dec and jan catch all [closed]

[shikomizue]

Who: Takasugi Shinsuke (shikomizue) & various
What: Catch-all for December / January
When: Throughout December / January
Where: Thesa, will edit as necessary
Warning(s): Alcohol use, Drug use, probably some PTSD/vivid war flashbacks, graphic violence

[Individual starters in the comments!]

Comments

[sparsity]

[ With the path clear and the final man's attention on whether or not he hits Takasugi, Mikazuki uses that lapse to his advantage. Over the body he goes, leaving it haphazard but still breathing as ordered, barely a space for a reaction as he shoulder checks the guard to throw him off his balance. It's quieter than slamming him into a wall for a sturdier vantage — there's not enough time for that. Here, there are three, but Mikazuki knows there will be more.

Ribs compress beneath the force of his hit, and Mikazuki pivots, drives his palm up into his jaw to quell coughing before it starts. There's a snap, not enough to indicate a break, but definitely one that will ruin his sight for the split second he needs. Its one smooth motion, the way he grabs the guard's throat, fingertips crushing into the arteries and muscles beneath skin. He lifts until the struggling subsides, and things seem to slow for a moment as he lowers the body to the ground, catching his breath in one exhale.

There's commotion elsewhere in the building. It's time to leave, but he doesn't make the first move, not until he's told to go. ]

[shikomizue]

[Embers disperse violently, shooting to crest against the stone of ceiling and floor alike. They don't leave so much as a black mark in their wake, heat quickly snuffed by the stone's chill.

The first contact Mikazuki makes echoes in skidded footsteps and a sharp intake of breath. It's not loud enough to resonate uncomfortably, but it delivers a pang of acute awareness of sound.

Soon there will be more than three.

Takasugi doesn't intend to meet them with his blade drawn, but neither does he sheath it.

Not when he's been seen, and though his order has been so comfortably received and delivered, it will need modified. He approaches the crumpled body of the third man and slips the tip of his blade into the man's bruising throat.

Enough to puncture voice box - maybe enough to kill. Either result suits him fine.

There's only a thin line of blood left flowing on the man's neck when he slides his blade back into its scabbard. He looks to Mikazuki - his eyes adjusted to the dark, maybe, or maybe he just sees more in the boy's face when he's fresh from working flesh and bone beneath his hands.

It's a lingering glance, one that requires the full tilt of his head to break as Takasugi turns to leave the scene.]