Kazuki
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You Can't Take Me
The Creed
Posts: 883
Trainer Class: 
Player Name: Himura Atsushi
OOC Username: Sleepy
Arena Points: 113
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Post by Kazuki on Feb 27, 2023 15:33:26 GMT 9
The carriage creaks and shudders with every step. Stampeding hooves steer it across the rough stone paths, mechanical and mindless in their objective to move forwards. The darkened skies above rumble with anticipation, the Steppes far from welcoming.
Kazuki sits, feeling the dark wood of the cabin scrape against his exposed back. He has his arms crossed. His feet are propped up on one side of the seat in front of him, heedless of his companion’s comfort. He has been staring, quietly, perhaps temperamentally, since they both appeared together.
“So, I really am stuck with you, brat?” He finally says, not even attempting to mask his disappointment. Not so long ago, he had found the perfect distraction and had intended to follow that son of a bitch to the ends of this fake Earth.
And then that annoying quest notification popped up, and he pressed a button that teleported him here and made him instantly lose the guy’s trail.
He clicks his tongue, deciding to track him down when they reach civilization. All players would apparently have to go to Briarbane.
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Silvermoon
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Mythstar
Posts: 412
Trainer Class: 
Player Name: Kasey Lilacina
OOC Username: spibe
Arena Points: 43
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Post by Silvermoon on Feb 28, 2023 1:56:47 GMT 9
Kasey still wasn't used to how all the travel worked. A lot of it was walking, and a little bit of climbing and sliding down things. But some of it was... just... clicking a button. It was disorienting, and they still needed to get used to it. Like... standing in a town, and clicking a button, and suddenly being sitting in a carriage.
Kasey spent a moment just looking around, having never been in a carriage before. The wood was dark-stained and glossy, and- and there were feet to the left of them. Kasey glanced forwards, stilling a bit at the sight of the man before them. His gaze was dark and intense, and entirely unfriendly. Dark, intricate tattoos laced over his arms and torso, flowers blotting up onto his face.
And then he spoke.
Initially, they wanted to apologize. For being in this man's way, for being here at all, but- But instead Silvermoon dug their thumbnail into the side of their finger, and said. "I think, if you don't want to be here, you're free to leave." The carriage did have doors. No one was trapped.
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Kazuki
•
You Can't Take Me
The Creed
Posts: 883
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Himura Atsushi
OOC Username: Sleepy
Arena Points: 113
|
Post by Kazuki on Feb 28, 2023 3:11:02 GMT 9
This new one—this brat was the farthest thing from a threat. They had frozen the moment they met his gaze, all wide-eyed and colored soft, like a baby deer. They didn’t even try to move his legs from their seat.
It’s only when they opened their mouth that Kazuki raises his brow.
“Considering how far we already are? Hell no.” The hassle of it all—and knowing his target, it’ll just set him back even further. The light seeping into the cabin dulls, the distant roar of thunder striking the metal rods jutting from the earth. Kazuki stirs from his seat, the shift of his weight causing the cabin to creak in protest.
“And if you’ve got a problem with me,” he reaches to grab the stranger by their collar, to yank them forward as his voice drops into a growl—“then say it.”
What follows is a quick-fire symphony of light and sound: The sharp cries of the pokemon in front, the skies flashing, and the audible crack of wood before the carriage is sent careening off the path.
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Silvermoon
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Mythstar
Posts: 412
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Kasey Lilacina
OOC Username: spibe
Arena Points: 43
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Post by Silvermoon on Feb 28, 2023 3:47:09 GMT 9
Kasey, for an instant, considered themselves very brave. They would never have said anything like that to someone in person, but... Here, it felt different.
At least, until the man leaned forward, and grabbed them by their collar, yanking them forward, until their faces were close. And Kasey felt very afraid, stuck under his bright green eyes, and the solid grip of his hand. "I-"
And, somehow, everything got worse. The whinnies of horses, a daylight-flash of lightning and the roaring of thunder, undercut by something sharper and closer. The carriage jerked, no longer over stamped down, traveled roads, but instead jostling over underbrush. The carriage slammed into something, another louder crack sounding, and the hoofbeats started fading, falling into the distance.
Kasey groaned softly, trying to push themselves off the floor, water and mud starting to seep in. Everything hurt, like... like they'd been thrown around in a wood carriage. Kasey sniffed a bit, reflexively, and something in the air smelled different. Like... like barbecue wood-smoke. Why was that here? |
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Kazuki
•
You Can't Take Me
The Creed
Posts: 883
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Himura Atsushi
OOC Username: Sleepy
Arena Points: 113
|
Post by Kazuki on Feb 28, 2023 4:42:01 GMT 9
The carriage is totaled, one wheel sent tumbling down the steppe, a part of the road now charred by stray lightning.
When he comes to, his first sight is of heavy clouds framed by jagged wood. The wooden cabin is wrecked. It’s half-submerged in a shallow pond, the murky water and mud squishy under his shoe. The rest of his body had been thrown to the back of the carriage, the side that collapsed on impact.
He curses, loudly, when the pain registers.
“Fuck! Are you fucking serious?”
His hand curls around a stake of wood, old black paint crumbling into his palm as he yanks it out of his right shoulder. The red of his tattoos look dull beside the fresh pigment that flows.
PAIN THRESHOLD: Realistic
It's not much compared to what he's used to. He’ll survive this. But it still hurts like a bitch as he hoists himself off the collapsed seat, and it’s even more annoying to hear the sounds of a storm brewing outside.
His foot touches something on the floor. He nudges it roughly with his heel.
“Brat, if you’re still alive, get moving. I am not staying here.” His hand is clasped over his shoulder, though it’s far from ideal.
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Silvermoon
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Mythstar
Posts: 412
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Kasey Lilacina
OOC Username: spibe
Arena Points: 43
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Post by Silvermoon on Feb 28, 2023 5:12:03 GMT 9
Kasey flinched a bit as they were kicked, blinking rapidly to try and figure out what was happening. The man was staggering out through a sharply-opened... um, hole, entire back hunched and tight. "Wait-" Kasey got out pathetically, scrabbling to their feet and splashing after him, hefting themselves over the sharp wood-
Right into muck, an ashy brown-grey that went halfway up their calves. Kasey let out a little whimper, but- "Wait!" They repeated, scrabbling to catch p with Kazuki. "Wait- Your shoulder-" Closer, it looked... awful. Without thinking, Kasey began yanking off the outer shawl they wore. "I- I don't know how to tie it right, but- we need to get it bound-"
There was another sharp crash, as the carriage started to crumble- and then the skies started opening up, because of course. Kasey flinched at the rain, glancing up before looking at Kazuki again. "I- We- We need to find some kind of shelter-" |
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Kazuki
•
You Can't Take Me
The Creed
Posts: 883
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Himura Atsushi
OOC Username: Sleepy
Arena Points: 113
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Post by Kazuki on Feb 28, 2023 5:40:55 GMT 9
The fact he joined this game to have fun, and now he has a hole in his shoulder and is wading through disgusting water...
He hears the splashing behind him and turns, face still pinched with a mix of impatience and pain as he watches the stranger stagger back to their feet, stammering nonsense. “Don’t touch me,” he hisses upon seeing them pull their shawl off, pressing his hand harder against the wound. It doesn’t plug it, just causes more blood to seep past his fingers and mix with the pond.
When the carriage gives out and rain begins pattering over their heads, Kazuki grumbles and continues moving. “Then don’t just stand there.” The little floating map the game provides is useless. Its marker blinks, screaming at them to keep moving to Briarbane, but the path through the Steppes looks like a field of nothing dotted with lightning rods.
If they’re lucky they could find a cave. Or a burrow. Something that will only slightly kill them.
[Prompt]dgCw9Vr91d100
1d100 |
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Silvermoon
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Mythstar
Posts: 412
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Kasey Lilacina
OOC Username: spibe
Arena Points: 43
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Post by Silvermoon on Feb 28, 2023 6:00:48 GMT 9
At the venomous hiss, Kasey pulled back, fingers tightening over the cloth. They... And, he just starts walking off. That yawning pit opens up again, you're useless, everyone is disappointed in you, you can't do anything right-
Kasey took in a deep breath, and followed after him. At... at the very least... Someone that hurt shouldn't be wandering off on their own. "What even are those?" They asked, looking up at one of the tall, sharp spires, forgetting that their traveling companion was a grade-a jerk. Were they natural and drew the storms? Or had they formed because of the storms here? Or... or was it a result of the creatures- the pokemon?
There was a flicker, and Kasey paused, letting Kazuki get a few steps ahead. They moved towards what had caught their eyes, a patch of dirt barely shaded from the pouring rain. Someone had gone at it with a stick, or something, and carved out the name "Kalevala." That... was Kalla's character in the.... um, online fantasy game he played all the time. He and Tally played it together. But why.... was it here? Did Kalla even play pokemon?
It was then that Kasey noticed the small opening, just at the base of one of the spines. Like... like a burrow the druids would use, when they slept in the Emerald Dream. Was Kalla... letting them know?
"Hey!" Kasey called, turning to find Kazuki, and wave him down. "Over here!" Cautiously, they started creeping into the burrow.
[Prompt]sarfxb6V1d100 1d100 |
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Kazuki
•
You Can't Take Me
The Creed
Posts: 883
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Himura Atsushi
OOC Username: Sleepy
Arena Points: 113
|
Post by Kazuki on Mar 3, 2023 14:37:09 GMT 9
The pain flares as rain lands on the fresh wound, yet he grounds his teeth and bears it, the thought of requesting help from a stranger deemed more inconvenient (for his pride). There’s a moment when it seems as if the trainer had given up, the distance between them growing, until they thought twice of it and began following behind him.
He eyes the nearby spire when it’s pointed out. It pierces the earth like a horn, raw iron charred black with the cause of their predicament. “Videogame bullshit,” he declares gruffly, trudging on.
It’s an open plain. Flat grass is all he sees, with some suspicious shapes a way off that could be burrow or a useless hill to die on. He’s about to take his chances when the stranger’s voice calls out. Seems like they found something.
The rain starts pouring in earnest. He clicks his tongue and turns around.
It’s a hovel, of course. The opening is embedded close to one of the spires—too close for comfort. Kazuki has to stoop to avoid bashing his skull against the entrance, the act of curling his body—and movement in general, really—causing his wound to protest.
As small as it seems, the burrow is extensive, forming a tunnel. A screech-like sound echoes a little ways inside, and investigation reveals it to be several rat-like critters quarreling over a large blue berry.
Videogame bullshit.
The blue berry comes bouncing their way, ending at their feet. The nidoran begin screeching at the humans who stood closest to their food.
Kazuki grimaces at their noise. “Shut the fuck up!” Before slamming his foot down, the blue berry bursting and creating a small puddle of juice.
Several pairs of red eyes begin to approach from the shadows of the burrow.
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Silvermoon
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Mythstar
Posts: 412
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Kasey Lilacina
OOC Username: spibe
Arena Points: 43
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Post by Silvermoon on Mar 4, 2023 11:38:29 GMT 9
Silvermoon winced, a bit, when they saw Kazuki having to stoop. Maybe they shouldn't have called him over, but- The rain was worse outside, now, a little bit of water getting in from the wind. Kazuki's scowl says that the rain would have been preferable.
Squeaking and hissing caught Silvermoon's attention, and they turned to see some blue and purple creatures, looking like strange spiky rabbits, fighting over a blue berry of some kind. They likewise watched the berry bounce towards them, and turned to handle the upset creatures. "It's okay-" They began soothing, cut off by Kazuki's snarl- And Silvermoon flinched at the berry was crushed.
And then the eyes opened.
Silvermoon's breath caught in their throat. "Uh..." They couldn't scramble out of the tunnel quickly enough, not with Kazuki hurt. But... "H- Help us out! Protect us!" From their hand came a pokeball, a pineco flashing into being. It made no noise, but a crystalline, glimmering barrier sprung up between them, and the herd of nidoran. Silvermoon then looked at Kazuki, somewhat sharply. He'd upset all the pokemon for no reason. |
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Kazuki
•
You Can't Take Me
The Creed
Posts: 883
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Himura Atsushi
OOC Username: Sleepy
Arena Points: 113
|
Post by Kazuki on Mar 6, 2023 21:51:07 GMT 9
The nidoran collide with the barrier. They hiss and screech, clawing against the iridescent shield. The rain roars behind their backs, its distant lightning now a rumble beside their eardrums, more resounding than the enraged pack’s choir.
The doe-eyed trainer gives him a pointed stare, expectant—blaming him, no doubt. He can’t find it in himself to feel guilty.
Kazuki’s gaze moves from them to the sentient pinecone acting as their only shield. It moves further past that, back to the nidoran, to the glinting claws that rip against the translucent barrier as if it were chalkboard.
He thinks of a little pest whose armor amounts to little more than green plush toy fluff.
He clicks his tongue.
“If you want me to help,” he says, meeting the trainer’s eyes, his hand painted red as it clutches his shoulder, “get rid of the barrier.”
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Silvermoon
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Mythstar
Posts: 412
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Kasey Lilacina
OOC Username: spibe
Arena Points: 43
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Post by Silvermoon on Mar 7, 2023 3:36:49 GMT 9
If it were just his tone, then Silvermoon could wave it away as him being in pain- his shoulder was still bleeding. But... it was becoming slowly obvious that Kazuki was... just... an asshole. they said nothing to Kazuki's demand, turning back towards the pineco. True, the shield needed to come down, but...
Silvermoon pulled out another pokeball. "Pineco..." The nidoran were clawing at the shield, one rearing back to slam against it, shaking their head as the drew back again. Silvermoon released the second pokemon, a small tuft of orange and yellow. The nidoran started to charge again. Silvermoon took a slow breath.
The nidoran bore down on the shield, a breath before their head hit-
"Now!"
The protection shattered, sparkling as the nidoran ran wildly, unprepared for the lack of resistance. |
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Kazuki
•
You Can't Take Me
The Creed
Posts: 883
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Himura Atsushi
OOC Username: Sleepy
Arena Points: 113
|
Post by Kazuki on Mar 8, 2023 0:21:22 GMT 9
Whether they approved of his demand didn’t really matter. He stands and waits, ears filling with the combined sound of rumbling skies and the nidoran’s frantic attempt to break through, the sheen of the barrier fading with each passing second.
The trainer releases a new pokemon. A small chick creature that Kazuki doesn’t recognize.
And then the shattering.
The nidoran fall into brief chaos, crashing and piling on top of each other as they fail their charge. But a few from the back do slip through, riding inertia to charge for the biggest opponent in the room.
Toxic spikes extend, a horn glinting inches away from the man’s leg—
And is sent flying.
“Stay back,” Kazuki hisses, not to the nidoran, but to his travel partner. He’s positioned a little closer to where the barrier broke, drawing their attention. His foot collides with the underside of the rabbit-sized creature and kicks to send it crashing into the thick of its pack. The nidoran’s cries grow louder, outraged as he starts fending them off.
Thank fuck at least his legs work, but stomping out a rat plague has never been efficient, and he doesn’t like the look of those spikes all over the top of their bodies. He has to aim carefully for their bellies and it’s costing him speed. They swarm, moving together as one, and pressure the intruders to move closer to the entrance. |
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Silvermoon
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Mythstar
Posts: 412
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Kasey Lilacina
OOC Username: spibe
Arena Points: 43
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Post by Silvermoon on Mar 12, 2023 14:22:12 GMT 9
Silvermoon was silent, quiet and wordless as Kazuki attacked the nidoran, even as they were being pressed back. Despite everything, he was still... Then they had to do something. Silvermoon watched, watched Kazuki, watched the nidoran, watched the pineco, watched Phoenix. There was an aswer here, between them and the ui screens flickering up.
Silvermoon just didn't like it.
But they liked the alternative even less.
"How are you?" They asked the pineco, quietly. The pokemon didn't respond in words, but their gaze was full of resolve. "Okay... use that shield again, and get between them all. Then..." Silvermoon didn't elaborate, and the pineco drifted, gleaming as it moved into the swarm. They scooped up Phoenix in their arms, and moved more behind Kazuki.
"Run as soon as you're able-"
They prayed this worked, and that it didn't work how they feared. |
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Kazuki
•
You Can't Take Me
The Creed
Posts: 883
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Himura Atsushi
OOC Username: Sleepy
Arena Points: 113
|
Post by Kazuki on Mar 13, 2023 15:37:00 GMT 9
There’s no picking them off. With every nidoran he kicks, two more come snapping in its place. They gnaw and shred at his shoes and the edges of his pantlegs, though his struggle is keeping them from targeting the others.
And then he sees the floating pinecone. It moves past him, forwards—into the thick of the swarm, a light slowly enshrouding it. He hears the trainer behind him say run and slams down his legs, about to make a break for it.
Only to feel a heavy weight on his ankle. A nidoran has him in its jaws, its red eyes wide with fury over its battered brethren.
Goddamn it.
The cave flashes white.
Everyone, nidoran and trainers alike, are blown every which way. Many of the nidoran collide with the burrow walls, flopping onto the ground unconscious. Kazuki crashes against the floor feeling as if his skin has been set on fire.
“You…” he groans, the resilient bastard, using his good arm to lift his body and flip onto his back.
“So you can be a bitch,” he wheezes, laughing despite it all. “Good to know.”
The nidoran that had clung to his leg stands there, trembling for a moment as it beholds the end result of the battle. It glances at Silvermoon for a second before turning around and fleeing deeper into the tunnels with a whimper.
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