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 Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2024 4:49 pm
Again he’d bumped into a senshi, it was unpleasant but at least he’d gotten away from things without having to call for help and without Katya getting hurt. It had been another wrench thrown at him but he’d gotten better at running from the blows when he could and avoiding things altogether when he had enough heads up to dive into an alley and power down. Being careful had netted him his quota again and again without too much trouble and General Chalcanthite had been kind enough to submit it for him.
Tonight he tried something new to hopefully add another level of doubt into whether or not he was a corrupt senshi at first glance, tonight he chopped that long hair off before the shoulders. It was a lot more manageable even if the hack job hadn’t been the cleanest. “I think this should help a bit more on top of you hiding us Katya. I know I can’t really hide the holes but… at least from behind they won’t know immediately from the long hair now.” It seemed like a good idea to him as he wandered towards a newer section of the city. It was better if he got a feel for more of the city and also it would be easier to not be noticed if he didn’t stick to one place while draining.
Passing by a park, he knew that it would be best to avoid it but he saw a fountain and after scanning the area it felt safe enough to maybe take a look. There were a few chaos signatures but luckily no order ones.“There are a lot of parks you said right? Are they all like this or are they all different? I saw a few during the day when I was walking to the museums from my shop but things seem barren at night.”
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Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2024 5:06 pm
“Each park is different.” Katya replied from her perch on the others shoulder, draped there like some fur accessory. “Most of the parks get plenty of foot traffic, even at night, especially once it gets warmer out.” More people out on dates or taking evening jogs, similar to Alexandre and what he did in the evenings, it made the parks both dangerous and beneficial to officers and corrupt senshi alike. Tonight had been good thus far, aside from the single run in with a senshi, it hadn’t been a bad night.
So far nothing seemed off either, she could feel the various signatures in the area but nothing seemed amiss, she even felt a youma not too far off. But they would be safe, assuming it would busy itself with other options for the night. She didn’t worry about them when out and about in the city, she only worried about them when down below for work or various other things.
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Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2024 5:11 pm
“I know we pass through some during the morning run but not as much as at night. Maybe I should look a bit more into some of them, this one seems pretty nice and quiet.” Walking around, he took a photo of the fountain so he could maybe paint it later just in case he forgot where this particular park was. With how different things looked and felt at night and while powered up, he wouldn’t put it past himself to not be able to find the place while walking as a civilian.
Reaching the edge of the park, he felt one of the different chaos signatures but it didn’t feel like an agent or senshi. There was a downed civilian, at least that’s what he assumed as all he saw sticking out from the brush was a pair of feet but they were far too still as he ventured closer. Something that sounded like a dog or wolf was nearby and it made the hair stand up on the back of his neck. “There aren’t wolves in the city, right? Foxes maybe but surely not fully grown wolves?” His voice came out a bit nervous as he leaned down to try draining the person, only to realize nothing was happening. Pulling some of the brush back he saw why and fell back and started to scoot away. There was a bloody mess under the bushes and not one he could figure out what kind of person they had been before things. Not that he was going to give it a second look as he scanned the brush and foliage for whatever might have caused this.
—-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Something had entered the area and it didn’t feel like one of those senshi from either side which meant this would be an easy meal. Circling around behind one of the trees, the large youma bristled as it stalked closer. It had heard a sound as well as a voice that sounded oh so scared, it seemed that they had found its last meal. There were a few others of its group nearby and they would be circling closer as well to hunt this thing. Whatever it was it was carrying another smaller meal on it so things would be well worth the additional youma coming in to hunt.
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Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2024 5:12 pm
s**t, Katya knew what that feeling was and they were much too close now and it was on top of them…and not just one. “Kafka! Get over here.” This was really not good because she couldn’t fend off youma…they thought she was a meal also. He had no doubt found a body, she was certain of that from his reaction, she just had no idea how messy it was.
“That is a youma - not a wolf. It isn’t the only one…” And this was not good. She could call for Chalcanthite, and she was pulling out her tablet in order to do so, as she leapt onto the ground in order to deal with getting them help. “They won’t listen to you or me…they still see us the enemy…:”
René had been involving himself in his life more, much to his appreciation, as he enjoyed having someone join him for his morning runs and the extra day, and night, with René at his home was pleasant. Nothing felt rushed and they’d had time to just watch a movie, or two, and to find things to do around the house.
Tonight though was not one of the nights where René was due over so he’d gone out to fulfill his quota, an easy task, as he wandered one of the smaller parks in the city. He’d left a few unconscious people seated on benches as he wandered. His boots hit the ground with thunking sounds as he walked. He could feel whatever was in the area, a few order signatures but more chaos, he could even feel some youma around. It was towards the youma he headed, he had no youma of his own but that didn’t mean he had no interest in them. He just wasn’t looking to bond to any.
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Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2024 5:14 pm
Kafka barely registered her speaking as he scooted back until he bumped into a tree which jolted him back to looking around. He could tell there were more of them now and not just two or three. Youma were something he’d started reading into but not terribly deeply since they weren’t something that touched what he needed to focus on.
Just as the first one cleared the trees he reached over and pulled Katya in close to keep her safe, even if it would make her drop the tablet. She was small enough that the thing he saw could probably eat her in one bite. He wasn’t really thinking at this point as he kept scooting away from the shadowy wolf that was stepping closer. Cursing to himself he wished Alexandre was here even if he might get in trouble for keeping all this secret for the past few weeks.
—-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
It looked like a senshi and a cat, two perfectly sized meals as the youma howled to the others to let them know it was time to close in and block off exits. Echoing howls came from the circle around the two forms that were trying to back away. Sure there were others nearby but these two weren’t running so it made things easier.
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Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2024 5:15 pm
She felt safe, even if she knew she wasn’t, the idea that Kafka was protecting her warmed the little mauvian. But this was not really the time for that. “You need to get up, we need to get out of here. I don’t know if they can climb…but we need to try.” Because they needed to try something, anything, to escape. While thinking of that she could feel a general approaching, getting closer, and took the chance to shout as loudly as she could.
The howls that filled the air told him the youma, whatever they were, had found some poor civilian to grab and he’d decided to investigate and see just what they were getting up to. If they left any remains they’d need to be dealt with, best they be hidden somewhere so it didn’t make the news. What he wasn’t expecting to hear was a very familiar voice as he drew closer. “Katya!” Shouting as he picked up the pace and cleared the tree line rather quickly, layers of fabric left him looking smaller than he was, he had a few leaves in his hair but he made quick work of taking in what was going on.
Surprise flashed across his features for a moment before he fully registered just what was going on. Turning his attention on the youma any surprise, any emotion he might be feeling, melted away and left a cold calm in its wake. “Turn and leave, these two aren’t yours or your packs.” He would fight it if he had to, youma or not, he wasn’t letting this youma and its pack do as it pleased.
“Go find some senshi to rip apart - one of orders children.” He’d even find a senshi for the youma to tear apart if he had to, he had no issue with such things.
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Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2024 5:15 pm
Even with the arrival of a general, one of the youma had already bolted forward and had a good grasp on the clothing of the downed male as it tried dragging it back. A few of the others stayed their ground, if only for a moment while waiting for the one in front and out in the open to make a choice.
The lone one that had the senshi was too busy with its prize as it dragged it back towards the bush where the other one laid.
—------------------------------------------------------
Lots of things went through Kafka’s head in quick succession but all in all, it ended with a shriek as he felt himself being pulled away with Katya still hidden in his arms. The only thing he could think to do as they dragged him next to the body was use his magic, even if it backfired. “Swallow.” The motion required had him loosening one arm from Katya but as everything had started to happen, he felt everything spin as he keeled over and started heaving his guts out beneath the coverage of the bushes.
That hollowed-out feeling had hit him like a truck again and had him writhing on the ground as he groaned. He only hoped that his magic had at least done something to the youma, enough so that Beni could get him away from the bloody mess that lay just in front of the mess he’d made on the ground.
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Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2024 5:20 pm
That slight grasp he kept on his calm slipped totally as one of the youma dared go for Kafka, against his orders, and while he saw Katya escape and make it up a tree he knew Kafka was not going to be so lucky. His hand clenched around air, where his weapon might be, as he stalked towards the bushes where the youma had dragged his partner off. Growling low he was moving right into the bushes as he reached for the beast, grasping for its neck. “Touch him and I will personally send you back to the rift. Were I only able to remove you in a more permanent fashion I would.” He was no General King, he didn’t possession the strength of one, but a General was still formidable and he proved it as he made to throw the youma away, dark eyes landing on it and staying focused on the youma.
“Go, scurry on off before I find a way to kill you for good.” He would find a way, he would see to it, if this one had hurt the corrupt senshi who was currently puking into the grass.
Standing there he let his vision move across the rest of the gathered pack. “All of you, scurry off.” His weapon appearing in his hand was a silent threat but it was easy to see it for what it was.
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Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2024 5:21 pm
Yelping, the youma jerked and broke free to make a run for it, the others got the message and followed along after. It wasn’t worth it, there was plenty to feed on nearby and it would be detrimental to have a general out for blood. They didn’t like it, not one bit, but survival was the main focus and that required them to flee now.
—---------------------------------------------------------------------------
That cold voice was a shock and didn’t help with his situation as he ran out of things in his stomach to heave up. It took some time but after a bit, the feeling finally faded and he deflated into the grass with closed eyes. He didn’t want to keep looking at the corpse in front of him and scooted back just a bit.
“Katya? Beni?” It came out hoarse as he tried to slowly sit up, the world still spinning a bit from a lingering migraine. The mauvian wasn’t on the ground anymore and it took him a moment to realize that she’d made her way up the tree he was close to. That was a relief at least, that she could get out of harm's way even if he couldn’t do much otherwise. Looking up, he saw Benitoite and their weapon. It definitely didn’t help and he scooted back a bit until he bumped into the tree again.
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Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2024 5:22 pm
He stood watching the youma leave, all of them, he waited just incase one got it in their head to try again and return for a second round of this. When they were gone, when he didn’t sense them nearby, he finally dismissed his weapon and was turning even as he sank to his knees. The body was ignored, mostly, as he didn’t notice his knees in the blood as he took the time to look over Kafka. “You’re alright?” A gloved hand hovered in the air, unsure if he should touch the other, he seemed to not be handling this well. A glance upwards and he spotted Katya and her glowing eyes.
“At least you’re alright. You’re lucky I heard you and I was in the area.” Because he had a quota to make just like everyone else…and he’d gone with a park because it was easy, though there were other easy places to go in order to grab his quota. He just hadn’t felt like it tonight.
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Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2024 5:23 pm
Slowly but surely, Kafka patted himself to check before nodding as he looked at their hand hovering in the air near him. He felt wrung out still but otherwise, he couldn’t really tell if he was bleeding or if it was just more of the blood from the mess. “The jig is up I guess?” A short and awkward laugh came out as he pulled his legs away from the blood on the ground. He wasn’t looking at it, he’d seen more than enough of what was missing from the form beneath the brush.
Pulling out what he needed, that metal bottle full of wine, he quickly sipped at it as his hands shook still. “You’re really good at showing up when things get out of hand for me.” It was quiet as he slowly tried to get his bearings again while watching their hand. After another long moment, he reached up and grabbed their hand and held it to his face as he took another swig from the bottle. “You’re not mad right?” If anything he was worried if this would cause problems with the normal part of their life as he calmed down a bit more.
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Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2024 5:24 pm
“It seems like it. And I’m not mad that you kept this from me, assuming this is not the first night out. I’m simply glad I was here.” Drawing the other in close as he pulled the corrupt to himself. Fitting himself against the others chest as he held onto him. “I’m glad I was here to stop the youma.” Because they wouldn’t have listened to either of them. Letting the other hold his hand, twining his fingers with Kafka’s, he let the other have his drink while he touched the others face gently.
“You will give me gray hairs before I hit thirty next year.” A half assed attempt to lighten the mood and ease things for the other, he was just glad he was alive and well. That youma was lucky it hadn’t hurt the other.
Climbing down from the tree Katya made it down with ease, moving to climb back onto Kafk’a shoulders and lay there. “This wouldn’t have happened if those beasts would at least tolerate us and not try and make a meal out of us.” Similar to the blond general she ignored the mangled body on the ground, it didn’t bother her, she hadn’t seen as much as he had but she’d seen more than enough.
“That was closer than I ever want to be again, I was going to call another general to come and help us out.” She didn’t say who, though she really wouldn’t be surprised if Benitoite figured it out with little issue. He knew the either general and likely knew Katya would reach for someone who they both knew and would keep secrets well. “My tablet went flying when Kafka decided to protect me from the youma.”
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Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2024 5:26 pm
“It’s not, Katya and I have been working on things for a little while now.” He’d leave out the other encounters he’d had with senshi for now though. “I’m glad you’re here too, I’ve never come across those before. At least were didn’t end up as snacks though, I didn’t really think when I grabbed you Katya. I was more worried about you getting eaten at the time.” Leaning his head into the mauvian that was now back on his shoulders, he felt a bit better now that they were close by again.
“At least if you start getting greys then we might match a bit, I still think it’s unfair you don’t get them. I’m sure after tonight I’ll wake up with three more in the morning. Can we move a bit away though from…. That?” He didn't so much as look at the body but he gestured towards it with his bottle before dismissing it. His stomach was still unsettled but it wasn’t because of his magic at this point. That metallic smell clung to him and he didn’t like it even if it wasn’t his own blood this time.
“I thought I might squeak out a bit more quota but I found that after learning you can’t drain something that doesn’t have anything left in it.” The words came out with a bit of hesitation in his voice almost as if the words were sour.
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Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2024 5:28 pm
Watching Katya drape herself about the other's neck he smiled, glad she was doing her best to help the other, as he stood slowly and offered Kafka a hand up. “Come on, I’ll teleport us home and you can power down and clean up.” While the smell, and the sight, no doubt bothered the other it didn’t even register as important to him. “I was going to handle the body but I think you getting home is more important..”
“If I get grays I’m not likely to notice it, unlike you.” Because his hair was light enough and had a gray hint to it anyway, the general felt safe enough from noticeable grays that he didn’t worry about them. But he was certain he would have some due to René in the near future, whether he noticed them or not.
“You’ll make your quota, I’m not worried about that, I know Katya will make sure of it. Tonight though isn’t the night for that, not after this.” This was all new for the other and it was something he’d need to process, just like he’d needed to in the beginning. “Hold on and I’ll get us home.” Katya being here, with them both, would keep their signatures from being picked up on and meant he could teleport right into his home.
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Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2024 5:29 pm
Taking the offered hand and using the tree behind him as extra support, he got up with only a bit of stumbling. “Your home please, I think I’m closing the shop for the day tomorrow.” He needed a day to just stay at their home even if it wasn’t yet the weekend and maybe a nice bath or long shower with extra scrubbing. At least his uniform would be clean by the next time he powered up.
“Still unfair, I’ll have to pluck mine again soon and I’ve farther to go until thirty.” Leaning into them he rested his chin on their head and closed his eyes. “I’ve been meeting it, at least once I figured out how to not lose focus and lose the whole orb in the process. It’s not too bad now that I have a system down. I’ve got enough though so I’m good for a bit which works out because I think I need a few extra days off from our normal schedule. I think Katya would agree.” Maybe a week at the most he’d take off if only to get that image of the mangled person out of his mind. It wasn’t easy to see, not like the normal wounds or injuries he’d seen before. They’d been torn apart and it was too much gore for him.
Squeezing them a bit tighter, he nodded.
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