|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2025 5:39 pm
There was a youma nearby.
He hadn’t wanted to deal with one that night, but he’d powered up because he had a strange chill down the back of his neck. And while he had that chill for many reasons, he wasn’t sure how to feel about it not being paranoia.
Somewhere, in the shadows of the park he was passing through, there was a creature.
But it wasn’t all that bad. He felt the aura of another knight as well. There was an inkling of relief that he wasn’t alone, but he also didn’t know what to expect from this unknown party. Cautiously, he made his way towards the other aura. He had his sword ready in his hand, just in case the youma decided to jump out at him, but he was grateful that it would be him and another Knight, and not a civilian.
At least he had been grateful. Until he saw who it was. <********>,” he hissed under his breath. There had been a moment of excitement to see the bright colors of a Lysithea knight. Not Rose, because she was still growing in power, but Dering perhaps?
No. It wasn’t Dering. It was that guy that Dering knew and seemed to get jealous that he was trying to help Dering out of a really bad situation.
Reims clicked his tongue to the roof of his mouth, frown set firmly in place. He didn’t know if he wanted to announce that he had the youma covered, or let Dering’s friend take care of it. Could he handle it? Reims didn’t know. It would be better if he took care of it to be certain, just in case.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2025 5:45 pm
Lisse knew…well. He figured he could handle a youma on his own. It wasn’t something that was going to cause too much of an issue, and it wasn’t something that was going to end up sending his brother into worry…especially if he just…never mentioned it.
He had his ready written cards just in case he needed help or backup, but there was another Knight here, so he really didn’t think that he’d be needing to use them…and it was just a youma so…
When he drew close enough to see who the other Knight was, he blinked and gave the fancy outfit a once over. And then a second one. “Holy crap, you look amazing. Knighthood suits you.”
And he got a big, fancy sword? That was so cool. Lisse summoned his….he was pretty sure it was a lasso. Whatever it was. It reminded him of a candy cane with all of the colors and it was pretty…it also allowed him to use his magic which…was about as cool as he could ask for.
“Want some help? I bet you and I could crush this thing easily.” For a moment, he forgot that this guy hated him. For a moment, he was just happy to have someone to talk to and to crush chaos with.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2025 5:47 pm
Reims had not missed the fact that Lisse was a Knight now, as well. But he was too busy feeling flustered and awkward by the reaction that Lisse had to his new outfit to do more than mumble a ‘thanks’ and ‘you too.’
He hadn’t really had a lot of time to think about his new outfit. The first time he’d worn it he ended up covered in blood and then dying for a minute or so. It had taken over a couple months to heal, and he’d been out of school for nearly two weeks. Thanks to the efforts of his friends, and his friend’s parents who happened to be teachers, he managed to keep up with all of his work and wouldn’t be held back.
“We don’t know what we’re dealing with,” he warned, trying not to be irritated by how casually optimistic Lisse sounded. Maybe Reims was just overly cautious. He didn’t want to have to have Evan patch him up again, while fighting back tears.
He also didn’t want Julian to be upset if his friend ended up getting hurt because Reims couldn’t keep him safe.
Reims clicked his tongue to the roof of his mouth, focused on the trees in front of them.
“Want to try and draw it out? I’ll cover you.” It was practical, nothing more.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2025 5:51 pm
“I can do that, sure. First, can I ask what kind of magic you have? Just to be careful? I like. Summon a unicorn and it stomps and stabs whoever it is? So in theory, I should be able to draw it out without having to go too close, it’s been useful in the past at least. Lets me get away while whoever I’m fighting is distracted, and honestly. I would be too. But.”
He gave a little smile and stretched, closing his eyes for a moment and sighing. “My brother has a shield? And he can do a whole shield wall thing? It’s pretty cool.”
Lisse took a few steps towards the trees, moving slowly and still wanting to know what kind of cover that the other Knight would be able to provide but…wanting to just get this over with too.
“Hopefully. I haven’t actually used my magic since becoming a Knight? But Dering and I fought off a youma ages ago and it worked well against it, so…fingers crossed.” Did his magic change now that he was stronger? Honestly…it was a good question and one he absolutely did not know the answer to.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2025 5:54 pm
“Huh?” Reims gave Lisse a confused, somewhat affronted look when he took the time to ask about his magic. And explain his own magic. They’d fought, literally side by side on Fang’s world. He’d used his magic in front of Lisse. He’d seen Lisse use his whip. Unless Lisse had been too distracted and blinded by Dering, but that was concerning as well. Was he not able to focus on more than one thing?
There was no chance for him to remind him, anyway. The youma had already bided enough of its time and took their lengthening conversation as an opportunity to attack.
It was a large, bat-like creature that swooped down from the trees. Stomping unicorns would be no use with a creature that stayed off the ground, although Reims hoped Lisse’s magic could jump or something.
“Look out!” he hissed, jumping backwards and out of the way of the claws that came towards them. The piercing screech of the youma had him covering one ear and hissing in pain. For a moment, he lost sight of it in the darkness as it hid back in the trees. Luckily he hadn’t been hit. Hopefully Lisse managed to get out of the way as well.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2025 5:58 pm
Lisse’s smile faltered and he shrugged, but didn’t have time to react more than that when the youma came to greet them both. He was hoping that Reims had been able to get out of the way. Lisse hadn’t been so lucky, but he was happy that the claws had gotten him on the shoulder that was covered with his quilted cape. Honestly he didn’t think they had even managed to break skin, but it was a good reminder anyway.
Halle would kill him if he wasn’t careful, and Lisse couldn’t have that, could he.
“It didn't get you, did it? Those claws are no joke, cut right through the fabric on my shoulder, thank goodness for capes, am I right?”
So he might be a little stressed. It was to be expected, but Lisse hesitated and looped his lasso a bit, hoping that maybe…he would be able to get it around the youma when it came out again…if he could tie it up, that would be ideal.
“I’m going to use my magic I think, see if it will come out again and be distracted by that…and then I’m going to try and tie it up? No promises that it’ll work but. What else do you do with a big rope.”
Lisse began to spin his lasso in the air and began to channel his magic, watching as the unicorn appeared and moved towards the spot in the trees that the youma had gone, rearing back on it’s hind legs and pawing at the air.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2025 6:02 pm
“Stop talking so much!” Reims barked in distress at Lisse, looking desperately up into the trees to try and catch sight of the youma. “Oh my god, do you want it to find you? ********!”
He could just imagine Cassidy yapping away, putting a target on his back-- Actually, no. He didn’t want to imagine Cassidy being attacked by a youma. That was why he took him to Ganymede in the first place -- to get away from potentially getting hurt.
Now? He couldn’t exactly do that. He knew Lisse was Dering’s friend -- Julian’s friend -- so it wasn’t like he wanted to upset him or anything, but he nearly had his arm taken off by that youma!
“Don’t talk about using your magic, just use it!” he sputtered in exasperation, watching Lisse spin his lasso and the magical unicorn that erupted from the channeled magic.
If Reims had not been so focused on trying to make sure they got rid of a dangerous creature, he might have thought the scene ridiculous. Did Dering have a magical unicorn? Did Rose? He knew Stirling had a shield, but other than that, he didn’t know what to expect of other knights’ magic.
The youma emerged again, agitated by the sparkles and light -- or at least Reims could only guess as he watched it take flight again, claws striking out in retaliation against the unicorn.
Reims winced as the youma screeched again, the frequency of the pitch probably enough to break glass. Once more he held a hand over his ear, but as the youma swooped towards Lisse once more -- probably because he didn’t blend into the shadows as easily with those bright colors -- Reims rushed towards it, swinging his sword and making contact with at least one of the creature’s wings in a burst of light and shattering glass.
“Now--” he called over his shoulder to Lisse, not daring to remove his eyes from the now thrashing and shrieking, but grounded, youma.Quote: When Reims channels his magic, the lust for battle courses through him and his strength is increased, allowing him to hit twice as hard as he normally would. Every time his weapon makes contact, there is an extravagant burst of colorful light from his weapon, as if catching and shattering light even without a light source. The colorful light manifests into glass shards, always directed at his target. There are never more than three at a time, and no larger than his palm, that causes the sensation of moderate to severe lacerations. Players can choose to take lasting damage. His magic pool lasts for 45 seconds.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2025 6:06 pm
Lisse frowned slightly. “...That’s…the point of drawing it out, isn’t it? Yeah I want it to find me? I thought that was the point?” He didn’t have the time to really be confused, and found himself wincing at the creature’s shriek.
It was no longer airborne though, and Lisse twisted, the unicorn moving to charge at the youma, giving everything it had. Horses were low key terrifying. Their hooves were strong, and they were just big. The added horn on a unicorn didn’t make it any more friendly in Lisse’s mind but…he was glad that this was his magic and not something being used against him.
He blinked at Reims’ magic and gave a little noise of approval. “Pretty. I like it! I’ll say it again, Knighthood suits you.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2025 6:09 pm
Reims stared at Lisse, opened his mouth, closed it, and could feel the heat from his ears creeping onto his face.
“That--” he stammered, because he had suggested Lisse draw the youma out, but he’d been expecting it to be a bit quieter!! Or, like, not conversationally! More like, yelling for the youma to come out or!! He didn’t know!
Thankfully, the unicorn seemed to have all it needed once the youma was on the ground. The creature screeched in anger before turning into dust.
“Shut up,” he hissed with no heat in his voice, clearly flustered by the whole ordeal and the compliments and whatever.
“You know that’s not what I meant and that wasn’t what you were doing! And if it was, you should have said so! Let me see your-- okay I don’t see any blood so you’re good,” he grumbled as he stepped closer to peer at the torn fabric of Lisse’s clothes, then waved his hand like he changed his mind about trying to needlessly fuss over any potential injury.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2025 6:11 pm
“It was why I wanted to know what your magic was, the last time I saw it…things were pretty crazy and honestly, I couldn’t tell you what it was if you paid me…but. I was totally ready to just be the bait for this guy, that’s why there was two of us.” Lisse grinned and glanced down at his shoulder. “Yeah! No worries, I’m pretty glad that my cape is quilted, and the fabric on my shoulders is pretty thick. It helps…”
He shrugged. “I didn’t realize it was going to help but it’s really good to know for the future.” Lisse’s smile faded somewhat and he hesitated.
“Are you okay? It didn’t hurt you at all did it? I…stupidly enough I didn’t really ever think that youma could fly, guess I’ll have to redo my thinking a bit.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2025 6:15 pm
“No, just busted my eardrums probably,” he grumbled and rubbed his ear. It was still ringing a bit from when the bat creature swooped down at them.
“That was my first time seeing one fly, too,” he admitted, still flustered but grateful to be rid of a creature like that. “Teleporting is worse, though. I’d rather be able to see it. I mean agents that can teleport,” he clarified before he started getting nitpicked about not saying things perfectly.
“I thought they might be able to, though. I’ve felt like something has been watching from the trees a lot. Stupid of it to attack two Knights, though,” he huffed.
And then frowned.
“You’re friends with Dering,” he said. It wasn’t a question. “Make sure he doesn’t get in over his head. He just wants people to be happy and-- I mean-- you probably already know that but--” Reims winced and shook his head, feeling awkward about it. He couldn’t help but worry! But he was at least a little more relieved that Lisse knew how to use his magic. At least well enough to finish off a youma.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2025 6:21 pm
“Oh god I hate teleportation. It’s not fair. Why do they get such cool things when they’re obviously evil? Like. They feel evil. Chaos is…awful and yet. They get magic that we don’t. It’s. Unbalanced and I’m not sure who to blame. Like, the cosmos itself, I suppose.”
Lisse smiled and nodded in sympathy. “Yeah it was. A b***h with that shrieking. It was stupid of it to think it could take us both on. We make a pretty good team, and yeah. I’m friends with Dering. I’d like to be friends with you too, eventually. I sure as hell would like to have you on my list of allies.”
He didn’t say that they made a good team again, but it was only through sheer force of will that he managed to hold the phrase back. “I’ll protect him whenever I can. And I know you will too. We’ve both got his back, and I’ve got your back. If you ever need.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2025 6:22 pm
It was fine for a few moments. He was a bit wary, but when was he not? And then came the friendship thing again--
Or at least… from Lisse. Not that Lisse knew him as Riker, but Reims knew Lisse as Luke from that one night they all went to the Moon to escape the horrors of what they’d just experienced on Fang.
“Eventually!” Reims bristled in agreement and crossed his arms over his chest. He knew this guy was all about friendship and unicorns (literally) but it was weird and super suspicious when anyone wanted to be his friend. Especially when they didn’t even know him!
“No! I don’t need it!” he sputtered in misdirected frustration, clearly flustered by the encounter now. He didn’t need anyone watching his back. He had enough to worry about!
“Just-- whatever! Don’t get yourself killed or tricked into friendship with the Negaverse!” he barked, but it was more show than any actual intent behind it. He took a step back, because he was afraid if he stuck around too long, Lisse would ask if he wanted to make cookies together or arrange flowers or something ridiculous.
He certainly hoped Lisse’s brother wasn’t like this!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2025 6:25 pm
Eventually? Lisse gave a soft, uncomfortable laugh but nodded. He supposed he could do ‘eventually’. It wasn’t a downright no but.
“Yeah all right. But no promises if I ever see you struggling. I’m not going to just walk away and let you get hurt. That would be crap and I really don’t think I’m a crap person. You’re sounding so much like Halle right now with the warnings of the Negaverse and I suppose I should feel flattered, but…I’m not going to do anything like that. Promise.”
He took a few steps away as well, but hesitated. “...Thank you for worrying about me though. I appreciate it. I’ll see you around, I’m sure.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2025 6:26 pm
“I don’t struggle,” Reims scoffed, stubbornly crossing his arms over his chest. He did struggle, but he wasn’t going to let Lisse know that. He didn’t like asking for help. He didn’t like accepting help. He tried escaping to the Moon when he’d been injured so he wouldn’t have to bother anyone, but the damn Code ratted him out and sent Amarynthos and Ephesus to help him anyway. In retrospect, it was a good thing that they did.
Awkwardly, he rubbed the scar on his arm, thankfully covered by his jacket, but was suddenly at the forefront of his mind.
“Don’t feel flattered. I just don’t want to have to kill you or whatever, if you end up with the bad guys,” he huffed and finally lifted a hand to wave in a manner that was more like dismissing the other Knight, before finally turning to leave.
If anything, he wasn’t sure what to think. Lisse had magic and that alone could keep Dering safe. As long as he wasn’t too distracted trying to shove snacks down people’s throats.
Fin!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
