Backdated / this rp occurred chronologically June 20, 2014
Tsunake
His skin felt as though it were crawling. It seized and twisted, rippling and shuddering against his frame, threatening to pluck itself from muscle and sinew to slither off into the night. It burned and breathed and itched, and a whole mess of other things that he couldn't even begin to describe. He was, he decided, losing his mind, assuming it had not been misplaced already. He didn't know why he was out here, searching for an agent of the Negaverse instead of the people who could provide him with a sweet and easy fix for the liquid fire currently scorching through his veins, rattling about in his chest and clenching at his throat until it was hard to breathe.
The gym was as good a guess as any, and that was where the general chose to pace. It was late, late enough that he could have hid easily and waited until Björn let himself out.
Instead, the agent was pacing in front of the building like a caged tiger, his armor rattling, his cape snapping behind him as though to better display his frenzy. His eyes were practically burning, a snarl twisting at his lips even as he continued to stalk. Back and forth, back and forth--he could feel each heart beat pounding nails into his skull, threatening to rip him apart at the seams.
Hurry. Was the only thought that grated against his skull.
If Björn didn't hurry--his power spiked with agitation at the thought alone. If he didn't hurry, he'd kill him.
The gym was as good a guess as any, and that was where the general chose to pace. It was late, late enough that he could have hid easily and waited until Björn let himself out.
Instead, the agent was pacing in front of the building like a caged tiger, his armor rattling, his cape snapping behind him as though to better display his frenzy. His eyes were practically burning, a snarl twisting at his lips even as he continued to stalk. Back and forth, back and forth--he could feel each heart beat pounding nails into his skull, threatening to rip him apart at the seams.
Hurry. Was the only thought that grated against his skull.
If Björn didn't hurry--his power spiked with agitation at the thought alone. If he didn't hurry, he'd kill him.
He'd finished his daily routine for the day as far as actual workout and had been taking a slightly longer-than-usual use of the showers with the commercial amount of hot water that the gym afforded- his apartment was great, but the old Victorian had a water heater that topped out at 30 minutes worth of scalding water. It meant he'd missed the sudden buzz and panic that was among the staff at the front desk until he came out groomed and returned to a semblance of person instead of gym-rat.
The two clerks manning the desk waved him over hurriedly, assuring him he should NOT go out, that there was some crazy in armor out there and asking whether he thought calling the cops wasn't a good idea?
Björn bit his lip, not replying right away and walking the few paces that would let him see out the front windows to the street and get a look at- Jävlar- Obsidian. What is he...I have not seen Drew here at the gym in a long while. But he wears his uniform. He paces like a tiger. What did I do?
Or not do. Wracking his brain for 3 second brought nothing specific to mind. The girls and the front desk completely forgotten, Björn ran out the doors and down the steps, turning on a heel to catch the General up in his current pacing-pass. "Jarl..?"
He didn't hazard more. Asking if he 'needed' something implied he was lacking in any sense, and asking if he wanted something was dumb enough that even the big guy could pick up on it (it was obvious or why else be pacing that way).
Tsunake
There.
Obsidian spun on his heel at the sound of the nearly-familiar title now, and the fury that blazed across his face was a terrifying sight to behold. His fingers seized Björn's shirt like claws, seizing the young man closer. If Björn wasn't so tall, he would have been dangling him like a doll, and the fact that he can't only seems to fuel the frustration radiating from his every pore.
Perhaps the worst thing was that he didn't know what he wanted. He didn't know why he was here, or why he had sought out this stupid boy of all things.
The thought alone is enough to nearly motivate him to crush the boy's throat right then and there. He isn't aware of his one hand coiling around Björn's neck, squeezing so hard that his entire arm shook with the effort.
He pulled back with a sudden sound, a mix between a keen and a laugh that bubbled and eventually died. The pacing resumed.
Back and forth. Back and forth.
"I need to kill someone." It was very nearly a whisper.
Obsidian spun on his heel at the sound of the nearly-familiar title now, and the fury that blazed across his face was a terrifying sight to behold. His fingers seized Björn's shirt like claws, seizing the young man closer. If Björn wasn't so tall, he would have been dangling him like a doll, and the fact that he can't only seems to fuel the frustration radiating from his every pore.
Perhaps the worst thing was that he didn't know what he wanted. He didn't know why he was here, or why he had sought out this stupid boy of all things.
The thought alone is enough to nearly motivate him to crush the boy's throat right then and there. He isn't aware of his one hand coiling around Björn's neck, squeezing so hard that his entire arm shook with the effort.
He pulled back with a sudden sound, a mix between a keen and a laugh that bubbled and eventually died. The pacing resumed.
Back and forth. Back and forth.
"I need to kill someone." It was very nearly a whisper.
His lord was lively tonight, in a debatably sane way. Björn's brow furrowed as the other hauled on his shirt. His jaw grit when the hand found his throat- too small to engulf the whole but strong enough to well bruise and crush what it could reach. It was familiar treatment. He didn't kneel, but he did drop in a partial one with the shivering of the muscles of Obsidian's efforts and his own pain.
When the laugh came, with freedom and a return to pacing, it wasn't any more encouraging than the first. Björn didn't rub at his throat, but carefully straightened and walked himself out of view from the windows- "A hunt?"
"There must be something in our woods to wet your sword."
He powered up- glad for the rush of chaos to ebb the throbbing at his trapezius. Being a Captain now allowed a more robust resistance than his civilian body to the General's tenderness.
A hunt would be preferable to the Rift, serving purposes Wolframite and Titan had already discussed in hopeful plot. Is there comfort to be taken from this, he seeks it himself- freedom from the madness he wraps himself in like his cloak. I don't feel comforted. If it has come so far that even himself desperately claws at the edges of the tiger trap. But it is something. My hand will be here to try to pull him out. He came to me. Thank the gods above or below he found me and came to me.
"Would you like to look for a scout or knight? Deciding at start seems like more challenge."
Tsunake
His muscles were coiled too tight, steel springs that threatened to snap at any moment and unleash the full momentum of his being. Björn had attracted his attention once more, and Obsidian watched him with raised hackles, looking half-ready to pounce if the other were to make the wrong move.
Fortunately, it seemed Björn had chosen wisely. The general relaxed a hair at the sudden sensation of Chaos radiating from the captain, and the grin that pulled wide distorted his entire face, his skin stretched tight over his skull even as those green eyes continued to glitter.
"So long as it's alive and screaming by the time I sink my teeth in, I don't care." He practically spat the words, a thin hand clenched hard enough to make a trembling fist.
Yes. Alive. Dead would even be acceptable, so long as the starseed was still intact. It hadn't occurred to him that he had fallen from the role of a top predator to that of a mere scavenger.
Fortunately, it seemed Björn had chosen wisely. The general relaxed a hair at the sudden sensation of Chaos radiating from the captain, and the grin that pulled wide distorted his entire face, his skin stretched tight over his skull even as those green eyes continued to glitter.
"So long as it's alive and screaming by the time I sink my teeth in, I don't care." He practically spat the words, a thin hand clenched hard enough to make a trembling fist.
Yes. Alive. Dead would even be acceptable, so long as the starseed was still intact. It hadn't occurred to him that he had fallen from the role of a top predator to that of a mere scavenger.
Titan watched the fist tremble as it was brandished, silence set on his shoulders like a carrion bird.
It is no good if he keeps eating starseeds. That is the root of the problem and drive of the madness. Wolframite said so. But the hunt for them might dry him out a little at first, if it exhausts him to sleeping. If only Fortune would favor me twice tonight, and if we find an enemy they are too fast and lead us a merry chase. And then I can carry him home.
Miles to run before he will sleep.
"Hoh," the sound was noncommittal and affirmative all at once. Titan lifted heavily, jump by jump, to the rooves. He kept an eye on Obsidian to learn which direction he wanted. There was no feel in their immediate area to him- but a General's mind found further edges.
Tsunake
The hunt began, set at a ferocious pace even as he combed the streets and roofs alike, single-minded in his purpose to find and obtain that which fueled him. His movements were erratic and lacking his usual grace and skill, but radiated an intensity that was his and his alone.
He caught the trail of someone--senshi, knight, he couldn't say--and took off in that direction, bounding through the canopy of the urban jungle s though he'd been doing this all of his life. As far as he was concerned, he had. It wouldn't be long until they were closing in on the intended position, and Obsidian would strike without finesse.
She was a girl, young, as so many of them were, and his sword tasted blood--but it was a glancing blow, and the general hissed with fury as she managed to twist free of him with a yelp of surprise and pain.
He caught the trail of someone--senshi, knight, he couldn't say--and took off in that direction, bounding through the canopy of the urban jungle s though he'd been doing this all of his life. As far as he was concerned, he had. It wouldn't be long until they were closing in on the intended position, and Obsidian would strike without finesse.
She was a girl, young, as so many of them were, and his sword tasted blood--but it was a glancing blow, and the general hissed with fury as she managed to twist free of him with a yelp of surprise and pain.
It was problematic to keep up- a General's speed was exponential compared to his own. A General with a bloodlust frenetically worse. The auras allowed him to track along, keeping sight distance if nothing else.
And dread.
Run girl. Run because the devil's behind you. It was awkward, but helping to 'hurt' her could herd her, using the General's wildness to advantage. It wasn't as though Obsidian was giving orders. Under the auspices of 'pinning' her or 'knocking her out' he could knock her out of the way of a blow from the deadlier sword and prolong the ordeal. Maybe long enough that Obsidian would tire? And maybe covert enough that Obsidian wouldn't just turn on him.
Titan found a crate on a roof as he ran along it, scooping it in a hand as he passed. Obsidian's constant training had helped him leaps- he knew to lead the shot to better his chances of hitting a distance target. Lead it and hit her in her too-slow-otherwise dodge just out of the way of Obsidian's next swing. She scraped along the roof with the impact, but it saved her worse. And he looked like he was contributing.
Tsunake
He was blind to anything beyond this brief glimpse of salvation, unaware how each breath was agony to his lungs. His frustration could only build with every stroke and jab that missed. Titan was correct to assume that Obsidian would fail to see his true intentions and a particularly bad landing on his part had one leg buckling, sending him crashing to the cold roof top with a silent, but palpable grimace of pain.
By the time he had surged to his feet again, the senshi had vanished.
His howl of rage sounded more like a wild beast than a man, and still he hobbled forward, his lips peeled back even as blood lust continued to pound through his very being.
Gone. Far gone--to far to catch now, especially with a sudden, damnable limb that couldn't cooperate. His sword lashed out, ripping open cloth and flesh alike at the thigh as though punishment would be the proper answer. Blood soaked into the rest of his pant leg even as he stood at the edge of the roof, panting for breath and snarling down at the city below.
Gone. Gonegonegonegonegone--
He whirled on the Captain who had accompanied him in this assault, and he had no idea what to do with Titan now.
One thing was certain though. Bad tools--be they limbs, arms, or other agents--needed to be rightfully punished.
By the time he had surged to his feet again, the senshi had vanished.
His howl of rage sounded more like a wild beast than a man, and still he hobbled forward, his lips peeled back even as blood lust continued to pound through his very being.
Gone. Far gone--to far to catch now, especially with a sudden, damnable limb that couldn't cooperate. His sword lashed out, ripping open cloth and flesh alike at the thigh as though punishment would be the proper answer. Blood soaked into the rest of his pant leg even as he stood at the edge of the roof, panting for breath and snarling down at the city below.
Gone. Gonegonegonegonegone--
He whirled on the Captain who had accompanied him in this assault, and he had no idea what to do with Titan now.
One thing was certain though. Bad tools--be they limbs, arms, or other agents--needed to be rightfully punished.
Snarls were expected, even demands to go after her and bring her back. Or carry him. Or really anything that didn't involve attacking his own limb. Titan's jaw opened, his horror plain writ at the blood pooling against already dark uniform. It took a moment to put together that the shuffling walk was not back to him, but at him.
Obsidian looked wrath, and for no. discernable. reason.
I don't think he knew it was deliberate...the crate hit. I hit. Why is he coming after me when I hit her?
He just stood there for a moment before self preservation kicked in over incredulity. He started backstepping, but slowly. Only enough to keep himself out of his best estimate of a leg-wounded a dash range with a sword of that size. It didn't allow for teleportation- But does he have the strength for that right now? What do I do? If I call Wolframite right in front of him...no. It can't be right for me to try to down him either. Let him hobble-chase me around until he passes out? This is awful. s**t.
"My Lord is ...angry? We can still go after her?"
Tsunake
If it was not respect that had Titan beating a slow retreat, then it was fear, and both would have been enough for Obsidian at another time. Part of him wanted to break the younger man into pieces and feast on his heart.
Part of him was willing to acknowledge that such thinking was, admittedly, a little insane.
He took one step and his leg flared, both with the damage he had inflicted and the landing that had caused it to twist. Normally, that would have never happened. Never. He needed more energy, needed to replenish what he had lost. Staggering to a stop, his ragged nails raked through his hair, cutting his scalp and catching in several greasy knots. He impatiently yanked it through.
"Perhaps I need to think." The words were a hoarse croak. Yes. Back to the Rift, then, back to the silence and the darkness until he had better formulated a plan.
But what plan? What senshi could he lure or trick--the corrupted senshi. Though their starseeds were cracked with the might of Chaos, surely they would suffice? He was unaware that he was staring off at nothing, chewing his own lower lip until it too, began to bleed.
"They'd die all the same. No one would have to know." A whisper then, soon followed by something not quite a giggle.
No one.
Part of him was willing to acknowledge that such thinking was, admittedly, a little insane.
He took one step and his leg flared, both with the damage he had inflicted and the landing that had caused it to twist. Normally, that would have never happened. Never. He needed more energy, needed to replenish what he had lost. Staggering to a stop, his ragged nails raked through his hair, cutting his scalp and catching in several greasy knots. He impatiently yanked it through.
"Perhaps I need to think." The words were a hoarse croak. Yes. Back to the Rift, then, back to the silence and the darkness until he had better formulated a plan.
But what plan? What senshi could he lure or trick--the corrupted senshi. Though their starseeds were cracked with the might of Chaos, surely they would suffice? He was unaware that he was staring off at nothing, chewing his own lower lip until it too, began to bleed.
"They'd die all the same. No one would have to know." A whisper then, soon followed by something not quite a giggle.
No one.
Titan's worry became a scowl, then softened again to resigned despair. But His lord may as well not even know he was present in the moment. If I don't say anything, would he forget I stood here? Teleport to the Kingdom and walk to the Rift, scheme to ruin further? He isn't even a shadow of the warrior I first knew.
"Obsidian, you do not sound well."
"Would you come with me? Your leg needs cleaning and bandaging." Actually all of him might. He looked ragtag like a reaper more than a man, Chaos keeping uniform tidy where his hair looked more fit for someone homeless.
Tsunake
The voice drew him back, and he paused, taking in the man through narrowed eyes as though wondering where he had suddenly materialized from. Recollection of the night's events came flooding back to him, and Obsidian waved a hand as though to physically dismiss the offer. "No. I have no time for that." The wound would heal, eventually.
He moved closer, limping slowly and without all of the ferocity he had displayed almost moments before.
He seized Titan's jaw with one hand, pulling him down to offer a kiss that was more teeth than any real affection. He hadn't forgotten the sensation from before, after all, though it seemed so long ago now.
"Live on and fight another day. Isn't that what we claim to preach?" He laughed again, but the sound was bitter.
It took all of his remaining strength to teleport back to the Negaverse headquarters, and he stumbled back into the Rift, back into the darkness where he could spare a moment to think.
He moved closer, limping slowly and without all of the ferocity he had displayed almost moments before.
He seized Titan's jaw with one hand, pulling him down to offer a kiss that was more teeth than any real affection. He hadn't forgotten the sensation from before, after all, though it seemed so long ago now.
"Live on and fight another day. Isn't that what we claim to preach?" He laughed again, but the sound was bitter.
It took all of his remaining strength to teleport back to the Negaverse headquarters, and he stumbled back into the Rift, back into the darkness where he could spare a moment to think.
