[He almost doesn't expect that blow to land, nor does he expect Kaeya to actually let go of him that easily. His legs almost give out from under him as he's released, and he slides partway down the wall before he manages to catch himself with both hands splayed against brick.
This is one of those moments where time seems to almost stand still; seconds becoming minutes, minutes becoming hours... Kaeya charges towards the Veneran. Ryunosuke sees the ice sword glinting in his hand--
This whole fight, he's been trying desperately to hold this other Aion off, without causing any direct damage. That's just in his nature; he doesn't want to draw blood, he doesn't want to wound. He knows there are many on both sides who scoff at the very idea of avoiding bloodshed, in this conflict that keeps being referred to as a war... But violence just doesn't come easily to him.
Yet, he'd also promised to protect this family, whatever it took. They'd helped him; they'd given him a roof to sleep under and fed him, told them of their city's history and its cultural plight, of its lost knowledge... They'd chosen to associate with him, despite the risks inherent to doing so with a fugitive Pleroma. He'd put a target on their backs just by speaking to them. If anything happens to any of them...
In the most literal, combative sense, he has never actually understood what it really means, to attack in order to defend. Not before this exact moment.
He moves without thinking, surging to his feet with a renewed strength and ferocity, his sheer determination to protect overcoming the cold and his pain and exhaustion. And his body is changing as he moves, without his even noticing; fingers morph out claws, teeth sharpen into fangs. Under his clothes, patches of scales start to spread up his back, spreading to his neck and hands. Yet there's no new magic awakening in him here, no hidden ability he's suddenly tapping into. It's just sheer, foolish, gumption fueled adrenaline, a moment of self actualization provoked by the most dire of circumstances. His desires, his sense of purpose, are both molding his Aion body, giving him new form.
He's going to fight tooth and nail to defend these people who can't defend themselves. Even if it means throwing himself in harms way. Even if it means trading blows.
He slams into Kaeya from behind with all his weight, tackling the Kenoma to the ground. The woman in the doorway, who has been frozen in terror at the sight of the Kenoma sprinting towards her, gets her wits back about her and screams, dropping the wood carving mallet she'd brought to the doorway with her for protection.
Both Aions tussle violently on the ground, Ryunosuke snarling like an animal as he tries to hold Kaeya back without getting slashed. Without taking his eyes off of his opponent, he shouts at the woman in question:]
Don't worry about me, just get moving already!!!!!!
[This time she listens, though Ryunosuke is too occupied to see her go. Something lashes behind him as he snarls; it's a testament to how painless and natural the transformation is, that he's grown an entire reptilian looking tail in the course of the last few seconds without even noticing. Which ought to be interesting for him to cope with later, once he realizes... For now, it poses an extra threat to Kaeya, as he has no bones about whipping it at the Kenoma while they scuffle, if the opportunity presents itself.]
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This is one of those moments where time seems to almost stand still; seconds becoming minutes, minutes becoming hours... Kaeya charges towards the Veneran. Ryunosuke sees the ice sword glinting in his hand--
This whole fight, he's been trying desperately to hold this other Aion off, without causing any direct damage. That's just in his nature; he doesn't want to draw blood, he doesn't want to wound. He knows there are many on both sides who scoff at the very idea of avoiding bloodshed, in this conflict that keeps being referred to as a war... But violence just doesn't come easily to him.
Yet, he'd also promised to protect this family, whatever it took. They'd helped him; they'd given him a roof to sleep under and fed him, told them of their city's history and its cultural plight, of its lost knowledge... They'd chosen to associate with him, despite the risks inherent to doing so with a fugitive Pleroma. He'd put a target on their backs just by speaking to them. If anything happens to any of them...
In the most literal, combative sense, he has never actually understood what it really means, to attack in order to defend. Not before this exact moment.
He moves without thinking, surging to his feet with a renewed strength and ferocity, his sheer determination to protect overcoming the cold and his pain and exhaustion. And his body is changing as he moves, without his even noticing; fingers morph out claws, teeth sharpen into fangs. Under his clothes, patches of scales start to spread up his back, spreading to his neck and hands. Yet there's no new magic awakening in him here, no hidden ability he's suddenly tapping into. It's just sheer, foolish, gumption fueled adrenaline, a moment of self actualization provoked by the most dire of circumstances. His desires, his sense of purpose, are both molding his Aion body, giving him new form.
He's going to fight tooth and nail to defend these people who can't defend themselves. Even if it means throwing himself in harms way. Even if it means trading blows.
He slams into Kaeya from behind with all his weight, tackling the Kenoma to the ground. The woman in the doorway, who has been frozen in terror at the sight of the Kenoma sprinting towards her, gets her wits back about her and screams, dropping the wood carving mallet she'd brought to the doorway with her for protection.
Both Aions tussle violently on the ground, Ryunosuke snarling like an animal as he tries to hold Kaeya back without getting slashed. Without taking his eyes off of his opponent, he shouts at the woman in question:]
Don't worry about me, just get moving already!!!!!!
[This time she listens, though Ryunosuke is too occupied to see her go. Something lashes behind him as he snarls; it's a testament to how painless and natural the transformation is, that he's grown an entire reptilian looking tail in the course of the last few seconds without even noticing. Which ought to be interesting for him to cope with later, once he realizes... For now, it poses an extra threat to Kaeya, as he has no bones about whipping it at the Kenoma while they scuffle, if the opportunity presents itself.]