all teeth, but not smiling (
shikomizue) wrote in
nysalogs2018-04-11 08:58 pm
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. all you have's your axe to grind . closed
Who: Takasugi Shinsuke (
shikomizue) & "Friends" | Closed
What: Catch All For April-May-June
When: Over April / May / June
Where: Mostly Wyver, some Thesa and Olympia
Warning(s): alcohol + graphic violence + bang + will edit as needed
[ closed starters in the comments ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
What: Catch All For April-May-June
When: Over April / May / June
Where: Mostly Wyver, some Thesa and Olympia
Warning(s): alcohol + graphic violence + bang + will edit as needed
no subject
When Mikazuki snaps the lock, the creature inside gasps, voice audible despite the glass between them. In the dim, sickly light, she looks nothing more than a skeletal apparition, white hair more alive than she is as it writhes around her.
She doesn't climb so readily from her cage; only once Takasugi breaks eye contact and steps nearer to Mikazuki does she wander out. Cautious, her voice lilts in fragments of song.
Mimicked compulsively by the first monster he'd freed.
Some sort of exchange - the echoic creature repeats the last sound she's made until she makes another.] Are you going to free them all? [A glance cast to the amalgamation linked hand in hand with his partner.
If that's Mikazuki's whim, he won't stop him.
But they won't be able to guide each and every one of the wretches.]
no subject
[ Not a priority, but a possibility worth acting on to complete the mission.
A simple answer that Mikazuki allows to lie at the foundation of his choice. This once, it's a mutually beneficial order, one that toes the line between obedience and independence. At his side, the pelted creature buckles on its ankles, its breathing hazy. In a quick, decisive dip of movement, he turns aside, pulling her arm over his shoulder and hiking her up onto his back. She's heavy enough, but he balances well, supplying his own inexhaustible strength to hoist her into a carry that's a bit more fair then his usual choice.
Even with his cargo, he makes his way over to the last of the creatures in containment. One with wicked teeth and metallic feathers that edge down its body like knives, the other the first watery cell they encountered when entering. ]
Two more...
no subject
Because he needs to.
And that, not Cree's request, stays Takasugi's urgency.
A quick entrance and a prompt retreat are at the core of guerrilla warfare, even on such a small scale as this. In the very least, should they be accosted on their way out, they'll have some reinforcements.
The beast resting its weight against Mikazuki's could tear a man to shreds in a single swipe, should it possess the energy to do so. And the creature glowering at them, its entire being a sharp threat, looks as if it wouldn't hesitate to paint a room red.
Takasugi follows Mikazuki's trajectory, the two creatures and their entwining voices lingering towards the center of the room. A glance spared to them is all of the encouragement he offers, they'll be urged to leave when the time comes. For now, better that they're distracting one another instead of exploring the newcomers.
With the hilt of his sword, Takasugi breaks the lock of the watery cell. The other is left to Mikazuki - not a shirking of the potential danger, but leaving palpable concern to play its part.
The creature would sense Takasugi has no regard for it, surely. They're monsters, their instincts as sharp as their teeth.
A hiss precedes the opening of the pod in front of Takasugi, water somehow shuddering against the disruption. Rather than spill from its prison, the surface remains, agitated, until a wave rolls down and crests at the bottom. Spilling over with an unearthly moan.
Then the rest falls, a puddle at their feet. Whispers, rather than ripples, left in its wake.] Ah.
[There's one less burden to bear.
Takasugi takes a step back, allowing the unfortunate thing the respect of a peaceful rest, at least, as he waits for Mikazuki's last rescue.]
no subject
The butt of his gun collides with the lock, components sliding and clattering — and what follows is a mad rush, a cascading shriek of metal as it collides with the open space he'd granted it, weaponized limbs slashing and clawing. Mikazuki only has so much room to react with the weight of the creature across his back, feeling the paper-thin feathers glance off his cheek and leave behind three smooth cuts, only a whisper through flesh. For once, his instinct to fight back curbs, purpose rooted. It's the pelted monster that squirms uncomfortably at the blood and commotion, releasing a defensive curtain a smoke like her creature counterpart. It's ashy and putrid, just like the swamp of embers a part of her lived in once. Even for him, it takes effort not to choke on it. The scaly specimen recoils with a hiss, realizes that it no longer has to obey four walls, and retreats from the vicinity and back into the halls in a whip of silver.
Mikazuki, face bleeding, quiets again, casting a glance to Takasugi. He won't chase. There's still three, and who knows. Maybe it would find its own vengeance.
With that, he motions for the other creatures, beginning to press towards their escape. ]
There's only one more thing. [ He turns his face aside to the girl he carries. ] Cover your ears.
[ With the rest behind him, he raises his gun with its saved rounds. He unloads, arm taught and precise. The entire clip goes, into the walls, the equipment, the cells. Everything shatters under the weight of its bullets, each one spreading decay and ruin. It's not rage, finger stilling on the trigger as soon as the last shot rings out and not needing to pull again.
With any luck, it'll spread to the foundations of this place, and it'll all go up in smoke. ]
no subject
Instead, the crack of metal reverberates, shaking the somber stillness that had come over the deserted laboratory.
Screeching metal is like a memory - blade on blade, or a body against itself. The creature lurches to carve itself into its savior, the chaos within that's been tearing it to shreds exploding outwards.
Takasugi doesn't come between Mikazuki and the freed beast. The boy knows these creatures well, what makes them up more fundamentally than a creature and a human spliced together. If he didn't, he wouldn't be hellbent on their liberation.
In return, the one relying on the boy's strength to stand retaliates. Takasugi visibly grimaces when the scent of the smog reaches his nostrils, a brief flare of disgust quickly dissipating as he recognizes the scent. Burning fur, rotten flesh, all of which are sinking into a quagmire of impassible earth.
He steps back, towards the door, watching the glint of feathers in refracted blue light as it fades into the darkness. Whether that thing will be pacified by mere freedom, or raise its talons at the world, Takasugi doesn't know. But it will provide a distraction for their escape.
Something that's been delayed too long; Takasugi doesn't mind lingering still. With the pair hunched behind him, he faces Mikazuki's wrath. No such emotion contorts his face, and there's nothing visibly urgent or feverish about the way he destroys the remnants of the lab.
Except the boy isn't one to waste bullets. Each shot is a necessity to him, and when he's finished, Takasugi wonders if he's truly calm.
Staring at him won't ever reveal the answer. Turning to urge the shuddering echoic creature, muttering gunblasts under its breath, and the now silent vocalist onwards, there's nothing left but to take their leave.
Cut through tunnels with smoke darker, more metallic and saturated with oil. Shadows and smog hide their way, disorder still emanating from the bomb's epicenter, and whatever else the other groups had gotten up to.]
no subject
If he never has to step foot inside these labyrinthine walls again, he'd be fine with that.
Their escape into open air comes in sober paces rather than elation. Towards the unremarkable carriage chartered to get them safely back to Wyver. Being covert isn't exactly Mikazuki's normal fair, but he's even more subdued while they travel, eating and sleeping pushed off in favor of watching, making sure their charges are well covered and not drawing any attention. Only the soft mimics of whispers, creaky wheels, and birdsong come for long periods of time.
Once back in familiar territory, the sight of them is a little less suspicious than it would be in Olympia. What better place for them than a gilded cage — where they take the creatures to hand over to Cree, as he requested. Not all, but some, and that seems to line their pockets with a little more than usual.
Still, Mikazuki doesn't want to stick around, already smelling a little too much like smoke and money. The separation was far from tearful, though Mikazuki would probably be offended to hear it called a transaction, all the same. ]
I'm going home.
[ Mentioned to Takasugi once he has his unopened parcel of rewards in his hands, strangely demure. ]
//end!
Damaging, all the same; smoke follows the group in plumes as they slip from a secluded door, immediately overtaking the scent of crisp night air.
As they ride towards Wyver, everything grows heavier. Humidity, a blanket of fog in the sky catching early sunlight on the horizon with an eerily pale glow. No vibrant pinks or golds accompany them through dusk, only clouded cracks of silver.
Takasugi's quick to remove most of his outfit. Mask discarded, top entirely peeled from his body to hang from the sash around his waist. With his back curved against the wall of their caravan, he smokes in silence as their wheels slop through a muddy trail.
Though, even after a sleepless night, he isn't so eager to leave the Gilded Cage. They possess their own quarters to offer the more active members of their legion, but Takasugi foregoes those, as well. His pockets lined with silver, a parcel tucked away, his thoughts drift to an early morning drink, and a few cast bets.] Aa.
See you.
[They've gambled together enough for one night.]