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 Posted: Sun May 18, 2025 1:46 am
Achird had been a pleasant surprise. Previously, Elkurud's impression had been that the man put himself above everyone around him; the arrogance of power and noble blood, of Winston Moncrieff From The Ancient Line of Moncrieff.
A paying client. Someone worth working for. But not a friend.
Than again, a thousand years and the death of one's entire civilization could change anyone's mind, Elkurud supposed. Even someone stubborn and unpleasant, possessed of an arrogance that, if Elkurud was honest, had been exhausting to be around.
Now, here, in the modern day, Elkurud was actively and purposely seeking out Achird to patrol together. After his and Amateru's encounter with the officer with the sickle, it seemed wise to move in pairs, knowing that someone stringer might be around causing problems.
"How are things with your lady friend?" He asked, idly; a simple question to open things, though it got at gossip that Elkurud was curious to hear. Achird had seemed so enamored, it was hard not to want to know more.Galaxite leaned against the half-wall around the rooftop he'd taken refuge on. He'd planned to drain tonight, but there was something much more interesting to do with the appearance of two distinctly alien Senshi.
He wasn't totally ignorant. He was aware of this new, odd development in the Negaverse, and while he hadn't yet run into one of these aliens, it was obvious that the people with antlers and feathered ears were probably not ordinary humans.
Perhaps he ought to simply...handle the threat. Eliminate these two potential sources of danger before they got stronger and became a larger problem for the Negaverse.
The beauty of being an archer was that he didn't have to get close to his target. He'd practiced relentlessly since becoming a Captain, training his aim and his breathing and his ability to shoot.
And so he drew back his bowstring, aimed for the antlered Senshi, and fired.
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Posted: Sun May 18, 2025 2:14 am
Achird felt good about himself. He was spending more and more time with Karakorum—though he was still avoiding Farbauti for now—and life slowly seemed to be getting brighter. It was as if he'd been stuck in limbo, waiting for... something. And now he had that something. Someone. "Well, so far," he answered with a hint of a smile. "Her name's Karakorum. A Squire of Cybele. She's had no past life as a knight, since Cybele is a new Princess in this millennium., so that's been interesting to discuss. And she's from a land called 'China'—well, her family is, anyway, I don't think she herself was born there?—so I've been attempting to find good books to read about the history of the land, literature she's already told me she enjoys, that sort of thing. My main focus in research since I came here has been on America, since that is, of course, where we currently live, but it's fascinating just how different the other side of the planet can be. Achird was more cohesive than Earth, so it's a very novel idea. Fascinating. Almost beautiful how different it is, as frustrating as it also is to a degree. The vast differences are a struggle to keep up with. But, well. I like her. She's... Well, if I intend to do more than stay over once in a while, I'll do what I must. I want her to be happy." He realized he was rambling and ignored his blush, coughing to try to cover it up. "Anyway. How are you and—" He cut himself off with his own shriek of pain as an arrow tore through his ear, dropping to one knee and clutching at the wound as blood began to gush.
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Posted: Sun May 18, 2025 2:26 am
An instant. That was all it took to utterly shatter their casual little chatty patrol.
One moment, Elkurud was grinning playfully at Achird, ready to rib him about his lady love; he was also curious about this new Knighthood, this new Princess, because the process was fascinating, adn whatever Achird was learning about this China place--
And the next, there was an arrow, and Achird was screaming, and Elkurud's instincts kicked in.
He grabbed Achird's arm and yanked him towards a nearby alleyway, hoping they could get out of the line of fire.
"We need to move," he said, "we can't stay open and exposed or you will be shot again." He hoped Achird simply came with him--he knew the pain had to be devastating, but they could not stay where they were, open targets. Breaking line of sight for a moment might give them a chance to determine where the arrow came from.Good. A hit. A splatter of blood. He'd have liked to hit something more vital, but damaging an ear would have to do for the first volley. Galaxite moved to draw his bow again, but the birdlike Senshi was moving, trying to haul the deer away, and it took him time to draw and nock and aim.
Unfortunate. He loosed, but he knew even as he fired his second shot that it would be a miss, and he'd have to go for a third. Plus, he'd need to change his angle to get the shot again.
Perhaps they would be distracted by tending the deer-Senshi's wound, and that would give him enough time to reposition and take another shot.
He stood up to move, glaring down at the alleyway, prepared to shift his position to get his shot.
They would not escape him. Galaxite refused to return to his duties as an officer only to immediately fail to eliminate an enemy he had every advantage over. Distance. Height. Rank. A deadly weapon to their pathetic magic.
Surely he could not possibly fail.
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Posted: Sun May 18, 2025 2:34 am
Achird would have rather curled up on the pavement, whining about his ear until he died, but Elkurud's insistent grip was more convincing than his instinct to just lay down and take it. He came fully to his feet again and let himself be taken in, a second arrow whistling right past him. "Oh my gods we're gonna die," he said, looking around the alley Elkurud had tugged them into with wild, frantic eyes. "That was not cool!" He clutched his ear a little harder, the pain searingly hot, but he needed to try to stem the blood flow. He knew he wouldn't bleed out from this particular wound, but he also knew injuries from the neck up tended to bleed a lot more than the rest of the body, and if there was a blood-sniffing youma around, he didn't want to encounter it because of this.
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Posted: Sun May 18, 2025 2:54 am
"We are not going to die," Elkurud said firmly. He wasn't entirely certain he believed it, but for as long as they were pinned here, he had to. He did not get to panic, he did not get to let himself fear that they wouldn't get out.
He hauled Achird deeper into the alley, hoping they could stay out of their pursuer's sights.
"We did not both make it this far," he said, firmly, "to die here because of a Chaos b*****d with good aim."
Or perhaps not so good, since he'd hit a nonvital area with his first shot and missed his second, but that wasn't the point.
"Breathe. And--here." Elkurud reached down, tearing the hem off his skirt and offering it to Achird. "Use this. Put pressure on the wound. Help stem the blood flow." A trail would lead their pursuer right to them, but then, there was only so much to be done.
Windless banks, this was unfair. How was it that the Negaverse got access to powerful, deadly weapons, and they were left with just their magic and a prayer?Galaxite was moving, preparing to take his next shot, when something, suddenly, made him freeze.
He felt--
Someone was hunting him. Following him. He was, apparently, not the only one out here ready to instill fear, and he spun--
Just in time to see a silvery arrow strike his chest.
He stumbled, arrow slipping from his fingers, and looked down--no blood, at least, but it hurt, and he searched for the person who fired.
"Come out," he snarled, furious.Karakorum hadn't meant to get involved in a fight. Really, she'd just wanted to go for a walk in powered form; enjoy a nice night and wander the city streets, maybe looking for a little trouble but mostly looking to have a fun time.
After all, being magical was kind of a joy. She was a powerful Squire, now, with real magic and a real, pretty weapon attached to it. She'd been able to use that magic to fight a youma and also a monster from beyond the stars. That was awesome, and she wanted to keep riding that high for as long as she could.
So, out, by herself, running around and having a good time. All fun and games, really.
She really hadn't thought much of two Senshi and a Captain; two on one seemed fair, even if they were weaker. And yet, she'd still started in that direction, and she was glad she had--because while the Captain hadn't noticed her, she'd had enough vantage to see him lining up a shot--and whoever he was firing at was out of sight.
And that just wouldn't do. Honestly, it was an unfair advantage--a real bow with real arrows. But she at least had something close.
So she'd fired, and she kept her magic channeled. Let him be afraid of her. Let him know that he was the prey, now.
"Lotta talk for a guy who's taking potshots from a roof," she said, but she made sure she stepped into view, keeping her bow trained on him.
"Get out of here," she said. "I am being very generous and giving you that chance. Don't ******** it up by trying to be brave. And stupid."This was getting far, far too complicated, Galaxite thought. Two enemies below, a third arrived from behind--risk after risk piling up, and while he was distracted dealing with this Squire, the Senshi below might regroup and figure out where he was. That was a risk he could not afford. tHree on one was terrible odds.
And, in truth, he deeply disliked the fear crawling up his spine. The feeling of being hunted. Of being the one pinned down, as if he didn't have all the power here.
"You're lucky, little huntress," he said, coldly, and he recalled the two arrows he'd fired and the one he'd dropped, "that I don't feel like sticking around."
And then, he teleported away.Karakorum let out a breath of relief when the officer vanished, letting go of her magic and walking to the edge of the roof. She did stay still for a moment, waiting to see if his aura reappeared--if he had just teleported far enough to be out of sight and to take up a new sniping position--but when she was sure there was no lurking Captain, she vaulted over, landing on the street below, and winced when she saw blood on the ground and a trail leading towards an alleyway.
"Hey," she called, "are you alright? That Negaverse creep is gone, I scared him off, so it's safe to come out."
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Posted: Sun May 18, 2025 3:08 am
Achird nodded shakily at Elkurud. Yeah, okay. He could believe that, when it was Elkurud saying it. If there was any senshi who could say something like that, despite only being a basic again and on Earth for a very short time, it was Elkurud. Achird didn't truly know much about him, other than his profession from long ago, but he did know that Elkurud was excellent at it, and that helped. He wrapped the torn skirt piece around his ear, trying not to cry as it burned briefly hotter with pain, before fading into a dull ache. "Thanks," he breathed, trying to stay quiet. He felt the aura vanish and cautiously looked up and around the alley. The voice that came to greet them surprised him and he perked up, wincing anew as the movement jostled his wound, but he didn't stop the small smile that graced his lips as he looked to the mouth of the alley. "Karakorum," he said, the relief palpable, as he walked towards her. "It's good to see you. Thank you." He waved Elkurud forward, chest puffing out slightly—he was proud of his... acquaintance? Lady? Not girlfriend, they didn't seem to be that close yet, but.... his Something?? "El, this is Karakorum, the lovely lady I was telling you about before we were so rudely interrupted."
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Posted: Sun May 18, 2025 12:55 pm
"Achird!" Oh, no. Oh, Karakorum was really, really glad she'd gotten involved, now, because if she'd left Achird to--whatever fate that officer planned...
Probably she would never have known. he would have just vanished, like so many in this stupid city.
And when she ducked into the alley and laid eyes on him, realized that the blood she'd seen was his, it made her both angry (how dare that b*****d touch her--her--her It's Complicated and she was starting to feel less complicated about it!) and also fear (Achird was hurt and--no no no.)
"Thanks for looking out for him," she told the other Senshi--"El," apparently. "Achird, come with me, we're gonna find my brother--he's a healer--and get you fixed up." Ah, this was the mysterious Karakorum, Squire of Cybele. At a glance, Elkurud could see why Achird was so enamored; she carried herself confidently, had unhesitatingly jumped in to a fight to back them up, despite the enemy's undoubtedly dangerous weapon.
And now, she was demonstrating great concern, and even knew a healer.
"Elkurud," he introduced himself. "I'll commit Achird to your care, then."
At least he would be alright.
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