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 Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2015 7:36 pm
Being a captain was - an exhilarating experience for Leucite. The power and thrill of his promotion was thrumming through his blood. Not only that, but he finally felt ready to brave the Rift again - in an attempt to bond a Youma to him. He still did not dare to go alone, and as much as he would have liked to bring Amethyst along - he owed his new vigor and desire to succeed to another. He would repay her by offering her the chance to come with him. She seemed interested in Youma anyway - and who knew, maybe she would finally find hers as well. Picking up the communication crystal he focused his thoughts on Captain Galena and smiled. Galena, this is Captain Leucite... I was wondering if you would do me the honor of accompanying me to the Rift... I am going to do a bit of hunting and I thought you might like to come along. I will be waiting at where we met the last time we entered the Rift together. I do hope to see you there.Then he leaned back against the lamp post and sighed contently. This would be an interesting evening - no matter what happened.
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Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2015 8:00 pm
Galena usually padded out her arrivals with a few extra minutes, forever succumbing to the idea of 'fashionably late'. Without a set time, though, it was a little harder to distinguish and the message was too intriguing to stay away for long.
"Captain Leucite," She almost sang out into the night. She gave a small bow in greeting, not about to forgo any formality. "My deepest congratulations on the promotion."
She smiled, but it was a restrained smile, and one that as meant to specifically cover the bubbling jealousy of his catching up to her. Just a touch. But it was still interesting to see a challenge, and now that he wasn't a subordinate there was a new dynamic to figure out here.
"Hunting in the Rift? I could never decline such a gentlemanly invitation. Do tell, what are you hunting for?"
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Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2015 8:07 pm
When she arrived - he knew she would, how could she not? - he smiled and bowed a bit lower than she had, before answering her query. "A youma I would hope - as to what kind yet... I'm sure I'll know when I get there..." He was not going into this with any real plan per say - just to find a Youma that might work with him. He had a very aggressive fighting style, so maybe something that would mesh well with that would serve him well. But in any event - he was sure that he'd find something. Or he could strike out and give Galena some catharsis for how much trouble she'd been having finding one - either way it was win/win in his book. Holding out his arm, he smirked at the other Captain. "Shall we?"
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Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2015 8:45 pm
"Ah," Galena wasn't entirely sure how she would stand to react if he managed to bond a youma where she had been having so much trouble, but an expedition to the Rift had quickly become one of her more morbidly curious past times and she wasn't about to pass it up for the sake of very mild digs to her ego.
And besides, she was much more fond of Leucite playing the role she preferred. His mannerisms were preferably to some other company she had kept in the past, and her excitement at such managed to break through the typically dead stoicism of her facial expressions for a genuine smile that actually reached her eyes.
She looped her arm around his.
"Let's. Are you comfortable enough with teleporting to do the honers?"
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Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2015 9:30 pm
"I'm still getting the grasp of the finer points - but I have the basics down. I can get us there in one piece at least, but I can't promise it won't be without a little bit of turbulence," Leucite said with a small, if somewhat sheepish, grin. But before she was able to object, or offer to teleport them, he did the gentlemanly (or stupid) thing and teleported them both as close to the entrance of the Hall of Shadows as he dared. He felt a small tremor run through him when they landed outside the gateway to the Rift. Jumping that far - so soon after he'd promoted - had been more taxing than he'd expected. He did his bet to not let it show, nodding his head to Galena as he motioned with his, slightly, shaking free hand. "We're here." He wasn't stalling to let himself catch his breath - no - not at all.
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Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2015 9:34 pm
In a million years, Galena would never admit that when they ended up materializing at the entry way, she had latched on to his arm with a substantial cling.
"Yes, we are," She said, separating herself from him and clearing her through before taking eager steps through the hall, turning to grab on to his shaking hand making the gesture.
Smiles from Galena were rare things, and Leucite earned his second one for the night, although this one was a bit toothy and maybe a bit sadistic for anyone to be thrilled by such an accomplishment.
"Let's go, there might be some substantial activity tonight. I've been coming here more... often." And beginning to feel just a little too at home in the caves of feral monsters instead of in her kitchen like she used to.
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Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2015 9:46 pm
A part of him wondered if he should be worried about her spending so much time here. Another part of him was thankful she had been, because she would know the area a little better and might help him find something worthwhile to bond with. He really didn't want to end up with something silly like a clown youma named Fluffy or some strange ball of goo. He did give her a smile in return to her second one - actually feeling a bit warmed by the fact that she seemed to be taking a liking to him - well seeming to at any rate. He was more glad that she didn't mention the shaking - it was embarrassing enough as it is. Instead he followed after her to a degree - not quite letting her lead the way but not quite taking over either. They were equals in rank, but she had way more time in grade and he wasn't about to try and pull any sorta s**t. He liked her - in a strange confuddled short of way. She was nice to look at - but emotionally cold and distant (for the most part). He was sure that had a lot to do with what she had gone through and... paying for her time in flesh. Had he been the type to pity - he might have pitied her for that. But, no, she had made it clear that you did what you must to survive in this organization - and if that meant doing... things. Then that's what you did. Once they were out of the hall and into the Rift proper though, he did slowly take the lead, looking around to see if he could spot any promising hot spots. "See anything of value from here? I'm willing to go as far as it takes, but by the same token I don't want us to get lost."
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Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2015 9:54 pm
"Worse case scenario we can teleport out, although that doesn't do well for mapping out surroundings for next time," Galena to herself as if it were a certainty there would be a next time.
"I honestly I haven't found anything. It's a delicate balance to strike, finding something of use that you can... handle. A friend came down here once, to bond something outside of her paygrade. Ended up eaten, mostly."
"Canines run in packs, they tend to be my favorites just below felines. The more reptilian chimeras I have a harder time catching, and I'm not so much willing to go in caves so often or engage with the... the insects."
Creepy roach legs were creepy spider legs regardless of size.
"Personally it is the bugs that I favor the least, I'll likely avoid those."
She seemed to gravitate to her more favorite spots to watch dogfights for territory. "Are you a pet person in your civilian life? I keep a cat myself, that might be the favoritism transferring over. But so far my main goal has been, mostly... don't get eaten."
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Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2015 10:21 pm
Leucite shook his head, moving with her so as to not get separated - or worse - ambushed. "I've never really owned a pet, but I've always been partial to dogs I suppose... My grandfather kept a couple of Irish Wolfhounds before he passed away. I think my grandmother donated them to a farm somewhere - she wasn't able to care for them properly either before she passed as well." He huffed a little - but it was what it was. "I thought I saw a cat when I came to visit - I wasn't sure if it was your though, so I didn't try to approach it." He added offhandedly. He didn't want to bring up negative moments either - but all the same it was something he'd noticed. He heard the growling and yowling before he saw what was making the noise. A decent sized pack of the things scuffling with another pack of something more reptilian. Leucite hung back for a moment, watching the power struggle. The biggest of the hound pack - fairly large for a canine, probably about the size of one of the larger breeds of mastiffs - was jostling for position against one of the reptiles. He waited, chewing his lip in deliberation... His eyes drifted toward Galena for only a moment, to see what she would do.
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Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2015 5:22 am
"Yes, Pastiche," Galena smiled. The small, white cat that tended to dodge out of sight when company was about. Although had anyone caught more direct interaction with her they might have been put off by the little thing's mangled face and lack of nose, showing bared teeth that didn't fit in her mouth anymore.
The recently brushed cat rasping and sulking on the porch had bee her first hint Mathias was even there, that day.
For claiming to have a preference towards canines, the size of the hounds seemed to draw Galena back cautiously. Once bitten, twice shy and all that. Even if she hadn't been the one who had been bitten.
"Well. Mastiffs," Was all she seemed to comment. She seemed to be more daring him to act first, all the while giving away just how gunshy she'd become.
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Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2015 4:17 pm
She'd shied back - but he figured this was his hunt, she didn't want to interfere. That was fair he supposed and he moved forward, calling his weapon into being he waded into the mess, knocking the lizard youma's away with his banner. He left the canine's alone for the most part, unless one got too close and tried to snap at him - then he nudged them roughly with the bottom of the pole on his banner. Once he reached the Alpha youma, he growled, smacking at the lizard it was fighting and driving it off. He postured, and soon it was just the pack of canine youma, him and Galena. He turned toward the alpha, holding a hand out to try and reach out and check the thing for injuries. It snarled and leaped, it's jaws clamping down on his forearm, latching on in a death grip as he swore, being dragged down by its weight. Immediately he began to kick and punch at the beast, a hand moving toward it's scruff as he continued to cuss loudly.
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Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2015 6:02 pm
Galena visibly cringed when he reached out for it and it snapped at him. She had pulled off something similar before, but it had been a painstakingly slow process. In the heat of a confrontation, there wasn't time for tender or slow motions to impose one's will, and there was a smug part of her that questioned if Leucite was capable of being gentle enough to lull the thing.
When jaws came down she summoned on of her knives in one hand and her crystal in the other. "Do you want me to send out the SoS or assist? I have more experience in the former."
Kind of a blithe and quick response to his first setback, but at least she was offering before he was halfway eaten. She had seen that it could, in fact, get much worse.
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Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2015 6:22 pm
Leucite heard her and it took every ounce of his will not to cuss her out right then an there. Instead, he just decided he'd show her who the better of the two captains were. She hadn't bonded a Youma yet. This one would be his... Growling he managed a, "I got this!" before he focused on his task. The hand that had been looking for the beast's scruff found it, sunk in an yanked hard, it did little to alleviate the pressure of the creature's jaw on his arm, but it did inform him that the creature wasn't about to let go any time soon. He drove several knees into the side of the canine, before using the full force of his strength to haul it off him so he could half-pin it to the ground, his fingers moving to its jaw as he made eye-contact with the glowing red eyes. "Let go," He growled, his voice firm and commanding, his fingers hooking into the beast's lower jaw and pushing down hard, trying to force it to release. He didn't want to hurt it further than he had to - but he would do what he must to be free. It growled back at him, not releasing it's grip as it's tail thrashed - the blade stabbing at him a few times. But it was clumbsy with it's tail in this position, and Leucite shifted as best he could to avoid it before finally headbutting the thing. "I SAID LET GO!" He roared loudly in it's ear - finally letting go of any reservations he had and letting his desire for dominance and command take over. He had a parade voice - he knew how to use it. He'd lived hearing what it was like to be on the other end of that booming sound. He felt the jaw slacken a little and that was all it took for him to wedge his fingers in enough to push the jaw open the rest of the way, causing the beast to whine loudly. Leucite moved a knee to the beasts throat, putting pressure on it to keep it pinned to the floor as he looked into it's eyes. "You will be mine, you understand me - you will be my Youma... MINE." He placed the hand of his mangled arm atop the beast's head and growled. "You are mine... You are..." He tried to clear his mind, tried to subvert the Youma's will with his own, he felt his boy stiffen as he entered a battle of wills with the beast. He knew he was stronger - better than it. Not because it was an animal - but because he desired to survive... He forced the whole strength of his will on the beast, pressing the hand of the injured arm hard against the creatures face, ignoring the throbbing pain as his blood covered the beast's almost hairless head. "Iudicael... You are Iudicael." He sighed then, feeling his will overpower the beasts, and feeling the bond begin to take hold. He looked up at Galena then, smug as you please grin on his face. "I-I did it!" Then he slid off the youma and slumped against it, panting a little. He felt like he'd jut run a marathon. The pack of hounds watched for a moment, then realizing they were without an alpha, began to slowly scatter their separate ways.
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Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2015 7:38 pm
Galena had gone from being smugly voyeuristic of his impending failure (and possibly being eaten) to staring slack jawed. Her arms dropped to her side, and her knife clattered to the stone floor of the Rift.
That was too easy.
That was unfairly easy.
She had been at this for months and hadn't managed to complete a bond with anything she'd want to consider, and he just waltzed in and grabbed a half decent one on what appeared to be his first try.
Once she regained control of her senses enough to make any kind of facial expression, what came about was dangerously close to being a sneer. The Jealously and hatred was overwhelming, but it wouldn't do to show the full extent.
A small, mitigating factor, once she noticed. There was a lot of blood.
"You're hurt, we should leave," She said, summoning her weapon back to her hand and approaching, visibly nervous now at the sight of extensive injuries. "Congratulations, now let's try not to die."
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Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2015 8:19 pm
"It's just a flesh wound..." He stated, slowly getting to his feet, only to wobble for a moment. Okay - maybe he'd lost more blood than he thought... Gritting his teeth, he tried to fake a smile to Galena as he nodded his head. "Iudicael, guard..." He muttered, placing a hand on the head of the Youma, which had gotten up with him. It eyed Galena for a moment - the red eyes a bit more empty than they had been before. There was still rage there, and hunger - but it was... thinner. Controlled. As she approached he held up his bad arm, trying to get a good look at it - but he couldn't see through the coat of both his coat and the jacket underneath. "s**t..." He muttered. It definitely hurt though. "Yeah, you're probably right we should... head back." He turned and started to make his way back the way they had come. "Thanks... for coming with me... that is."
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