Jump to content

[PP-F4] Reopening old wounds


Recommended Posts

Dustin stands in disbelief, what was she not getting? What was he not getting? He knew this had to be done, but even still Greil doesn’t deserve it. A life is a life, no matter how corrupted or soiled, it is a life and Dustin is taking one away. Cutting it short. There’s so many experiences he won’t have, so many things he won’t see, so many words he won’t say and professions he won’t make. Who was Dustin to take all of that away? Kadin wouldn’t want this, but the dead don’t want anything. It’s the only benefit of being dead.

”What about Arabelle, a-and....me and the everyone else?! Do you not care about ANY of us?! Do we matter, so little to you, that you don't care how you impact us...?”

He watches her, appalled at what she just asked. “You’re not Kadin.” He says, before turning around and walking along the pathway to the enemy. They could sort the rest out among themselves, maybe she could decide it’d be better not to see him fall down this hole. This path he’s following is doing nothing but damning his soul.

His feet fall deep into the snow, the cold piercing his shoes and nipping at his toes. It wasn’t ideal, the cold weather and the even colder aura around the boy. He wanted to do this with no hinderance, but he had to be sure. If your ideas aren’t challenged then they’ll never be right or wrong. They’ll always be a mystery, no closure means no satisfaction or disdain. He was risking everything for this, including his sanity, but it would all be worth it to the boy.

He could feel himself crying, calling out for help and kneeling in the snow screaming at his weakness. Neither voice had been enough so he pushed them out. It had done nothing but made matters worse. He could feel both pain and emptiness but nothing else, no sympathy for the man he’s about to kill, no empathy for the people who know him. It was dark and cloudy and he was alone, but he had to keep going. A few tears stream down his face, this time though it wasn’t his mental image of himself tearing up. He stayed ahead of the girls to try to keep his wavering constitution a secret, but if they looked closely enough they could see the snow melt from sporadic tears falling onto it.

Crunching, rhythmic but chaotic. Three people out of sync crushing the snow beneath their feet, trekking a distance hither to undreamt of. Creaking and cracking, another set of feet, rushing in close behind them. Closer... closer...

closer...

Dustin stops suddenly and jumps back behind the girls using his torso to knock the enemy down. Two orange cursors floated above two players who looked ready to make sure they have a reason to be orange. Dustin had forgotten they weren’t far. “You have no tact what so ever.” Dustin had clocked another enemy not far from them, watching them. He didn’t want to point him out so as to avoid putting the girls in danger without good reason.

The player that had charged so carelessly pulls the shield off of his back and rears his sword up, resting the tip of the blade on the top edge of his shield. Dustin used to used that stance too, considering it was a common stance though, it made sense.

Even in the commotion, there was still a pitter patter on the snow underneath Dustin. Tears seemed to melt snow faster than fire.

((feel free to engage enemy 2, I just didn’t want to write too much without you all getting a say in anything))

Enemy 1: 300/300 HP | 35 MIT | 25 DMG (30 and 45 on small crit and big crit respectively)

Enemy 2: 300/300 HP | 35 MIT | 25 DMG (30 and 45 on small crit and big crit respectively)

Dustin: 580/580 HP | 58/58 EN | 15 DMG | 8 MIT | 2 ACC | 4 EVA | BH: 5

Link to post
Share on other sites

Jinx had hoped Arabelle would help her, make Dustin realizing that killing wasn't going to solve anything! That they...But Jinx's eyes flashed with betrayal as Arabelle not only didn't help her but actually...worked against her! It wasn't her decision, but then....why did Dustin invite her?! Dustin was her friend, and he knew, he had to know she wouldn't...wouldn't approve of him killing anyone! So why! Why would he invite her?! Did he....want her to suffer? To watch as he killed Greil? 

What would that achieve?! Was her friend wanting to get rid of her? Was that how much of a burden she was to both of them? They wanted to get rid of her, in the most cruel way they could? Jinx didn't moved as they stalked off, too worried about reality to do so. Jinx allowed those moments, when both her friends were gone, to cry. She hated it, but...Was this Arabelle and Dustin trying to get rid of her, the useles burden, from their lives?! Was this how far they were willng...

Jinx shook her head and glared where they had gone! This wasn't her friends trying to get rid of her, but her friends being lost! Arabelle and Dustin were her friends and she wasn't going to let either of them do anything stupid! Equiping her armour, the girl ran forwards as her mind whirled. She had to do this, she knew what had to be done...Even if her friends hated her for it, she'd....she would do this!

The girl arrived right as they'd found their targets, the player killers. Jinx's recently formed instincts kicked in and she placed herself between Dustin and the player-killers, and threw a look at her friends. In her rush, the girl hadn't found time to clear up the red-eyes she'd had from crying "N-no one is dying today...Got it" She said, her voice harder than before. Jinx finally understood what this suge in her chest was. Determination. She had a goal and...she would achieve it! 

Action Taken: -Howl (Idk how this works against players, but Jinx has placed herself between players and will move to intercept attacks)

Stats:

Spoiler

Enemy 1: 300/300 HP | 35 MIT | 25 DMG (30 and 45 on small crit and big crit respectively)

Enemy 2: 300/300 HP | 35 MIT | 25 DMG (30 and 45 on small crit and big crit respectively)

Dustin: 580/580 HP | 58/58 EN | 15 DMG | 8 MIT | 2 ACC | 4 EVA | BH: 5
Jinx:  480/480 HP | 38/48 EN  | 57 MIT  |  2 THRN <18 Dmg>  | 1 Regen <5hp>  |  2 Para <8-10>  | 1 Bleed <9-10> | Familiar Healing <30 every 5 round>  

 

 

Link to post
Share on other sites

Left behind with Jinx, Arabelle let out her breath in a soft white puff. She was rather used to those looks of sheer disbelief, but my -- she might have strayed too far from simply watching. "I might know what your intentions are," she said, almost gently. "But you can't handle this, can you? Leave if you cannot bear the sight."

She went forward, deciding not to voice something that might have changed the conversation entirely.

'I was just asking for an explanation.'

He was beyond listening.

Tugging at the edge of her cloak, she silently trailed after her guildmate before he could disappear into the snow. Was he crying? Oh, now that she thought about it, that other person cried a lot too. But she kept her hands on her unsheathed scythe as they approached the coordinates. It was a short walk, punctuated by nothing but the occasional whistling of the winter winds and the crunching of their boots against the snow. 

And it wasn't long before they realized those footfalls weren't just their own.

"Two of them," Arabelle said, almost nonchalantly, before Dustin jumped behind them to clock one in the face. 

Underneath her cloak, Shikama Douji flared a bright green. Whirling around, she placed one within her estimated range and whipped out her scythe in a flash of sickly green flames. She swung it in a wild arc -- only to find that the tip had buried itself into the first orange cursor's shield. Blocked. Well, she supposed players were smarter than mob AIs. 

"No one on our side will die!"

Arabelle launched herself forward, tugging her scythe out of Orange Cursor No. 1's shield, and closed the rest of the distance between her and the second orange player with a burst of speed -- going farther than Dustin had earlier. No one else was hiding in the snow... right? "Hello! I guess the other guy told you about us, huh? It was nice of you to greet us with an ambush--" An amicable tone. And a charming smile. Arabelle would have looked completely out-of-place amidst the snowy field, if it weren't for the still-glowing scythe in her gloved hands. She slashed viciously at her opponent before spinning her weapon in her hands and knocking them back with a heavy swing. "--so it's only a given that we respond in turn, yes?"

Spoiler

ID: 134112 | BD: 1
ID: 134113 | BD: 8 | Explode Catapult: 12 * 14 = 168 - 35 = 133 DMG to Enemy 2

14 + 2 = 16 EN

Enemy 1: 300/300 HP | 35 MIT | 25 DMG (30 and 45 on small crit and big crit respectively)
Enemy 2: 167/300 HP | 35 MIT | 25 DMG (30 and 45 on small crit and big crit respectively)

Arabelle: 540/540 HP | 38/54 EN | 12 DMG | 9 MIT | 3 ACC | 2 EVA
Dustin: 580/580 HP | 58/58 EN | 15 DMG | 8 MIT | 2 ACC | 4 EVA | BH: 5
Jinx:  480/480 HP | 38/48 EN  | 57 MIT  |  2 THRN <18 Dmg>  | 1 Regen <5hp>  |  2 Para <8-10>  | 1 Bleed <9-10> | Familiar Healing <30 every 5 round>  

 

Edited by Arabelle
Link to post
Share on other sites

Arabelle already had her scythe out and attacked before Dustin had the chance to step around Jinx. Anger filled his body like he was burning from the core, he wanted to push her out of the way and then beat these two down and be done with it, but the enemies had to go and start attacking his friends.

His heart starts pounding, practically beating through his chest, the world around the enemy had gone dark, all he could see was the player and Jinx’s hair. His blade drew back and his shield raised up, Dustin saw an opportunity. Two steps in the snow was all it took, one to the side and back towards the man with the shield. His glowing hand smashed straight into the player’s shield, sending tumbling back onto the makeshift sled and sliding across the snow. Dustin still couldn’t see anything but the enemy as he started backing towards Jinx.

Before Dustin could get back to Jinx, he heard the sound of a sword art behind him and turned quickly to see what happened. The knife user had gotten behind Jinx and slashed at her, but couldn’t make it past her armor.

Even though he hadn’t done any real damage to her, the man had made a fatal mistake. For the criminal charge of hurting Dustin’s friend, he would be sentenced to a savage beating hither to undreamt of. “You will pay.” He utters, clenching his fist and watching the players regroup.

kill them.

Spoiler

ID: 134397

BD: 3 + 2 = 5(miss)

All might misses, -2 EN

ID: 134398

MD: 10 (Big crit)

45 - 57 = 1 DMG

480 - 1 = 479 HP

Spoiler

Enemy 1: 300/300 HP | 35 MIT | 25 DMG (30 and 45 on small crit and big crit respectively)
Enemy 2: 167/300 HP | 35 MIT | 25 DMG (30 and 45 on small crit and big crit respectively)

Arabelle: 540/540 HP | 38/54 EN | 12 DMG | 9 MIT | 3 ACC | 2 EVA
Dustin: 580/580 HP | 56/58 EN | 15 DMG | 8 MIT | 2 ACC | 4 EVA | BH: 5
Jinx:  479/480 HP | 38/48 EN  | 57 MIT  |  2 THRN <18 Dmg>  | 1 Regen <5hp>  |  2 Para <8-10>  | 1 Bleed <9-10> | Familiar Healing <30 every 5 round>  

 

Edited by Dustin
Link to post
Share on other sites

Part of Jinx couldn't believe what was happening! Arabelle was helping Dustin in attacking the players! Dustin, it made sense in a broken way, but for Arabelle to get involved! Jinx felt something hit her from behind, one of the players...But. She was more worried about him than herself, after all, her mitigation was rather high, clearly higher than their attackers! Jinx had to do something but....what!

"Stop this! Dammit stop fighting all of you! I don't want anyone to get hurt anymore!" Part of her, knew, deep down, speaking was hopelss. No one would listen. That's when the girl looked at the Rapier in her hands, then looked up. She, honestly couldn't believe she was even considering it. But what other option did she have? They weren't listening to her words, but would her actions honestly be any better? To do what she believed in, she'd....She couldn't. The looked up, and moved her body. She could hear Arabelle in her head as she did.

 "I might know what your intentions are,""But you can't handle this, can you? Leave if you cannot bear the sight."

Arabelle was right, she couldn't bear the sight of this...But the only other option was leaving those she considered friends to die...and she couldn't do that either.

"Ok...g-get them low then let them go ok? Deal?" The looked over at her two friends and hoped they were listening...

*Regen active*

Spoiler

 Enemy 1: 300/300 HP | 35 MIT | 25 DMG (30 and 45 on small crit and big crit respectively)
Enemy 2: 167/300 HP | 35 MIT | 25 DMG (30 and 45 on small crit and big crit respectively)

Arabelle: 540/540 HP | 38/54 EN | 12 DMG | 9 MIT | 3 ACC | 2 EVA
Dustin: 580/580 HP | 56/58 EN | 15 DMG | 8 MIT | 2 ACC | 4 EVA | BH: 5
Jinx:  480/480 HP | 38/48 EN  | 57 MIT  |  2 THRN <18 Dmg>  | 1 Regen <5hp>  |  2 Para <8-10>  | 1 Bleed <9-10> | Familiar Healing <30 every 5 round>  

 

Link to post
Share on other sites

"You are the ones who came to us."

Because Dustin's methods gave him away earlier. She had surmised that much earlier. What an... undeveloped way of going about things. Arabelle's lips curled into a cruel smile. "Ahahaha. Perhaps. Be grateful it was him out for a vendetta and not me~!" As if to punctuate her point, her scythe reignited with nebulous green flames burning burning burning -- until Dustin's punch sent the other goon sailing across the snow. "Shi-chan!"

Jinx yelled at her to stop.

And hardly had the one in front of her started to move when fiery judgment manifested in the form of a scythe descending from above to arrive at an earth-shaking slam against the snowy ground, the impact of which sent shockwaves that tore through both opponents in her range.

Arabelle gracefully flipped over her scythe and landed on both feet. One green, one dangling by a thread. Uncharacteristically, she wouldn't smile as she pulled up her weapon and advanced on the latter.

Spoiler

ROLLS

ID: 134896 | BD: 4 + 3 = 7 | Explode Catapult: 12 * 14 = 168 - 35 = 133 DMG to Enemy 1
ID: 134897 | BD: 4 + 3 = 7 | Explode Catapult: 12 * 14 = 168 - 35 = 133 DMG to Enemy 2

14 + (2 * 2) = 18 EN

Enemy 1: 167/300 HP | 35 MIT | 25 DMG (30 and 45 on small crit and big crit respectively)
Enemy 2: 34/300 HP | 35 MIT | 25 DMG (30 and 45 on small crit and big crit respectively)

Arabelle: 540/540 HP | 21/54 EN | 12 DMG | 9 MIT | 3 ACC | 2 EVA
Dustin: 580/580 HP | 56/58 EN | 15 DMG | 8 MIT | 2 ACC | 4 EVA | BH: 5
Jinx:  480/480 HP | 38/48 EN  | 57 MIT  |  2 THRN <18 Dmg>  | 1 Regen <5hp>  |  2 Para <8-10>  | 1 Bleed <9-10> | Familiar Healing <30 every 5 round>  

 

Edited by Arabelle
Link to post
Share on other sites

Anger sat in Dustin’s core as he watched the enemy player slide back across the snow. Arabelle was doing great in this fight but in Dustin’s eyes it wasn’t her fight. He didn’t want her to get hurt, and the same went for Jinx. They were both there, which was more than he could say for anyone else he knew. He couldn’t really blame all the people not there, it’s not like he told anybody but Jinx. Arabelle was smart enough to find Dustin on her own. It was more than he could’ve asked for. Unfortunately for the players attacking them, Jinx decided she wanted to come along.

Dustin’s hand grips tightly into a fist, and his eyes examine the player with the shield once again. His body was open, as he was planning to attack Jinx once again, and Dustin took this opportunity to dash in and focus his strongest attack right on the enemy’s face. His legs push deep into the snow, his body moves before the opponent has the time to react. Dustin had closed the distance in almost an instant, but the enemy had brought his shield up. Dustin’s left hand grabs the shield and pushes it down as he brings in his other hand to connect to the enemy’s face.

After his attack connected, the player stumbled back and fell down, exploding into a million blue shards. “That would make no sense. Why would I let them live after what they’d done?” He asks, turning to the other player that Arabelle was beating senseless, and Dustin looked down for a moment.
 

“I’m never letting anyone take my friends away from me again.”

Spoiler

ID: 135277

BD: 7 + 2 = 9 (no crit)

all might on enemy 1

15 * 15 = 225 - 35 = 190 DMG

167 - 190 = -23 HP

—————————————————

ID: 135278

MD: 5

miss

Spoiler

[DEAD]Enemy 1: 0/300 HP | 35 MIT | 25 DMG (30 and 45 on small crit and big crit respectively) 
Enemy 2: 34/300 HP | 35 MIT | 25 DMG (30 and 45 on small crit and big crit respectively)

Arabelle: 540/540 HP | 21/54 EN | 12 DMG | 9 MIT | 3 ACC | 2 EVA
Dustin: 580/580 HP | 40/58 EN | 15 DMG | 8 MIT | 2 ACC | 4 EVA | BH: 5
Jinx:  480/480 HP | 38/48 EN  | 57 MIT  |  2 THRN <18 Dmg>  | 1 Regen <5hp>  |  2 Para <8-10>  | 1 Bleed <9-10> | Familiar Healing <30 every 5 round>  

 

Edited by Dustin
Link to post
Share on other sites
  • 2 weeks later...

Jinx blinked hard, then again. Dustin had just...KILLED someone, right in front of her! For Jinx, in those moments, realize froze. 

For as long as Alisea could remember, she'd hated others sufferings because often, she felt them as her own. Someone had told her, once, that due to empathy, she could 'feel' the pain of others almost as if she were suffering for them. It had caused her to always try and remain calm, to always see everyones side of life and made, almost forced her, to put value of everyone she met on equal to her own life. 

And she could see the 'assassins' face shift into horror as he exploded, and as it did, something in the girl lurched, violently. She'd not only watched someone die, but she'd...helped with it. Even if she hadn't done it herself, her friend had...Dustin had just...murdered someone in cold blood! Her friend was...dead. Dead and gone. 

She opened her mouth to scream, to beg, to do something, but the voice died in her throat hearing Dustin speak. Why would he LET them live?! Did he truly believe he had the right to choose that he had the right to choose who lives and dies? 

They'd willingly hunted them down, chased them through the snow! They should be letting them go...to....To do something, it didn't matter what but! Killing them was just...

Wrong

 

 

Spoiler

[DEAD]Enemy 1: 0/300 HP | 35 MIT | 25 DMG (30 and 45 on small crit and big crit respectively) 
Enemy 2: 34/300 HP | 35 MIT | 25 DMG (30 and 45 on small crit and big crit respectively)

Arabelle: 540/540 HP | 21/54 EN | 12 DMG | 9 MIT | 3 ACC | 2 EVA
Dustin: 580/580 HP | 56/58 EN | 15 DMG | 8 MIT | 2 ACC | 4 EVA | BH: 5
Jinx:  480/480 HP | 40/48 EN  | 57 MIT  |  2 THRN <18 Dmg>  | 1 Regen <5hp>  |  2 Para <8-10>  | 1 Bleed <9-10> | Familiar Healing <30 every 5 round>  

 

Link to post
Share on other sites
  • 2 weeks later...

Oh, one down.

"Stop! Stop! Yield, I yield!" Upon witnessing the death of their companion, they had their hands up in the air. Why weren't they getting up? Wasn't dying with dignity the better option? Oh, the girl noted blankly. Her earlier AoE had torn through their leg. They propped themself up as she drew closer and she saw their gaze flick to a small blue crystal in the snow. It was impossble. Assuming they grasped that one-in-a-hundred chance, teleport crystals always landed players straight in the middle of a safe zone, where the NPC guards were ever ready to gore them to death. "What do you want?! Money? Equipment? You won't get anything if you kill me now. I'll give you all I have!"

This was unbelievably pathetic. Was this feeling a secondhand embarrassment? Probably, this little group had never once faced players who could actually fight back. They killed, and killed, and lower levels fell at their feet -- and now they were aaaall about to die the same way their victims did. But really, she couldn't fault them for this behavior. In this situation, if one wanted so desperately to survive, the only thing one could do to survive was to throw away their dignity and appeal to the ones who appeared to have a heart.

Raise the white flag and beg. 

"Look, the guy you're after is the strongest one of us! I can lend you--"

"Ah."

Her scythe flashed from behind her and sang through air. She impaled their head against the ground. They jolted, gasping, crawling at the snow... and Arabelle crouched down to rest her hand softly on their head. "Three hits," she murmured quietly. "That was all you were worth." She gripped them tightly by a tuft of their hair and slid them down her blade, pressing them further against the snowy ground.

And they were gone, in a cloud of intangible crystals. 

[--Morbidly beautiful.]

"Hey, Dustin." 

She pulled herself up. She didn't turn. She didn't pull her scythe from the ground.

"Where's the big guy?"

Spoiler

ID: 136288 | BD: 4 + 3 = 7 | Crimson Blood: 12 * 6 = 72 - 35 = 37 DMG on Enemy 2

6 EN

Enemy 1: 0/300 HP | 35 MIT | 25 DMG (30 and 45 on small crit and big crit respectively) 
Enemy 2: 0/300 HP | 35 MIT | 25 DMG (30 and 45 on small crit and big crit respectively)

Arabelle: 540/540 HP | 16/54 EN | 12 DMG | 9 MIT | 3 ACC | 2 EVA
Dustin: 580/580 HP | 40/58 EN | 15 DMG | 8 MIT | 2 ACC | 4 EVA | BH: 5
Jinx:  480/480 HP | 40/48 EN  | 57 MIT  |  2 THRN <18 Dmg>  | 1 Regen <5hp>  |  2 Para <8-10>  | 1 Bleed <9-10> | Familiar Healing <30 every 5 round>  

 

Link to post
Share on other sites
  • 2 weeks later...

What was the kid supposed to do? Run in and save someone complacent in the murder of his brother? He had known the cost, but it was getting to him. He watched the two players die. They didn’t mean much, or at least not to Dustin. Of course Arabelle’s tone didn’t help the matter. She spoke as if she wasn’t affected by the death of a person. It wasn’t an issue per se, but it certainly made him wonder if she had done this before, or just didn’t care.

It was a human life though. Dustin didn’t want to see them like trash to be cut down and thrown aside.

That’s all he could see though. He was getting worse and worse by the minute. Breaking further and further. He had to make them pay... pay with their lives... pay with their souls.

He could feel himself slipping. He had no idea what to do. He wanted to ask them for help, but did he deserve it? It wasn’t the first time someone had died for hurting him, but it certainly was the first time he had taken a life. 

The mountains with Kirbs and Ennakai. They had been ambushed. Enna killed one, and Dustin had to watch. He had forgotten all about that, and now he was regretting that too. That was different though. It was protecting Kirbs and Enna, not childish revenge. Now he was a murderer, and would probably have to appeal to Stryder to stay in the guild.

Or he’d have to leave.

As Dustin started walking, he’d been too lost in thought to realize they weren’t the only ones around here. There had been another, one that never goes in to attack, but only watches to see how they fight. He had so much information to give the head of the spear.

”He shouldn’t be too far.”

Edited by Dustin
Link to post
Share on other sites

Dustins words swirled in the girls head. 

“I’m never letting anyone take my friends away from me again.”

He was so worried abotu losing people but....He couldn't see it could he? He was driving towards his own death and Alisea couldn't watch it....But he didn't let her stop him either. It was over for Dustin. Jinx hated herself, hated how she KNEW there was only one thing to do...Only a single action she could take. And as she put her hand on Dustins shoulder, she could feel her heart breaking into pieces. She didn't have many friends...

"Dustin. You say you won't let him take your friends away from you but...You're the one who has done it. You And Arabelle have just...killed people! MURDERED THEM!" For one of the few times in her life, Alisea yelled. Screamed at the top of her lungs, filled with rage....and overwhelmed b sadness that touched each and every word that escaped her lips "You could have done, so much more! So many better things and instead you sink to their level and become a murderer! It....it hurts to look at you. You're the...the shell of a friend...You were such a good friend to me and now....i don't..even know who you are anymore"

Jinx let out a sigh as she pushed back her tears. "You said to me, just before. You'd never let anyone take your friends away from you. Well, you've already failed that Dustin. You drove me away from you. Because you don't care about the friends who stand by your side. We nearly died together once Dustin, remember...? When Pin attacked us. I stayed WITH you, even though he could have killed me a dozen times over! Because i believed, deep down, you were a friend and a friend is someone who you stand by!"

The girl failed as tears started to stain her face, and she turned away. If this was the last time she saw her friend....

"I'm sorry Dustin. I'm sorry i wasn't a good enough of a friend. I just wish i knew how to be better not to lose the people i care about. But i suppose it doesn't matter now. It's clear you don't see me as a friend anymore, if you're so willing to get rid of me"

Jinx started walking, away from the fight, and back to town. The longer she walked, the more she cried. Dustin had been, arguably, her best friend in the guild. And to have him turn his back on her was akin to a knife in her heart. She hated how it made her feel, how no matter how hard she cried, it never stopped.

If no one chased after her, Jinx would vanish into the snow - As would her love for her friends. 

 

 

Link to post
Share on other sites

"Lovely."

Empty, like her colorless eyes as she gazed upon snow-covered plains. She stood completely, perfectly still. The shadow of her drawn hood fell over her face and the white wisps of her breath joined the gentle winter winds. It was so poignantly quiet -- a hollow, uncaring silence for the deceased that was torn to shreds as their unwelcome member's anguished scream ripped through the air. Arabelle didn't turn as the girl behind her nearly burst into tears and she didn't offer a single word as the shielder brokenly uttered a string of apologies and finally trudged away, into the distant snow.

"How dare you end a life."

The hooded girl dislodged her scythe and turned to follow Dustin.

How dare you walk this world blinded.

Shortly after the pair found themselves alone, Arabelle felt compelled to run a check on their surroundings. They couldn't afford to be ambushed at this moment, but the retreating figure her sharp crimson eyes locked onto possessed a different objective. She figured, a group of knuckleheads wouldn't have made it so far as player-killers. "They have a scout," Arabelle told Dustin. The information they carried back with them could be dangerous, but they had themselves smartly positioned far enough away from the two. Easy retreat, and nearest to possible reinforcements; the wise coward's tactic.

And she wasn't about to be caught unprepared.

"Let's not go any further yet," she called out. Coming to a stop, she tucked her hands behind her back and lifted her head to level a calm stare at him from under her hood. It hadn't sounded like a suggestion. "I do not want us to charge in like fools and get ourselves killed. Everything you had done up to now would have then been a pointless effort. Thanks to that scout, they probably already know what we can do, so let's at least meet them when we're at our strongest."

Arabelle offered him the thinnest of smiles.

"Think of it this way. We're in a dungeon and we're about to head to the final boss. It likely isn't going anywhere. Would you keep walking?"

Spoiler

ID: 137745 | LD: 16

[1/3 full energy regen]

Arabelle : 540/540 HP | 17/54 EN | 12 DMG | 9 MIT | 3 ACC | 2 EVA

 

Link to post
Share on other sites

He walked, like he was on autopilot. The footsteps beneath him had cut out the chilling sensation of the snow, his face ignored the sharp breeze, he trapped himself in thought. The  tank had screamed and cried for people she barely knew, monsters she had no reason to care for. Dustin couldn’t bring himself to do anything, not even turn to look at her.

She walked away thinking he hated her. Good. That’s what he wants.

Dustin could probably explain this away, tell them that he had to watch as Greil murdered his friends and family, they might even understand. But he didn’t want that. He didn’t want them to be okay with what he’s doing... so why was she? Did she just care about him enough to not care about everything he’s done so far? She hasn’t spared him too much attention, so she’s no yandere.

”Of course your friend is dead. He let his brother die, how could he save himself?”

His quiet words carried a ghastly smog with them. His breath was a thin smoke, barreling out of an empty volcano.

The pink haired girl asked him to stop, and Dustin’s eyes widened. A scout? He stood and looked at the ground for a moment, before sitting down and looking at the girl who refused to abandon him.

”Have I changed?” He asked, unsure if he was asking the right person. “I’d told Eatos this is exactly what I want to do and she called me childish. I told Hestia and she tried to change my mind. I told Jinx and she supported me. Has the world changed or have I?” Dustin asked. He was tired, couldn’t stand to think about what Jinx, yet it was all he could do.

I care Jinx. I really do, but what kind of Monster changes like this and is okay with his friends treating him the same? I don’t want your forgiveness, I don’t need it. It’s not like it means anything if you can just forgive me for what I’ve done. Hate me forever, please. It feels good to know you cared too.

Dustin looks to Arabelle. “Why haven’t you left me here?” He asked, unable to draw any coherent conclusion that would make sense. “It’s not like what I expect your support. I fully expected you to call me a bastard and run away.” He wanted her to. He didn’t want her to see either outcome, he wanted to kill Greil and fade away. Either that or die without continuing the cycle.

“There’s nothing I can do but keep going. If I stopped now, all I’d be is a murderer.”

—————

Energy regen 1/3

Dustin: 580/580 HP | 40/58 EN | 15 DMG | 8 MIT | 2 ACC | 4 EVA | BH: 5

Link to post
Share on other sites
  • 2 weeks later...

"Funny," Arabelle remarked, lowering herself to sit seiza-style in front of him. Her red cloak fanned out in the snow around her. "I was just about to ask you that question. So perhaps, in my eyes, you did."

He expected honesty; she gave it to him. Whichever side she might have wanted to lean toward, 'maybe' would always be the best answer she could offer. Kissing someone a few times didn't mean she had much insight into the person.

"You left all of a sudden," she reminded. "I wanted to ask why now of all times. Correct me if I'm wrong, but your target's little murder troupe has been active since that event. Did something change? Or did you have a plan resting on a certain factor? What would it have been, then? Strength? Information? Or was it something else entirely?" 

Arabelle folded her hands on her lap and looked the man in front of her with a careful eye. No more romantic pretense, no more shallow gazes at the guild member she thought she found to her liking. She looked at Dustin like any other person and saw a furious storm brewing in tired bloodshot eyes as he tried — once again, to drive every last person away.

"I already said."

Well, unfortunately, she wasn't about to leave.

"I spent all that time looking for you, so now I want to see this through to the end."

Spoiler

[2/3 full energy regen]

 

Link to post
Share on other sites
  • 1 month later...

Dustin couldn’t stand the thought. She’d stay with him until the end, she’d see this through. Once upon a time he would’ve admired that. Part of him still does, but his selfish nature was the better part of him right now. “You shouldn’t see what’s going to happen. Either way at least a part of me dies.” He says looking down at the snow.

”It won’t be the same as that person I just killed. I’m not defending anyone. I’m not doing this for a righteous reason, I’m doing this for revenge. I- he...” The young boy stumbles over his words as he struggles to find the right ones. “Did I ever tell you about the time Ennakai, Kirbs and I went up into the mountains?” He asked. He didn’t think he had, but he was gonna talk through it anyways. “Enna had a way with people you know? They always found a way to either become their friend or annoy the daylights out of them. That along with Kirbs, the joyful little bugger she was, and me, the brash hotheaded child with a knack for getting in over my head, made up for what could only be described as a rag-tag group of hellraisers.” His words were almost nostalgic, like it was a past he’d missed dearly.

”Enna had brought me along to meet an informant. I knew it was gonna be trouble because it was Ennakai. They liked causing a ruckus as much as I do. It wasn’t that far from here if I’m not mistaken. The informants were orange players.” His eyes remained locked on the snow as his infinite well of conviction became paradoxically empty. “I took a beating worse than ever before. Dropped near to death.” He chuckles, with tears in his eyes. His hand comes up and quickly strokes his chin. “Ennakai killed him. They saved my life but I was so pissed. I called them a killer.” He smiles and looks around, laughing at the irony.

”If they killed saving my life and I was mad... then how should I deal with this?”

He couldn’t think. All he wanted to do was fade away, they wouldn’t even let him do that. “I’m going to become a murderer tonight.” His head drops, his hands pushing his long brown hair back and letting it fall forward.

”It’s so cold.” His voice leveled out, his eyes still brimming with pain and sorrow, practically seeping out into the snow. His face had lost all expression and his mind...

completely blank...

Link to post
Share on other sites
  • 4 weeks later...

"—You're drifting."

And in hindsight, he had been since the very start. She didn't elaborate. It took two to maintain even the slightest semblance of a conversation, and Arabelle didn't have any patience left to give for today. 

Rather, his pandering was met with venom.

"No," the girl said. She wasn't smiling this time — and though her voice never raised above a conversational tone, the intent was laid very neatly underneath. "What do you take me for? Someone so easily disturbed? Do you really think I would forget what you set out to do if I didn't see it? Or that you maintained some sort of image? Please remember that neither of us are that stupid."

The words hung in the air as she rose to her feet. Flaring her cloak to rid it of the excess snow, she walked a couple of steps forward and softly patted Dustin's head like one would with a little child.

"In a fight between you and a murderer, I would, of course, favor the outcome where you live. And staying means I can personally ensure that."

Arabelle pulled away. She walked a little closer to the shaded place they both knew was the danger area and stood still, facing away from him. Enna— she knew that name, but the identity of the person wasn't as relevant as the role they played. "Let me ask you something." At their distance, her voice was but a soft whisper. "I can guess your answer, but one can never be too certain. You can only choose one. Who was in the wrong in your story?

"'Enna' -- or you?"

Spoiler

[3/3 full energy regen]

 

Link to post
Share on other sites

The chill breeze picked up for a moment, Dustin took that as a signal to keep pressing on. His energy had refilled and he’d be fine with however much HP he had left.

She spoke, her tone as cold and sharp as the air around them, and Dustin couldn’t help but feel like he was annoying her in his descent into madness. He pushed his feet into the ground and stood up, wiped off his pants and stood for a moment, listening to her final question.

He didn’t want to give her the satisfaction of being right, but he also didn’t want to try and lie to himself. Instead he silently walked away, heading to their destination.

They’d come to the Destination, and Dustin had let that question sit long enough. He needed to let her know that he wasn’t trying to be an asshole. “I was in the wrong.” He says, walking towards the small wooded area and stopping short.

This was it. This was everything he fought for. It was all leading to this. It would be the end for some one either way.

Two cautious steps was all he could handle, as the second that crunch had finished, he’d started running and throw a punch blindly in towards the hideout.

-CRACK-

Dustin’s arm flies towards the ground as a sting of pain ran up his arm. The hammer crashes into the snow beneath his eyes. That hammer. It filled Dustin with an unholy rage that boiled up as the boy tried to recover. Before he could think the hammer flipped and floated back up towards his face, knocking his head back.

Dustin falls flat into the snow, sprawled out staring at the sky. The man looked down on him once more and sneered. “So you’ve come back? Or are you here to avenge someone you once knew?” He smiled and pulled his hammer onto his shoulder. “Or are you here to pad my numbers?”

@Arabelle

Link to post
Share on other sites
  • 3 weeks later...

“Then this shouldn’t be a problem.”

Simple math. 

This time, the pair proceeded without argument. Was it just her, or were their surroundings growing colder with every step forward? Was it what they were about to do? Like in those shows she never quite saw– fixing her gaze on the taller figure in front of her, she tugged her drawn hood down so that it further shrouded her face. Call her impulsive, or completely uncaring, but she wasn’t blind. Arabelle walked only a step behind him, well aware of the widening metaphorical distance between her and the man who might have like the thought of calling himself one of her lovers.

What could she say? She didn’t want him to die, but after this it was just,

Troublesome.

Boring.

Well, who knows?

“Ah, these sorts of murderers truly have faces only mothers can love,” she sang. It only made this affair much easier. Dustin walked forward. Her scythe formed out of thin air and her appraising eye never left the visage of the man who killed his brother – and much more. So much more. These were the people who deserved all the evils of the world. “Hey, you might want to watch out for stu–”

He charged. The resulting clash sent a spray of snow that would have clouded her vision, had she not immediately stepped to the side. A thin smile tugged at the corners of her lips as one side of her face was illuminated by Shikama Douji’s brilliant green light.

“That’s a horrible weapon for a leader of an orange guild. Not that you’ll live long enough to reflect on your idiocy.”

And she burst forward, sending three consecutive slashes aimed at his torso, then quickly spinning around and twirling her scythe to send it in a fourth slice at the arm holding the hammer that kept Dustin pinned down.

Link to post
Share on other sites
  • 3 weeks later...

Greil stood, as the short fiery girl launched attacks at him. He barely moved, letting his health drop. He’d taken more damage than he thought he would, and in a moment of pure shock his hammer had lifted off of Dustin’s chest. The fourth slice barely missed his limb, as he feared he would lose it had he kept it there.

Dustin saw opportunity. His legs pushed down as he rolled back onto his knees and stood to his feet. It was time he showed this man what he was made of. Two spinning kicks placed themselves on the shaft of Greils mighty hammer, before the man stepped back and recuperated. He smiled for a moment, spinning the hammer in his hand and drawing his gaze between the two. All he had to do was be smart, they weren’t ahead of him stats wise but they weren’t far behind either. Greil’s hammer placed itself on Dustin’s shoulder, with the hooked spike down behind Dustin’s back. Dustin’s arm locked it in place, as Greil had thought he would, before pulling it as hard as he could kicking Dustin in the lower gut.

As Dustin hits the ground, he quickly stands back up just enough to start running towards the old man. He had to think for a moment, but now all he could do was fight. Fight and not look back. He’d cross the room in a moment, wrapping his arms around the waist of the murderer and tackling him to the ground.

Dustin plants himself in the ground, straddling the murderer of his brother and two best friends. “You took my brother from me.” He would say, drawing his fist back and dropping his hand. Greil had managed to catch it with his forearm, but it still did a small amount of damage. He was beginning to panic as Dustin drew his hand back again. “You took Kadin from this world.” Tears slithered down the boys cheeks, his voice and expression remained the same. Punch after punch, the boy pushed the man further into the ground. “You took her from me.” He would say quietly, leaning down over the man.

The boy loses it, punching the man as fast as he can, repeatedly. Crunch. Crunch. Crunch. Dustin stares blankly as he beats the face of a human being beyond recognition.

Greil began glowing and Dustin started screaming. He hadn’t suffered enough. He needed to lose more. He needed to feel what Kadin felt. “NO!” Dustin would shout, punching the ground beneath the dense snow. Greil was gone, all that was left was the imprint of what was once a man.

Edited by Dustin
Link to post
Share on other sites
  • 1 month later...

And he'd eventually wander off. Eyes fixated somewhere far, far away, he didn't look any less despondent than when she found him an hour or so ago — seven-something days in hiding from a merry band who liked to proudly declare they were all a family, seven-something days in an internal feud between murder and justice. "...but wasn't this the answer you chose in the end?" she thought she heard herself say when he passed.

She didn't follow him.

Alone in the frigid outskirts, Arabelle shut her eyes. She let her pulse and breathing slow, extending her consciousness outward, past the thick line of snow-covered trees that bordered the clearing.

Before they found Greil, she had informed Dustin of the presence of another.

That fourth player now attempted to quietly extract themself from the situation.

Light footsteps. The occasional rustle of leaves and snow. And at some undefined amount of meters away, a cautious pause.

When she next opened her eyes, they were burning scarlet. Did they really think it would be that easy? Their figure was stationary — outlined in a bright and burning yellow against the subdued colors of her vision. She drew her hood, took one silent step forward, then another, and she felt her lips curl into a smile. If she ever believed in one thing, it was that no one should outrun their sins. 

Arabelle swapped a single crystallized song into her battle-ready.

What~ should~ I~ do~ with~ you~ now~?

█ █ █.

█ █ █.

█ █ █.

In this place, all that shall remain of their clash will be the disturbed snow. But even that would vanish in less than a day too. Programmed environmental patterns, the movements of mobs and blissfully oblivious players — and... whoever came to investigate. It would all disappear.

 

 

Oh, was she... repeating herself?


@Dustin, @Jinx

3   | SP
300 | col

---

@Arabelle

3   | SP
200 | col

Link to post
Share on other sites
Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.
×
×
  • Create New...