his ability to levitate via SCIENCE STICK, traveling in Somarium was the least taxing thing about it. So where did Mr. Hipsterfish go? Definitely to the one place he hasn't gone to yet--the floating mountain. Who knows why he hadn't explored it till now, but regardless of that reason, he's there. Promptly landing in the forest

[forevveraglub]

[Eridan had definitely assumed that attack had done it, and why would he assume different? This power he has is immeasurable and he's well aware of it. He didn't slaughter 50,000 weeping angels so that this power had a limit or wasn't unstoppable. But to his surprise, through the debris comes Lloyd, propelled at him. Spinning like a buzz saw through the air.]

[In a panic, he quickly descends, trying to evade the attack completely--he has no luck. The blade of one of those swords catches the top of his shoulder as he cowers out of the way--purple painting the sky for a moment, following the momentum of that blade. His cape swings off his shoulder, having one of the clasps cut. He brings a hand to his bleeding shoulder, giving it a worried look--before shooting a glare at his assailant.]

[Quickly he unclasps his cape, letting the high collared fabric sink to the ground with a heavy FWUMF before he takes aim again and fires off another blast of his overpowering WWHITE SCIENCE; all hesitation he may have had, gone. He was going to make

[redcladidealist]

[In the time it took Eridan to check his wound and remove his damaged cape, Lloyd had dropped back down, coming out of his spin with the skill and ease of practice. The fact that his attack landed only gives him a sense of grim satisfaction. He knows it's nowhere near enough.

But it also got his message across. Eridan won't take him lightly again.

Unfortunately, the magic users Lloyd is used to fighting generally take longer to prepare their attacks. And there's no circle of mana, no chant, no warning. He's barely finished turning around when brilliant, blinding light fills the air again. His eyes widen in panic.

Damnit-]

GUARDIAN!

[Pure, raw magic slams into his shield with so much force it lifts him off his feet and hurls him across the clearing. It feels like the air itself has been consumed by fire. He can't breathe it, he can't scream.His head and back collide painfully with one of the trees, and he crumples to the ground. Somehow, though, he's still alive. And he still has his swords. Singed and gasping, he struggles to

[forevveraglub]

[A sneering grin plasters itself on Eridan's face as he watches the red-clad hero get blown back with the same ease a fire hose blasts a piece of paper. He descends, landing firmly on the ground, his expression falling to something more serious in nature.]

[He closes the distance while still keeping a good reach between them. The white glow that had consumed his form before, dies down, withdrawing in swirls of energy. He keeps his wand firm in his grasp though--he isn't done, not yet, but as of right now, he's lowering his hostility--to gloat.]

So sure a yourself, weren't you, Redscarf? Thought you could take the brunt of a highblood's wrath--thought you could fuckin' stop me.

[A sharp laugh.]

You're barely fuckin' able to stand at this point and we'we barely ewen begun. Though, I suppose, in a way, you were right. You ARE goin' to change your future. You won't be the one to kill your little friend, seein' as I'm gonna kill you myself.

Good job, Lloyd, you'we sawed your friend through your own pointless and wasted sacrifice.

[redcladidealist]

[How long has it been since he fought a serious battle and didn't have someone with healing magic at his side? Zelos or Raine, Regal, even Kratos. Hakkai had been able to heal him, too, back when the yeti attacked. He wishes one of them was with him now. It hurts.

But he refuses to give Eridan the satisfaction of giving into the pain. Glaring, he summons all his stubbornness to the front and staggers to his feet.]

What I'm doing isn't pointless, and I'm not going to sacrifice my life. If you think I'm done yet, you can think again! Double Demon Fang!

[Eridan's not the only one who can be fast when he wants. As soon as the first shockwave leaves his sword, a second from the other is in its wake. Lloyd hates relying on techs so much, knowing he has limited mana, but he needs to occupy Eridan enough to let him close the distance. He staggers, then catches his balance, dashing toward the troll. If he can just get close enough to attack-!

If he can get close enough, he's fully prepared to strike.]

[forevveraglub]

[The sea troll's eyes widen as Lloyd delivers the attack--He scrambles, trying to side step the shockwaves, tripping over himself in his attempt and accidentally doing a sideways somersault. He avoided the attack and while he was undamaged--his pride? Not so much, that was anything BUT graceful, or even cool looking in the slightest. BUT WWHATEVVER not that it mattered, he had dodged the attack and--]

[--shit]

[Lloyd was there, he had followed his attack through and made his quick advance on the prince--Eridan barely has time to look up before the distance he had purposefully set between him and Lloyd was diminished. Again, he haphazardly tries to get out of the way, basically lunging backwards, successfully landing on his back. It does little to help him though, he may have dodged the main strike of it, but that isn't to say the blade didn't hit him. It had--the tip slashing him diagonally across his chest, splattering some of his rich purple blood on the grass. It wasn't a life threatening wound and it hurt more than it actually

[redcladidealist]

[Dammit, he hates fighting magic users, especially by himself. It's always so much easier when Genis is there with him. Then he doesn't have to fight so much as distract the enemy magician, keep their attention focused on him while his friend prepares to cast. But now it's just him, which means he has to be both distraction and the one who's going to attack, and he's a primarily close range fighter. He can't afford to lose what little advantage he has by retreating.

But neither can he afford not to dodge. That magic means serious business, he doesn't care how big the blast is. Cursing, he throws himself to the side - too close! He bites back a cry when something hot and painful grazes his side. He doesn't look to see how bad the damage is, though. The fact that he can still move is enough for him right now. As soon as the dodge is finished, he lunges forward, blades swinging. Eridan's bought himself seconds, but now there's a sword aiming to slash his gut while another, just behind it, is going for his head.]

[forevveraglub]

[Eridan snarls when he sees Lloyd had dodged most of the attack--having only grazed his side. It was better than nothing--but he wasn't offered much time to mentally complain about the outcome, because before he knew it, Lloyd was at him again. He has near to no time to think--but all he can come to is getting the hell out of the way. Which consists of him jumping back, surrounding himself in white light and swiftly absconding into the air. Those blades had NARROWLY missed him (The blade aimed for his stomach did cut a good size slice into his already cut up shirt) and even though he's trying to get his expanding and collapsing bladder based vascular system out of his throat currently--he looks completely unfazed; mainly he just doesn't want Lloyd to see how much that proximity with his blades had actually somewhat shaken him. But the feeling doesn't last long

[redcladidealist]

[A brief wave of dizziness nearly kills Lloyd then and there. He stumbles when he throws himself to the side again, and only the presence of a tree to shield him saves his life this time. Mage fire rips into the ground, the backlash tearing through the trees with the force of a hurricane. If the tree he had thrown himself behind had been any closer, he's certain it would now be little more than a splintered mess.

Something's wrong.

Damn it, there's no time! Whatever had caused the dizziness, he can't afford to stop to assess his injuries. Blood loss or a concussion or maybe something else from when he had slammed into that tree - it doesn't matter. Eridan's going to kill him if he stays where he is right now. All he can do right now is take a steadying breath, then grip his swords with determination before jumping, not at his opponent, but this time straight up. One booted foot lands on a branch, which he uses to jump even higher. There's more than one way into the air.]

Hey, Eridan!

[He's never done this before, but in theory it

[forevveraglub]

[Eridan was searching, not going to fall into a false sense of security again--not going to assume that THAT had done it. But where's Lloyd? He starts to grow frustrated in his search until he hears his name. His head snaps to the direction it came from--Lloyd]

[That call out of his attack helps Eridan prepare his rolling dodge to the side--all the mana was able to catch in it's murdering shockwave was the tail end of his scarf--WHICH BY THE WAY THAT WAS HIS FAVORITE SCARF.]

Hey, Redscarf!

[If he had noticed, he'd be seething, but at the moment he's sporting a grin, firing off a different sort of attack, a concentrated orb of the holy power he'd been tossing around. If anything, it's quick, like a white bullet the size of a baseball soaring through the air at it's target.]

[If it hits its mark--even if it doesn't, Eridan is more than ready to follow up with another torrential blast. His wand and arm glowing with that hostile energy.]

[redcladidealist]

[He shouldn't have said that. He shouldn't have said anything at all. Damn it, how many times has Kratos berated him for cockiness and overconfidence? With a curse, he twists to follow Eridan, preparing to strike again while he's still within range-

-only to abruptly pale and change his tactics as he realizes the second mistake he made. He's in the air and falling.

He can't dodge.]

Guardi-AUGH!

[The green shell of mana flickers to life a second too late, the sphere slipping past his defenses to hit his shoulder with so much force it hurts it hurts it hurts and his forced descent suddenly becomes a forced freefall, crashing through branches, his clothes catching and tearing on limbs, and then stars explode in his vision when his body slams into the ground. For a moment, he's too stunned to move, his body in too much pain, even as his mind rails at him to get out of there. He groans, rolling over.

But even if his body isn't cooperating well, he's drawing on all his mana that he can. He knows he may need it... any moment...]

[forevveraglub]

[Eridan stops for a moment, that had connected better than he had hoped and watching Lloyd plummet through the branches like that was so sadistically satisfying, he just has to stop and grin. He descends again, letting himself land on the scorched grass. He really did a number on this forest--oh well. After a quick surveying, he sashays his way over to Lloyd. That grin still plastered on his face. Wand aimed.]

[He keeps his distance, keeps an eye on him--he's not about to let himself get sneak attacked from the front again, oh no. Not. Again. That ominous glow of chaotic holy energy still swirling from his arm like coiling white snakes, slithering off from the main body only to dissipate into slowly dying whirls.]

I hope you think your opposition towards me was well worth it, scumsucker.

[If Lloyd doesn't do something--anything in the next few seconds, Eridan is ready to release another discharge.]

[redcladidealist]

[Lloyd doesn't know how it's possible, but he can hear the smugness in Eridan's steps. He lifts his head, trying to focus on his opponent. The world keeps blurring and doubling.

D-Dammit...]

Don't... think... you've won.. just yet. [If he's speaking slowly, it's only because he's trying to keep his voice even, trying not to reveal how much pain he's in. Putting a hand, still holding a sword, against a broken tree, he struggles to push himself back onto his feet. He ends up leaning more against the tree than he'd like.

Actually, scratch that, maybe he should play up his weakness right now. He lets his eyes drift slightly out of focus, his breath coming in short, ragged gasps.

Just underestimate me... Just for a moment...]

I'm... not... through.

[He keeps his grip on his other sword loose, trying not to betray the attack he's preparing. Even if it doesn't hit, it'll hopefully still serve a purpose.]

[forevveraglub]

[What can I say? Eridan's a smug kinda guy. So much so it basically radiates off of him in over powering hipsters waves--ones that, if visible, would probably have rainbow space patterns to them. Despite the fact his smug foot falls stop, the feeling of arrogance is still so thick in the air, it makes the inside of a volcano seem like a relaxing atmosphere.]

[He hesistates.]

[Why kill him so quickly? When he can furthermore gloat over him--come on, Lloyd was obviously a capable fighter and here was Eridan, standing before him, leering over him with so much pride and arrogance it was disgusting.]

I think you are, Redscarf. I'we won, all I hawe left to do is end your pathetic waste of a life. This is what you get, and I'll be sure to show them all--show all a Somarium what happens when you fuck with royal bloods.

Congratulations, Lloyd. You'we found the purpose in your life--to be nothin' but an example a what NOT to do. And that bein', fuckin' with me. So you can die happy and fuckin' PROUD that your existence wasn't entirely

[redcladidealist]

[Lloyd grits his teeth, trying not to lose his focus despite his desire to glare a hole through Eridan.]

Everyone's life... has meaning. They mean something... when they're born! [He's on his feet at last, but he's still leaning against the tree. Unfortunately, it's not just an act. He needs it.] My life has changed the lives... of everyone else... I've met. Even yours. You're not... the same person... you were before we met, and I am proud of that. Even if you're a

BEAST!

[And with that word, he lashes out, unleashing the energy he'd built with a single slash of his sword. This time it takes a visible form, light and mana twisting together in a shape that almost looks like a snarling creature. He can only hope that if Eridan launches an attack, the sheer concussive force will knock the magic awry if the attack itself doesn't blast the troll off his feet

[forevveraglub]

[His mouth opens to say some form of retort--but that dies in this throat quickly enough. Seeing that light twisting into some shape--he doesn't care to note it's likeness to some sort of creature, he's too busy discharging a blast straight at it, hoping to out match it with power. He had done it before when he had fought Rose, matching her black magic against his white science. The ends of which was somewhat explosive and knocked the two out--BUT he was sure this wasn't going to be the same