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Entry tags:
- !event,
- #dionys,
- #innocence,
- #xishen,
- abel nightroad: martyr,
- amos burton: lover,
- anduin wrynn: sovereign,
- barnaby brooks jr: lover,
- bruno madrigal: martyr,
- ciel: martyr,
- claude von riegan: seeker,
- dorothea arnault: celebrant,
- emet-selch: champion,
- estinien wyrmblood: firebrand,
- eustace: firebrand,
- father paul hill: martyr,
- han sooyoung: artisan,
- himeka sui: wanderer,
- howl: celebrant,
- jayce talis: visionary,
- jonathan crane: sovereign,
- kaeya alberich: lover,
- kim dokja: martyr,
- koriel xii (dextera): lover,
- kotetsu t. kaburagi: champion,
- liem talbott: champion,
- majorita: firebrand,
- makoto ("m"): firebrand,
- meteion: innocent,
- rand al'thor: martyr,
- ryunosuke naruhodo: champion,
- sebastian michaelis: celebrant,
- tartaglia (childe): firebrand,
- wrathion: seeker
EVENT #6: BY HEAVEN OR HELL
By Heaven or Hell
THE BURNING
Achamoth, as it turns out, is no stranger to public killings... the burning of two Pleroma, however? That's special. Abel and Himeka's upcoming execution date seems to be regarded by the city's populace as something akin to a holiday, with the upper crust of the social stratum fighting for positions of prominence in the festivities, including the best possible seats. It's been decades since any Pleroma have been brought to heel in Achamoth, and it would only be prudent to place yourself at the forefront of this exciting new trend. There's a sense of pageantry to it: ritualized ceremonies, public sermons, and strange religious 'décor' are all part of the process.The city is in the throes of these preparations when the two Pleroma captives are finally brought to a central square not far from the Citadel's front gates. Two burning pyres have been set up for them, about ten feet apart. While Abel and Himeka's bodies are chained to their stakes, their shards will be handed off to Silco, Ciel, and Makoto to be brought along separately. The set up of the execution is thus: while their bodies are ravaged by flames, their shards will be bound to an altar in advance of the pyre. Via a kind of alchemical 'fuse', the pyre being lit will trigger a reaction that will gradually result in a explosion on the altar just large enough to destroy the shard in turn. The shards will be bound in position with a series of jewelry-like metal prongs that could be pried away, but would take some time to do carefully.
As the Pleroma make it to the city, the sun will be setting on the 17th of Firaseri, with the execution about to be underway. The pyres will not yet have been lit, but are fully prepared. All Kenoma will be called upon to guard the city, with the warning that the Pleroma are mounting a raid to rescue their imprisoned comrades. For Kenoma both new and old, it's a time to test your mettle. Those that defend Achamoth valiantly can expect to be rewarded.
INNOCENCE ON FIRE
The city of Achamoth looms ahead, a seat of power in Horos in every fashion. It sprawls outwards, claiming the lands around it in a lazy confidence. The spires of the city grow up and up like a mountain, dragging the eye towards the Citadel. The walls that surround it are modest in height as if offering a challenge to any foolish enough to attempt to climb them. Who would? The Regent's eye is ever-present and the guard towers that line it like beaded pearls on a string are reminders that nothing goes in or out of the city without notice. Openings in the towers and the walls threaten the use of projectiles while dark, shimmering crystals float above with the quiet hum of protective magics. Only a fool would breach these borders.Initially, getting into the city unmolested will be a considerable struggle for the Pleroma. It's military is robust, its fortifications solid, and even without the Kenoma's added resistance, the sheer numbers could be considered insurmountable. Stealth could get them some of the way, but its sentries are watchful, and immigration is strictly controlled. With faith alone driving the Pleroma towards their goal it's fortunate, then, that something is there to answer their call.
Estinien will feel the presence of the Innocence Entity rise up in him again, and this time it is offering him a choice. He may utilize its power to save the ones he loves, while risking both the brutality of the Regent's defenses and the threat to his own soul by channeling such power. It will stand with him against the darkness, it says, if it is truly his will. Emboldened by the power of the Firebrand and his love for his comrades, it is no surprise that he accepts.
Light will flood the sky above Achamoth, an ethereal aura combatting the encroach of the night. From a great miasma of wings and flame, a colossal dragon emerges, coiling above the city skyline. Its luminescence rains down upon the city, and all Achamites exposed to it will be enchanted into finding the idea of committing acts of violence unthinkable, at least so long as no violence is brought against them in turn. With much of Achamoth's defenses having lost the will to fight, only the Kenoma will stand in the Pleroma's way as they penetrate the city, making their way to Abel and Himeka's pyres.
As the Pleroma forge ahead, this draconic being that was once Estinien Wyrmblood will guard from the skies, drawing the attention of the Kenoma towards it and it threatens to bear its might against the Citadel itself. Fortunately for the Kenoma guarding the city, they will know that the Regent has a plan. All they must do is hold off the beast long enough for the Regent to wield their own strength in turn. The battle against this creature will take place here, with combat rules being explain in this OOC post.
As the power of the Innocent washes over Achamoth, those of its Legacy, or those marked by its Promise or Touch, will hear it speak on the winds in a chorus of voices:
Aions of this new dawn... I have honored your choice... fight... if you will... and I will follow...
FIREBRAND RISING
Beneath the moon of Firaseri, however, the Innocent isn't the only force at play. Firebrands of both sects will find themselves spurred on by a rush of Legacy-based power, as if inspired by the tumultuous environment of an anti-authoritarian raid. How precisely this manifests will depend on which side they are fighting for.❖ PLEROMA
The Firebrands among the Pleroma raiders will feel a sense of vindication and rightness come over them, set as they are to challenge the Regent's rule. Their powers will be amplified during the battle, and those that witness them and are inspired may find their performance boosted. The nature of these enhancements is fairly flexible. For the Firebrands, the use of their regular skills and abilities may be amplified beyond normal boundaries, whereas those following in their wake may find themselves with usual endurance that allows them to push their their usual limits.
❖ KENOMA
The Firebrands of the Kenoma's inspiration is more complicated in nature, given their roll in defending Achamoth's status quo. However, they will find themselves bolstered while facing the pacifying might of the Innocence Entity. Firebrands will experience a natural resistance against any Innocence based attacks that would stop them from fighting, and will be able to use this blessing to rally NPCs that would otherwise be rendered useless to their cause, in defiance of the entity's command for peace. In general, they will see a boost in strength while fighting the raid boss in particular, unable to be deterred from their goals.
In general, all Firebrands will feel untethered by their regular inhibitions, fighting for their desires at all costs. Abilities intended to bind them or control their will, will be largely ineffective, and they will find shields both physical and magical particularly easy to break through.
QUESTIONS
Q: What is the best way for Pleroma to travel to Achamoth?
A: Akua and Estinien are both setting up portals from Godsblood to the outskirts of Achamoth from which to begin mounting the assault. Caitlyn will be providing a back-up in the case either of those portals go down.
Q: Can my character make use of the chaos and try to raid the Citadel?
A: They can try but there will be mod rolls involved for any attempts. NPCs inside the Citadel will not be affected the same way the NPCs outside in main area will be. We do not want it to seem like the Citadel is defenseless otherwise.
Q: If Kenoma cause damage to the city during the raid, how will the Regent feel? Will there be consequences?
A: It should try to be avoided, but the Regent will understand if there is collateral damage in battle as long as they aren't being careless about it.
Q: Is the "no-combat aura" completely incapacitating NPCs?
A: No, it is only stopping them from aggressing the Pleroma. If they or their property are attacked they will defend themselves, and are otherwise operating with a normal level of cognizance. Kenoma Aions can order them out of the area to avoid being hurt if necessary.
BOSS BATTLE:
Q: I would like my character to take part in the battle but want to limit the outcomes in a way that isn't too devastating. Is that possible?
A: We think in that case we would basically only be acknowledging the possibilities between the "The attack either misses, is ineffective, or it triggers a counter attack from the boss." and "The attack hits with moderate effectiveness, as determined by the nature of their action." range. So, you can't get taken out, but you also can only deal moderate hits at best. You could still trigger a counter attack from the boss, but the damage taken from that is more flexible and free form than the 1-5% zone. If you make an attack with this restriction just add a little OOC note to your initial attack tag.
Q: How can a support character engage in the combat?
A: If your character is providing support, you may team up with an attacker to submit a "group attack". This means that your character is putting their effort towards supporting that attacker character that round, and will not be able to submit their own separate action. In exchange, that attack will receive two mod rolls instead of one, and the attack itself will be based on the more favorable of the two rolls. (Sort of like rolling with an advantage in modern D&D.) We will make as many rolls as there there are character combining their effort and select the best of them.
If any character rolls in the 1-5% zone they will still be taken out, however. Click the link above for more information.
Q: Can my character take a hit for another character after a mod roll?
A: We would be willing to accept this in the case of the defender taking the hit for the attacker, which would mean that if it's a 1-5%, they would be taken out in the attacker's stead.
A: Akua and Estinien are both setting up portals from Godsblood to the outskirts of Achamoth from which to begin mounting the assault. Caitlyn will be providing a back-up in the case either of those portals go down.
Q: Can my character make use of the chaos and try to raid the Citadel?
A: They can try but there will be mod rolls involved for any attempts. NPCs inside the Citadel will not be affected the same way the NPCs outside in main area will be. We do not want it to seem like the Citadel is defenseless otherwise.
Q: If Kenoma cause damage to the city during the raid, how will the Regent feel? Will there be consequences?
A: It should try to be avoided, but the Regent will understand if there is collateral damage in battle as long as they aren't being careless about it.
Q: Is the "no-combat aura" completely incapacitating NPCs?
A: No, it is only stopping them from aggressing the Pleroma. If they or their property are attacked they will defend themselves, and are otherwise operating with a normal level of cognizance. Kenoma Aions can order them out of the area to avoid being hurt if necessary.
BOSS BATTLE:
Q: I would like my character to take part in the battle but want to limit the outcomes in a way that isn't too devastating. Is that possible?
A: We think in that case we would basically only be acknowledging the possibilities between the "The attack either misses, is ineffective, or it triggers a counter attack from the boss." and "The attack hits with moderate effectiveness, as determined by the nature of their action." range. So, you can't get taken out, but you also can only deal moderate hits at best. You could still trigger a counter attack from the boss, but the damage taken from that is more flexible and free form than the 1-5% zone. If you make an attack with this restriction just add a little OOC note to your initial attack tag.
Q: How can a support character engage in the combat?
A: If your character is providing support, you may team up with an attacker to submit a "group attack". This means that your character is putting their effort towards supporting that attacker character that round, and will not be able to submit their own separate action. In exchange, that attack will receive two mod rolls instead of one, and the attack itself will be based on the more favorable of the two rolls. (Sort of like rolling with an advantage in modern D&D.) We will make as many rolls as there there are character combining their effort and select the best of them.
If any character rolls in the 1-5% zone they will still be taken out, however. Click the link above for more information.
Q: Can my character take a hit for another character after a mod roll?
A: We would be willing to accept this in the case of the defender taking the hit for the attacker, which would mean that if it's a 1-5%, they would be taken out in the attacker's stead.
no subject
there's Amos going after Misa.
There's no time to let panic overtake him because his instincts have already kicked into high gear, making him beeline straight for Amos and Misa to put himself in between the way. One look at the other man is enough to tell him he's practically an unstoppable force right now, but then the empathic bond they share because of their legacy is what gives him the full picture: rage. Pure, unadulterated rage.
He isn't the first one to intervene, luckily enough. Gen strikes Amos and attempts to slow him down by making the ground collapse underneath him. He lends his aid by freezing the immediate area around Amos, frost creeping up his legs in order to keep him trapped in that trench. Just like Gen, he knows that this isn't going to hold him for long, but it's precious time bought nonetheless.
He positions himself beside Gen, in front of Misa, facing Amos head-on. Whatever feelings of unease he has are merely simmering underneath the surface. ]
Amos. What's going on?
[ He has a feeling neither he nor Gen will get an answer. ]
no subject
Gen's mace hits him, catching him where shoulder and chest meet, the impact both forcing his arm back and away from Misa and drawing blood. He yells, not in pain but in fury — just one more thing that's been inflicted on him, on his body, and fuck if he can remember what anything else was just that it was seemingly every waking moment — that yell disrupted as he tumbles into a trench that wasn't there before.
That he probably wouldn't have noticed, anyway.
He looks up, teeth snapping as he's addressed, but it all means nothing. He's already scrambling to try to get up, try to maul Gen when his legs start to be frozen in place, halting his progress.
The pain that he should be feeling isn't there. Neither is the cold. His gaze jerks from Gen to Kaeya, narrowed eyes and low growl that shifts into something of a sharp bark his only answer for them. He doesn't register the trickle of blood down his chest from where the mace struck him; doesn't look down at what's impeding him, just continuing to scramble towards the wall of the trench, powerful legs willing themselves to move forward — and then the ice cracks, and breaks, shattering off of him as he lunges forward, turning what should have been a headfirst charge into the trench's wall into a boost as he uses his claws to pull himself up, get himself on level ground with now not one, but three people he needs to kill, immediately.
He wastes no time — he has energy reserves to spare as he bursts forward, a claw outstretched for both Gen and Kaeya each, lunging at their centres of mass.
There's no forward planning here. He just needs to grab them first, dig into them, hook his claws into their flesh tear it open make sure they can't get away, and whatever he does after is whatever he does after. ]
no subject
Still, that appreciation does little to diffuse the highly volatile situation at hand. Amos isn't... he isn't responding to anything. And they all know he's felt nothing but the same constant line of fury since the three of them converged on him at this corner of the city— he's gone, far too gone, for anything she could think to say to reach him, that much is quickly obvious. She watches with a detached horror as he lunges out of the icy trench made by her two companions, and her kneejerk reaction is to try to pull someone further back, out of the crosshairs of a direct blow. The further apart they all are, and the less predictable their movements, the less likely it'll be that Amos will be able to grievously injure two or more of them at the same time. But she's only one person, and by far the smallest in the group— she can only make an effort for one of them.
Misa has no choice but to make a split-second decision, and she fists her hands into whatever cloth and belt straps are available for purchase on Gen's back, and yanks with all her weight backwards, even if it'll send them both toppling back hard onto the pavement. Maybe it won't be enough to evade the claw altogether, but it'll throw him off the path of a direct blow to torso, as Amos so clearly aims to do. Kaeya's a knight, or a pirate (?), or at the very least a magician, she has to pray he'll have some trick up his sleeve to save himself, or has the experience to know what to do. Gen, on the other hand... she worries for him more. Six months in Horos wouldn't compare to someone who fought for a living, would it?
Even in the midst of doing this, her eyes are already pinned on Amos himself, beginning to will his left leg to stone— stopping him from moving seems like the most important thing to do, so that's what she goes for first, not thinking of the pain from falling, nor even really assessing how badly Gen and Kaeya are hurt. She can't afford to look away, not for a second. ]
no subject
Gen's still focused on trying to manipulate the earth beneath them, and Misa's desperate intervention is probably the only thing that saves him from getting gutted on the spot. His voice escapes as little more than a startled grunt as he's yanked back by the folds of his jacket, claws rending through the fabric of his shirt. Though Gen manages to stay on his feet, it's just barely; his boots scuff against the paving stones as he falls back two, three steps, stumbling heavily into Misa on the way. ]
-- fuck!
[ Even that harried expletive emerges breathless and rushed. But at least it comes with progress -- the earth between Amos, and him and Kaeya erupts forth, a wave of heavy dirt and rocks surging forth to sweep around Amos' legs and weigh down his steps. It's a sloppily-implemented affair that begins sagging in itself within moments, and Gen knows it won't buy them more than a few moments; Amos will probably be able to simple bulldoze his way through it in a few moments, he imagines. But what other option does he have? It was the only thing he could think to do. He dares to drop his gaze for a moment down to where his stomach feels hot -- Amos' claws have left lurid lines painted across his stomach, his flesh peeking through pale for a second before starting to seep red -- and his voice comes hoarse with tension as he looks to Misa and Kaeya to spit, ]
The hell're we supposed to do?!
[ There has to be a solution. Something then can do to stop ... whatever this is. To return Amos back to normal. Right? ]
no subject
This reminds him of a stormy night, when he exposed everything that he'd ever kept a secret to the one he thought would be able to accept it easily. The way his honesty was met with a fury so righteous and unstoppable that he swore never to tell the truth again, only to break this promise to himself when he thought he could trust Amos. Amos had been steadfast and reliable and constant despite being met with his early ambivalence. Amos believed in him that he would come around, waited for him to let down his guard as one would with a stray animal who only ever had to rely on itself, so it only made sense to—
Right when Gen curses as he's pulled away from immediate danger, Kaeya realizes that Amos is so close, dangerously close to gutting him right there and then. He blinks out of existence at the very last moment, sharp claws cutting through the fabric of his clothes, dragging down a gash across his chest that bleeds immediately. When he reappears right next to Misa and Gen, he nearly stumbles backwards from both the shock and pain. It appears he's a lot more hurt than he first realized, but he powers through it in favour of helping Gen keep Amos preoccupied.
Four pillars made out of bitter cold ice shoot up from the ground, boxing the man in. An icy prison to compliment the rocks that now weigh Amos down, but once again, it's only buying them more time. ]
We have to find a way to contain him somehow. Or if we can knock him out, then—
[ At least that will give them the chance to think of a better way to stop him.
He glances towards Misa. ]
If Minegishi and I keep him distracted, will that give you an opportunity to use your ability?
[ Even trying to strategize like this is risky, but they have to figure something out or else Amos will destroy them all. ]
no subject
They'd found flesh, momentarily, but that isn't good enough; he needs to be able to dig in, hook something living onto his hands, scoop it all out. But one is pulled away far too soon and the other leaves his followthrough hitting nothing more than air, and it's frustrating — an emotion easily converted to an uptick in anger.
He glares at his targets, now further back, as he tries to resume his advancement. He doesn't notice the way his leg is slowly turning heavier, stiffer, less flexible; anything that happens to him is irrelevant. He sifts through spilled ground first with difficulty, then ease as his stance adapts and grows firmer, only to be cut off by ice.
Except he can still see, knows his targets are on the other side of it, so without missing much of a beat he slams his fists into the pillar in front of him. The ice cracks, and he does it again, this time with an accompanying yell and headbutt. It shatters, leaving him with sharp shards of ice to force his feet through on top of the uneven ground, but he doesn't notice how he's slowed down. He's making his way through it, fangs inadvertently on display with the effort he doesn't know he's exerting, advancing on the three of them as they talk, attempt to strategize what to do with him; people he should love would have loved in any other lifetime has no room for love maybe never has.
(It's all been buried under something, but accessible; it's just now the something is an unending torrent of rage and this is why it's better to feel nothing than to feel all of that.)
He wants them dead; they need to die; and when he's free of the debris he picks up as much speed as he can — never mind the petrified foot, the way it throws him off-balance, it's irrelevant to him so long as he can sink his claws into any all of them — aiming to grab at
Kaeya, he decides in a last second moment; he's bleeding the most, and if it's all the same to them then he's the one he's most drawn to, nostrils flaring at the scent of blood and claws extended, ready to restrain him so he can maybe tear his throat out with his teeth. ]
no subject
[ She answers, hurriedly, still not able to look away to address Kaeya or Gen, as she's focusing on growing the stone up Amos's leg, her brow tense. They have a spot of time while Amos tries to punch his way out of the ice, so she continues, thinking that it's best if the other two have a clearer idea of the conditions of her powers: ]
Normally I can only get half a person. But if you hold him down— [ Her words are cut short by a wince as she hears the sound of the ice break, as she sees Amos begin to escape. ] I can get the rest! I just have to be close!
[ She just has to fully turn him to stone. If they can get that far into petrifying him, or even close to it... she's sure that'll negate the threat. As far as she's seen, no one can break free of her petrification once its set, not without knocking her out, so she has to believe its strong enough to contain whatever has taken a hold of their friend.
Briefly, she remembers something Amos himself had said to her, after the nightmares in Venera. So if something like that happens again... use it. Tear me down. I can take it. She can't afford to hesitate right now. She doubts the same trick she used before will have any effect, but the sentiment remains from back then - she'll go as far as she needs to. She'd promised him... she'd promised him she'd do whatever is necessary, if something happened to him. All she has to do now is follow through - and not think of anything else.
Amos starts charging, and Misa begins taking steps back, making hurried gestures with her arms at the both of them— desperately urging them to split up before Amos gets too close. The clunk of his stone leg keeps getting heavier as he advances, hopefully giving Kaeya and Gen whatever slivers of advantages she can give them. ]
— Now go, hurry! I'll be fine!!
[ If they're going to provide a distraction, she doesn't want to be getting in their way, or making herself into a distraction that needs to be protected. And Misa is almost always recklessly, stupidly brave in the midst of danger, used to staring death in the face as she is. This is no different. She splits off from the two of them, going in the opposite direction of Amos's lunge at Kaeya before either of them try to dissuade her. ]
no subject
[ Gen hisses those low words between ragged breaths, but only out of disbelief. Not refusal. He's always been the type to know what has to be done, after all, and he knows they don't have many other options at the moment.
It's just that 'keeping Amos distracted' is definitely way easier said than done.
And it certainly doesn't help that the steady seep of emotions coloring the air makes it feels like there's acid slowly filling his lungs. His own anxiety buzzes through his nerves like electric pulses, further bolstered by the sting of Misa's determination and the ice-cold prickle of Kaeya's tension. Then there's the rage. Sheer, unadulterated, overwhelming bloodlust burning so hot it threatens to sear a hole through his chest. It's not even that he's a stranger to that level of anger -- it's that he's only ever felt his own rage in such vivid details. Not somebody else's. Not a trusted ally's. Not Amos'.
'Keep him distracted,' Kaeya had said, and it truly feels like a monumental task at the moment.
Still, he hears the scrape of Misa's shoes off the pavement as she dashes away from him, and Gen grits his teeth as he splits away from Kaeya -- skidding to a halt so abruptly his knee almost buckles when he realizes Amos has decided to gun for Kaeya, and not him. ]
-- goddammit!
[ It would be easy to simply swing his mace at Amos' exposed back. Crush his spine. (Cripple him. Potentially kill him.) But that's not something he can just do -- isn't an option he can even consider -- and Gen hisses from the strain of using his magic in such rapid succession as he instead gives a sharp swipe of the arm while still several paces away. The earth between Kaeya and Amos crackles as it erupts, a paving stone ripping from the ground to rocket upwards and straight into Amos' gut, right below his ribcage.
It's a blow hard enough to crack a rib or two. Brutal enough that most people would be immediately doubled over, winded and gasping for air. But even before that slab of rock's made contact with Amos' frame, Gen can feel dread coiling cold in the pit of his stomach because he knows, he knows that's only going to delay him for a split second, if that. ]
no subject
Despite their collective attempts, all they've done is slow Amos down, getting nowhere close to truly putting a stop to this rampage. The last time he was in this kind of situation, there was no way out of it other than to fight back until there was no longer a threat, but the threat here is someone he trusts, someone they all trust, so even just the idea of defending themselves is more than enough to make anyone hesitate. He tries not to. He wills his own emotions to smooth themselves out just so he stops contributing to the mess that is being broadcasted over their empathic connection.
Like frost over morning dew, he waits for the tension to leave him before steeling his resolve. Misa requires to be looking straight at her target, so they just need to stop Amos from getting to her in any way possible so that she could do her thing. It's a blessing that his own kit is well-suited to slow opponents down, even more so when combined with how Gen is able to call upon the earth to add more obstacles that can provide him with the opening he needs to capture Amos in one go.
At least, that was the plan until he realizes that Amos is headed straight for him this time around. The other two have already moved out of the way, leaving him in plain sight of the man, with nothing, no one, else in between them — until the ground shoots up to slam right against Amos. It's only a split-second window that he takes full advantage of, manifesting a sharp spike in his hand before he drives that into the man's shoulder, letting the cold settle right in. ]
Hey, big guy. [ He can only offer a harrowed smile, one that he's sure Amos wouldn't even care about. ] Aren't you way too close for comfort?
[ Rather than move out of Amos' reach, he remains rooted in the same spot. He hasn't even let go of the spike he'd dug into the man's shoulder just so he can infuse more cryo into it, allowing frost to spread out from there with the intent of freezing him gradually. There's another way he can make this go quicker, and that's by letting Amos grab ahold of him, sharp claws be damned. It's dangerous, yeah, downright insane, but it's a risk he's willing to take especially when the odds are stacked against them. He latches onto one of Amos' arms, and from there, spikes of ice crawling from his palm.
Is he trying to freeze both of them in one go? Absolutely. He knows he can rely on Misa and Gen to make good use of the time he's given them now. ]
no subject
He's blind to the emotions being shared between them, to the fact that his are contributing to the atmosphere; they're so all-consuming that he's drowning in his own anger. Anyone else's determination, trepidation, levelheadedness are nothing more than a drop in a storm to him, and all there is — all there ever has been — is a storm.
He's blind to whatever they throw at him until it hits him, too. He's blind to the way his left leg is increasingly becoming heavy and immobile, no pause in his steps as he limps along with it. He's blind to Gen's attack until it hits him, knocks the air out of him; something in him should absolutely break but instead it just cracks under the impact, loud, before holding firm. He yells as pain is swiftly converted to anger, voice growing louder as he is subsequently stabbed, drowning out whatever it is Kaeya has to say to him.
Just like with his leg, he has no ability to grasp what's happening to his shoulder, his arm. The cold is drowned out by rage. All he knows for sure is that Kaeya is doing something to him, and all it does, as far as he's concerned, is add fuel to his fire. He grabs at Kaeya, digging his claws into his upper arms as he brings his face in, eyes narrowed and gaze boring directly into his, lips curled back into a snarl, teeth dangerously close, hovering over him for a few seconds.
The cold starts to penetrate his mind, a recognition that his arms aren't feeling the way they should, and so he uses everything he has in him to try to pry Kaeya off of him, force him to disengage, literally throw him away before trying to round on Gen, whether he's successful or not. ]
no subject
It isn't the first time she's wished she had her Death Note in hand. If there were a way to take him out instantly, it'd be a lot safer for the three of them. And she knows Amos would understand. Perhaps coldly, insensitively... Misa begins to think it's inevitable— no, almost favorable. She watches as Kaeya is tossed like a ragdoll, heart dropping into her stomach. Distract him until they're able to subdue him very quickly seems like a plan that's destined to fail, but what choice does she have? She can't look away from Amos, can't stop at least trying to stop him before their hands are forced into doing something more permanent. ]
Kaeya!
[ She calls out, concern steeped into her shrill voice - in the heat of the moment, she's not worried about drawing attention to herself, not when both of them are bearing the brunt of the onslaught. It's what drives her to act - to do something she has barely any experience doing, with her short training regimen. As Amos turns to whale on Gen, she calls forth a concentration of dark, malevolent energy into her palm, the size of a softball - it's by no means large, but it's the biggest projectile she can summon reliably at her skill level. It doesn't matter to her that it's a risky move, that she hasn't practiced it enough, that she may even miss— she's only thinking of trying to bring Amos down, to stop him from advancing, desperately, before he brings the three of them down. The stone traveling up past his thigh— it's not enough, not nearly enough, to stop him, even as she continues growing it in earnest. She hurtles the magic his way with aim that's lacking - a strike meant to make impact with the back of his head ends up on a course towards his spine, instead. But even so, the compact spell is condensed, corrosive energy, likely to leave a jagged wound in its wake on contact. ]
no subject
-- then Amos hurls Kaeya aside with all the ease of a child throwing aside a broken toy. ]
Shit.
[ The expletive is muttered low only because he doesn't have the breath to waste on shouting it when Amos turns to focus on him, next.
He's barely paying attention to what Misa's doing, to be honest. He can't afford to split his focus like that. Nerves bristling from the sympathetic rage and blood churning with adrenaline, Gen's focus is aimed entirely at following the movements of Amos' claws to predict the arc that they'll trace through the air. And when Amos comes lunging at him, arm cocked back in preparation to gut him like a hunted animal, Gen grits his teeth as he gives a short, controlled swing of the mace. His kinetic vision and reflexes are good, but not that good, and this is essentially a gamble.
Then that bolt of dark magic hits. Amos' movements slow just enough that that ambitious move works out. And just before Amos' blow lands and rip his guts out, the head of his mace shrieks through the air and smashes into those claws.
Vaguely, Gen's aware of the patter of shattered pieces scattering across the ground below him. -- that's progress, right? At least this way, Amos is down one weapon. But too bad there's no real time to bask in relief. After all, breaking those claws hadn't been enough to actually stop the momentum of Amos' furious attack. Which means all Gen can do is steel himself for however it will land on him.
This is going to hurt like a bitch, isn't it. ]
no subject
He snaps out of it when he feels those claws dig into his arm. The pain is enough to ground him in reality, but the distraction is enough to let Amos toss him aside like a ragdoll he no longer has any interest in. There's blood all over where he ends up, but he tries not to pay any attention to that, quickly scrambling for purchase just so he's in a fighting position yet again.
But nothing they do is working. No matter what they throw at Amos, he either breaks free out of it in a matter of seconds or it only slows him down without doing any real damage. It's quickly becoming obvious that the situation is a whole lot direr than any of them have realized. Maybe it isn't going to be enough to simply knock Amos down. Maybe it doesn't matter if they manage to do that much, because he might just wake up and try to kill them all again. They can't allow that to happen. He won't allow that to happen. Whatever they can do to buy Misa more time is the only plan they've got so they have to keep trying, no matter what.
The alternative isn't something they can consider (even if Kaeya is beginning to think it might be inevitable).
Two sharp spikes have manifested in his hands, both of which he propels to land on either side of where Amos is standing. The ice will grow and spread from where they are, serving as not only obstacles but easier points to freeze Amos in place as the frost creeps up his legs. Misa's petrification will be much stronger, but there's no harm in taking advantage of freezing whatever blood is now on Amos' person.
Given his position, he charges at Amos from behind too, grabbing him from under the arm and around the shoulder just so he can stop him before he causes some serious damage to Gen. He can't tell if he was too late or not, all he knows is that he's got to find a way to anchor them both down before the guy starts thrashing around like crazy. ]
no subject
It has always been in him from the moment he was born in a blackmarket clinic, relegated to the fringes of society that made him perpetually vulnerable, perpetually at others' mercy, perpetually under their control. He was five years old when it finally snapped, broke him irreparably, left nothing more than a few pieces only a few people tried to pick up. He should love them to death, has, always will, and the number of people who have tried with him has grown since Horos, but it can't erase the fact that all he was ever born to do was hurt and hurt and hurt and all he could ever do with that was bury it under rage and bury that under layers and layers of nothingness.
And now the layers have been cracked and there's only one thing saving him from acknowledging what some faint remaining part of his mind knows is pain so he lets the fury spill out like a geyser, embraces it, because in the end, that's all he ever really had to protect him.
He throws Kaeya off of him and doesn't feel the cold, only the anger. He turns on Gen and is ready, this is his kill, white hot frenzy rushing up in eagerness to meet warm blood, and then so many things hit him all at once — but it's the kind of pain he can handle, knows what to do with.
Mind might not be able to match up to body as everything they do slows his body down, but it will get there. He will make it get there. He will force his way through Kaeya's ice yet, both the obstacles he can see and what's on his legs that he can't even feel, is able to break away from the ground, step away from. He is going to put an end to everything and everyone else—
He yells when Misa's blast hits him, reinforced skin taking the blunt of the impact — he can't be hurt like this he can't — but unable to fully repel the way it digs in, traces his spine between his shoulders with a shaky hand, his own blood starting to line down his back. His roar grows louder as Gen smashes his hand, his body desperately working to knit back together something that can't quite be because the damage is done but he can't be done, claws broken down into something blunted and flat.
He'd been aiming to tear the heart out — and between Kaeya's sudden reappearance and the damage his hand has taken, all that happens is a vicious, forceful blow to Gen's solar plexus, far stronger than anything he delivered to Gen the one time they'd sparred before learning they probably shouldn't. Because back then he'd still had people he cared about, and now there's nothing but the sheer everything that's hurt him along the way.
He doesn't have the chance to see things through with Gen with his remaining claw, though, because Kaeya's still got ahold of him. He snarls and twists his body around as best he can to try to grab at him, throw him off, finding a hold with his remaining claw and wrenching him as far away as he can, again.
The momentum leaves him with a new line of sight, and for the first time since this all started happening, he locks eyes with Misa — and immediately starts advancing towards her. He can't charge anymore, but he still finds a way to move in a sort of aborted run, oblivious to the way cracks start running up his leg as he slams it down on the pavement alongside his other foot.
He has to get her, too. And now he will. ]
no subject
She's making eye contact with him directly.
Her first instinct is to run - though that is quickly ruled out by her recent memory of how running away did absolutely nothing to work towards saving her life the last time Amos charged at her. Gen and Kaeya won't... they can't intervene this time, can they? Or, she has to do something until they can. Is her only choice to stand her ground...? To wait for Amos to barrel into her, and no doubt rip her apart?
The thought is frightening enough to freeze her legs in place, only managing a shaky half step back from where she stands. Instead, she just tenses her brow, trying with all her might to summon more magic than she had before - thinking that the only way she can escape a gruesome, brutal end is to kill him first. Amos's bloodlust, shared between them, is unrestrained and feral— but Misa's desire to kill answering it in the moment is clear, detached, despite being born from sheer desperation. A means to an end. But there's the panic of the situation, and her inexperience, too, that keeps her from getting the results she wants of her abilities on command. The best she can do is fire off a spell of the same size and density right at the center of his body - and he's so close, that it barely has to travel far. At least it's nearly impossible to miss. Her arm swings out and across herself as she casts it, and she has less than a few seconds to bring it back towards her body in a futile attempt of a guard. ]
no subject
Right in front of him.
He grabs at her arm with his dulled left hand, ensnaring it in a bone-crushing grip as he finally has a hold on her. He uses it to lift Misa up for a moment, their eyes level, before throwing her back down to the ground. He's on top of her then, both of his hands gripped around her shoulders to keep her pinned to the ground — still-clawed right hand digging in as he does so — and leans in close, as he had with Kaeya earlier. Direct, too-close eye contact, where she'll be able to see there's nothing in his eyes. No recognition, no friendship, no nothing but for pure rage and bloodlust, a low growl emanating from his throat.
He keeps her pinned with his blunted left hand, raises his clawed right hand to swipe down through her, and— ]
no subject
It takes little effort for Amos to shove Kaeya away a second time around, tossing him aside much further than before. Blood skids along the concrete, leaving behind a trail from where Kaeya fell and where he ended up; almost deja vu, which makes this a whole lot worse for him. This time, however, he hasn't lost his shard; this time, he still has enough strength to fight back, to get up and—
He sees Amos lift Misa up.
He sees Amos toss Misa back to the ground, pinning her down to deliver the final blow. ]
—Misa!
[ It's the most alarmed he's ever been. The dread is paralyzing, enough to keep him from reacting quick and proper, but he manages to snap out of it just in time to book it towards Misa, going as fast as he can. The only problem is he's nowhere close enough to be successful in putting a stop to this. He isn't going to make it. He's too far. No, no, no, he won't allow this to happen, he can't be too late again. If he just puts his all into this one shot, then maybe, just maybe, but there's no time to think. No time to figure out exactly what he's going to do beyond just doing it.
The same spike from before, bigger this time, much sharper. He tries to aim for the hand that Amos is going to use to kill Misa, wanting to crush it. Not realizing just how easy it would be to have it go straight through Amos instead if he's positioned just right, but he's running out of time the more he hesitates, so he just does it.
And prays to whatever god out there is willing to listen that he doesn't miss. ]
cw: graphic violence
and yet he can't tear his eyes away from the violence that continues to unfold before him. Time seems to slow to a crawl, his field of vision tilting and sliding upward as Gen staggers and sags to his knee; it's only the adrenaline rush and that desperate urge to see this matter through that keeps him conscious at all, eyes fixed on the chaos playing in slow motion.
Amos lunging by him, each footstep like a drumbeat. Blood, more blood splattering on the pavement in lurid starbursts of red. Muscles pull taut like cables as Amos picks Misa up like a plaything, his arm raised as if in triumph for a moment before throwing her to the ground. The brittle sound of bones snapping like twigs, followed by the crackle of ice crystals, then the fleshy puncture of that spike driving through Amos' raised hand. Claws splinter, shatter, scatter across the ground, accompanied by flourishes of blood, more blood.
But the air is still thick with rage, bitter on the tongue and with that heady, overpowering, burning stench like petrol. Even with both hands destroyed, Amos is still prepared to kill because that's what he's been reduced to. Gen knows this, knows it for sure. Watches the way spittle strings between his fangs as Amos' mouth opens wide, those pale, jagged teeth prepared to rip, tear, rend through flesh.
Misa is going to die. Amos is going to rip her throat out.
-- Gen surges forth, body over mind. The earth, too, moves with him, lending his forward lunge the momentum he couldn't have mustered on his own. His field of vision has narrowed down to a tiny, dark point focused only on those teeth, those fangs, those jagged shapes intent on ripping Misa's throat out. All he knows is that he needs to stop them. So he clenches his jaw as he swings his mace.
And there's the heavy, wet sound of the mace's head smashing Amos' jaw.
Flesh tears, bone shatters. The impact is vicious enough to jostle even Amos' enhanced bulk; Amos wobbles, and there's a sickening squelch as skin peels away from the mace head's jagged edges. Gen's ears ring with the sound of Misa's scream and Kaeya's voice, like they're playing on loop from somewhere very far away, muffled by a heavy curtain of tinnitus. And though he's frozen for a split second, eyes wide and gaze wild as he continues to stare at those white teeth where they now sit in disarray amidst the bloody, exposed mess of Amos' ravaged mouth --
Amos moves. Maybe it's a twitch, a spasm, a reflexive jerk. He's not sure. He can't care, not right now. Those teeth might still move. The threat is still there. So he has to destroy it.
The second strike of the mace is just as heavy, just as vicious, this time aimed at Amos' temple. There's no pause before Gen pulls his weapon back and rains down another blow. Then another. Even as Amos' body topples before the barrage of violence, even as his own movements start to grow stilted and weaker, he still drags himself forward one step, another step, to loom over Amos' form and continue the frantic assault. The only noise he makes is the sound of whistling, halting gasps -- his lungs are still working against him from that punch to the chest, sheer desperation driving his movements even when lack of oxygen is starting to blanket his vision with static. His fear bleeds thick into the air, rendered acrid with anxiety and misery; any anger's been far overpowered by that sickly stench of frantic determination. Gen chokes on his next ragged breath, but even as his throat threatens to close, as spit strings down his jaw, as his mind goes blank, (as blood, more blood, there's always more blood spills across the pavement,) he raises the mace once more.
It's his role to protect the people he cares about. So threats must be eliminated. No matter the cost. He has to, he has to. ]
cw gore, death
He ignores it, beyond recognition of what's happening to him, beyond pain. He drives bloodied, blunted fingers down towards Misa anyway, but just like with Gen, it's a brute force, blunted impact that misses his original target, hitting her ribcage rather than clawing her heart out. He doesn't have time for confusion, doesn't have time to understand why that didn't work; has already forgotten about it and is lunging down with his fangs, because he is going to kill her—
The surge of anger when that mace smashes into his jaw is more vicious, more violent, more monstrous than it has been ever since he embraced Silco's touch to try to tear the Sanctifier apart limb by limb. Even as his entire being jostles from the impact, for a second there's a blip as the anger goes out entirely, him blacking out due to the sheer intensity of it. And then it's back online, roaring through his ears, thrumming through his blood, even as he loses part of his face, some teeth shattered, some completely gone — but not all of them.
He still has something to do here, his brain careening into a mindless overdrive. There is still something living underneath him and for that he moves forwards, remaining lips peeling back, exposing more of the fangs he still has at his disposal, mindless of the blood pouring from the remnants of his mouth; he will kill he will rip this life away with every last thing he's got because it's owed to him because it's all he's good for because everything needs to die—
His head jerks back, to the side, at the second blow, at the third, as it keeps going. Rage continues to thrum as skull fragments go flying, brain matter exposed and then buried in remaining hair, as his body falls away from Misa, to her side. His eye — eye, one's been lost through this assault, significant chunk of his head just gone — is still on her, but it's debatable how much it even sees at this point; a part of his jaw works itself, fingers twitch, an arm attempts to lift itself to grab her or punch her or do something, it doesn't know what, and then it stops.
His body has reached its limit. It stops. Even as the blows continue, it stops.
Amos exhales, a wet and dying sound, remaining eye slipping shut as he feels everything going away. Fade to nothingness, fade to something like home. Even as his head gets caved in — this is fine. Better than fine. There are things worse than death, and now, as he dies, he's no longer one of them.
The suffocating anger is gone even before his body begins to dissipate, gradually reduced to nothing, leaving behind a slightly darkened crystal — blue sheen to it in the right light, a small soul for a stunted person — and it's okay. ]
cw: gore, violence
She's so scared— it doesn't register to her that Kaeya's spell shattered Amos's other claw. No, her eyes are screwed shut, so what registers is the brutal, violent blow to her ribcage, an audible crack of more bones splintering in its wake - or, audible, before Misa's wail drowns it out, choked and between hyperventilated breaths. Her remaining functioning arm scrabbles frantically against Amos's chest during the assault, nails digging into whatever open wounds she can find, her breaths coming more and more panicked, raspy—
And suddenly, her face is wet.
Not with tears, not with sweat, but with something hot and thick and smelling of iron. Her eyes open to the sight of Amos's ruined jaw, still hanging open and spilling blood openly across the bridge of her nose, down her cheek. He's still coming, still attacking, even now. She shrieks in terror, shrill, piercing, legs kicking uselessly as an animal caught in a trap's might, eyes impossibly wide as Gen swings his mace down a second time, sending gore and bits of skull fragments everywhere, flecking onto her face and onto the pavement, too.
Then a third blow, and a fourth, and a fifth, and she doesn't look away, keeps watching as Amos's head caves in, as a mess is made of him. She wants to see the light go out of his eyes - she can see him still looking, can see his fingers still twitching. Spurred on by a primal, frenzied horror, she wants to see the beast beat out of him, even if that means all that remains will be the ravaged corpse of their beloved friend. (Amos, he.... he'll come back, won't he? He'll be his normal self again? This can't be forever, can't be permanent. Please.) Only when she's certain, absolutely certain that he's dead, when his name is erased from what could barely be called a face anymore, does she even bother to look at Gen himself, the daze he's in, how far he's pushed himself to do this.
She sees the boy she'd seen just a week or so before, run down from killing, much as he'd like to say otherwise back then. She sees someone pushed to the edge, if not already pushed over. He went so far, for her sake. And thus, it isn't the brutality of the act, nor a fear of him that pushes her to stop him— it's the knowledge of what he's doing to himself. Wanting to save him the way he just saved her, to pull him back from where he's fallen. Because she knows, she's seen what lies beneath that tough, aggressive attitude he displays to everyone else, how killing (and almost killing, in one case) seems to haunt him. ]
Gen.... stop..... [ She calls out hoarsely, between two strikes of his mace - her breaths are shallow, on account of the surely destroyed ribs on her side, but they're made shallower by the unbidden sob that tears through her chest anyway. Her right arm is bent limply at an uncanny angle from the way she'd been lifted and thrown, so she has no choice but to reach up with her left, trying to tug at the elbow of his sleeve before another blow comes down. ] Please, it's over...!
[ As she pleads with him, Amos's body begins to dissipate in full. It really is over. ]
cw: gore, suicide ideation
There's a ringing in his ears that wasn't quite there earlier on, like the buzzing of static. White noise. Time crawls to a complete stand-still when it looks as though there's nothing he can do to save Misa. Amos is so close, Amos is so dangerously close, just like before with him, and he'd already snapped more bones in her than necessary so what's a few more to finish the job? He doesn't think he can even hear her scream. Is she crying? Is she begging for Amos to stop? He doesn't know. None of it feels real. None of it feels like it's happening. Everything feels like he's watching from somewhere far away, like a movie played in slow motion.
Paused. Stopped.
Until the first sickening crack of bone and teeth slams into the fast-forward button, and then it all catches up. Like a domino effect. The adrenaline no longer makes his heart feel like it's about to leap right out of his chest. The pain dealt by the man who was supposed to be their friend hits him all at once. His breathing is difficult to control, worn and weary. Tired and all out of sorts. Gen moves to strike again, and now Kaeya has front-row seats to the way Amos' head collapses in on itself. Half of his jaw is missing, peeled apart by how flesh sticks to the jagged edges of the ace. There's blood all over the ground, all over Misa, all over—
( Bodies were strewn all around the broken carriage, pieces of themselves scattered like forgotten cargo. Kaeya ran as fast as he could, but he was too late, he was too late. The man who raised him like one of his own was now dying in the arms of Diluc, his sworn brother, someone whose conviction shattered just as soon as the first drop of rain hit the ground. It was pouring by the time the man breathed his last, and all Kaeya could do was watch as his body crumbled into ash and smoke.
There was nothing left of Master Crepus by the end of it. Maybe that was for the best. )
—Amos. There's blood all over Amos. Most of his face is gone by the time Kaeya remembers where he is.
Amos' body twitches, maybe out of reflex, maybe out of pain, but there's something wrong with how it happens. Kaeya looks, and all he sees is an eye wide open, still watching Misa, an arm lifted as if it still wants to reach out and grab her. It's trying to do something, maybe it's Amos asking for forgiveness, it's okay, I'm sorry, and then Amos is gone.
It's hard to describe the noise that comes out of Kaeya right now. Maybe it's a laugh. Maybe it's a sob. A strangled plea that doesn't quite sound right. All he can think about is just how powerless he was to stop something like this from happening again. Is this the reason why Diluc gave up on everything all those years ago? Is this why Diluc left his Vision behind and sought after a resolve that would burn brighter than what he lacked? It all makes sense to him now, when he thinks about it— after all, what was the point of clinging to a blessing from the gods when it couldn't even protect the ones you loved? At least, he thinks he understands, but at the same time, he realizes that nothing can be further from the truth.
He isn't Diluc, after all. He isn't a good person.
He tries to be, but he can't help but feel like laughing right now. Rather than deciding to never let this happen again, just like he's done before, he... doesn't know what to do anymore. He's at a complete loss. It would have been so much easier if he'd just let Amos crush his skull instead of letting things get to this point, because now he's left with what? The realization that a good man had to die because none of them could have saved him? He might as well crush his own shard right now. It's better than learning how to deal with everything else that happened.
But Misa's voice manages to cut through all the static. She reminds Gen, and Kaeya, too, that it's over. Please stop.
So he stops, walks over to the shard Amos left behind, and picks it up.
It doesn't feel like it's going to be okay, but at least it's over. Right? ]
cw: little more gore
Gen jolts to a halt with his mace still halfway raised for another blow. He's suddenly far too aware of the stench of iron in the air, the damp sensation of blood tracing thin lines down the shaft of his mace to wet at his fingers, the feel of still-warm splatters cooling against his face. The momentum and weight of his movements forces one last swing of the mace, but its head only whiffs through the air -- Gen's instead made sharply aware of the way it paints a lurid cobweb of blood against the cracked ground in its wake. And when he dares to look -- properly look down at the grand display of gore spread out beneath him --
The pale, pale white of Amos' shattered skull and scattered teeth, the delicate pink of exposed brain, the brilliant red of ravaged flesh. Blood continues to pool from that fully-bloomed display of carnage where Amos' head should be, spreading across the ground. Gen finally stumbles back a step as his gaze frantically skips from one patch of gore to another, his breaths still stifled at the back of his throat in choked, shallow gasps.
(An image comes to mind, just for a split second. White bathroom tiles seen from the point of view of a child, everything looming large. Blood lashed across the walls, all over the floor. The corpse of a man still twitching against the bathtub, littered with stab wounds and painted red. And a knife clutched in small hands, trembling. -- maybe the others see it too, with how violently Gen's mind fixates on it, just for that split second. Though he hopes they don't.)
-- Gen retches, and that desperate twist of his stomach paradoxically helps him take control of his breaths and snaps him back to his senses. His lungs are awash with pain, his cracked sternum aflame with every breath, but at least he feels like he's been forced to crash-land back into reality. It takes some effort but he tears his eyes away from the sight of Amos' body as it starts dissipating (trying not to think of the way he'd been gently urged to look away from his body six years back, too, had that knife carefully eased away from his hands) and instead looks to Misa. ]
Misa.
[ His gaze is still wild, darting a little too quickly from place to place as he looks Misa over -- her tearstained face, the unnatural twist of her arm, the pained shiver that wracks her frame -- but at least he sees her, now. Not Amos, not a simple threat he has to eliminate, not the phantoms of his past. And though his movements are clumsy and jagged, his hand shaken by tremors that he can't seem to control, he does promptly fumble to replace his mace at his belt. ]
You're -- [ hurt. His words come stuttering between still-shallow breaths. ] -- we gotta ... get you. Emet-Selch. Or someone else. Who can heal. [ Right. Misa was the one he was trying to protect, so she's all that matters right now. He fulfilled his duty, he played his role. His boots almost slip on the pavement as he starts to kneel down to pick her up. It's only after he starts reaching for her that the flutter of his empty sleeve reminds him that he's not even capable of that anymore. ] -- ah -- [ Pain, anger, frustration sizzle through the air, a hot frisson of emotion that fades out quickly as he tries to refocus. ] ... wait. -- Kaeya. Kaeya!
[ The name is barked sharply as Gen looks to the other. And though that far-off look in his eyes still lingers (it won't fade for a long time, he already knows) at least there's a stern focus to his voice as he holds his hand out for Amos' shard. ]
Pick her up. We gotta get inside. Find someone who can help her. I'll carry -- ... him.
[ Amos. His shard. That precious remnant of the man he'd been forced to kill. ]
no subject
Misa tries to make sense of the flashes of imagery and thick, dense emotions coming from the three of them— white tiles, stark red, a depth of despair. And without the overwhelming rage that had been coming from Amos clouding up the connection between them, there's a sudden eerie clarity to the concoction of grief and suffering being emitted from the three of them - it's disorienting, almost.
But not as disorienting as the agony in her right arm, and the paralyzing shock of pain on her left side, which makes each breath harder to take than the last. All the intensity of her injuries comes rushing into her, with the immediate threat out of the way and the adrenaline coursing through her blood beginning to lessen in efficacy; she lets out a weak cry after Gen speaks, all her remaining energy being poured simply into enduring. Her teeth are gritted painfully hard when she can bear to wheeze out a few words, tears flowing unbidden from her eyes, streaking through the mess of blood and gore still smeared messily there. ]
Wait... can't you bring someone here, instead...?
[ She sounds— panicked, at the prospect of being moved or picked up. She's never, ever been in this much pain before, and naturally, recoils at the idea of making it worse, even temporarily. Whenever Kaeya is close enough, she grasps at what's left of his clothes desperately with her functioning hand, as if begging him not to jostle her. Somewhere, she knows that logically, that's just not how things work— in the regular world, she'd have to get in an ambulance somehow, right? But knowing that doesn't keep her from irrational paranoia, nor from a desperate, last-ditch effort to avoid more suffering. ]
Hold on.... I can't...
[ Her protests are half-baked, but it feels like— what if she can't make it there? She feels she's reacting appropriately dramatically, unsure of how serious the blow to her side is. Her distress aside, there's actually nothing she can do to prevent either of them moving her - there's no meaningful objection she can make outside of her tearful pleas. ]
no subject
Kaeya. Kaeya!
There's someone crying hysterically, and the sharp voice calling out to him mixes in with the terrible noise, causing him to snap back to the present. He doesn't know how much time has passed with him staring at the shard in his hands, but he knows that it must have been long enough for him to not realize that they've been trying to catch his attention. Misa must have said something to Gen, but he doesn't remember what it was. Couldn't really tell even if someone asks him to repeat back the words that were said. But it's fine. One step at a time.
First thing's first— Amos' shard. Gen asks to be the one to hold him. Gen, the one who murdered him, the one who...
—knows Amos better than he does. Next to Misa, he's the one more qualified than Kaeya, who didn't trust Amos at first, who felt hurt when what he got for letting his guard down around Amos was the man trying to kill him.
He passes the shard over to Gen without protest. ]
Take care of him.
[ Next, he lowers himself to be able to easily, carefully, slowly, cradle Misa in his arms. He freezes when she grasps at his shirt, tearfully begging him not to move her. It breaks what little he has left of himself but he knows they can't let her stay here. It's far more dangerous to leave her behind in search of someone who can heal her, so it's better they all stick together just in case someone takes advantage of the shitty situation they're all in. He wouldn't put it past anyone from the Pleroma, at this point. ]
... Misa. You'll be alright. [ Quietly; her only warning that he's about to stand up. ] I've got you.
[ Despite knowing it won't take away her pain completely, his hands glow a bright yet gentle shade of blue, delicate cryo energy seeping into her nerves in an effort to dampen the worst of it. He rises to a stand as carefully as he can go, looking over at Gen once he's ready. ]
Let's go.
[ Towards the Citadel, he thinks. The three of them may be worse for wear, but they still have Amos' shard, and they're still alive. It's the best they can ask for. ]