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 Jun 13, 2023 6:28:39 GMT 9
The illusion shatters, and he finds himself faced not with a starry sky, but his own UI, which fades after the confirmation. He doesn’t feel the change immediately.
He hears it.
Kazuki squeezes his eyes shut as distorted laughter fills his ears like a hyena’s cackle. What once had been nothing more than a fly’s annoying buzzing has now moved to the forefront, barraging him with patchwork tones.
'It’s only fair,' it purrs in voices that aren’t its own. 'Are you alright?'
“Can you shut the fuck up?” Kazuki hisses. Hearing the voices of those he trusts being chopped up and used against him is unnerving him more than he expects.
'Don’t like it?' There’s a sound like the keening of a ship’s hull; the entity thinking. 'I Understand. Still Fucked up, right?'
'Need to get stronger.'
His eyes shoot open at the sensation of something writhing under his skin.
SPRIGATITO || 100/250
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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 Jun 13, 2023 6:15:33 GMT 9
The ground is soft beneath his feet. Cracked earth turns to mush, trying to swallow his every step. The sky has an oily, iridescent sheen that burns his retinas.
He keeps his gaze forwards, imagining a horizon beyond the gloom that bisects both the earth and sky, keeping them from melding together and crushing him.
Silly is an understatement. Coming here once was a mistake, the second was idiocy, and the third is an active death wish.
( Sure, there are other options – he could ignore it all, for starters. The current state of his avatar and his team didn’t impede his battling or gameplay. He could even drop the game wholesale now that he’s made significant progress on his recovery.
Atsushi has always had trouble dropping something once he starts. )
He looks down and is shocked to see there’s grass tickling his legs. He didn’t notice them growing. The darkness no longer shrouds him, instead parting seamlessly without trying to cling to his skin. It refuses to touch Sprigatito.
It strengthens his resolve. The grass is crushed under his feet as he trudges faster, the light that calls for him so much closer, so within reach. All he has to do is stretch his hand out—
and take it.
His fingers flinch, unable to curl around the star.
The star that isn’t a star. The star doesn’t emit warmth, instead remaining flat and static under his finger. On contact, it clicks, a robotic voice calling out two words:
SPRIGATITO || 150/250
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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 Jun 13, 2023 6:12:07 GMT 9
<Pawzuki.>
“Hm?” The trudging steps halt.
<Your nickname. We should call you Pawzuki.> The kitten in his arms smiles sleepily up at him.
“Why? You already call me Kazuki.“
<I do, but Purrai has a nickname, so it’s only fair that you get one too. If you don’t like it… Clawzuki?> Sprigatito pouts. <But I like Pawzuki better. It took me a long time to come up with it.>
He doesn’t know how the fuck it could take months for someone to insert ‘paw’ into his name, but Kazuki doesn’t ask. He simply clicks his tongue and continues walking. “It’s a silly name.”
<I think it’s perfect!> Sprigatito insists. <‘Cause paws can pack a punch, like when Kitten fights me, but they’re usually really soft and nice…>
Kazuki snorts. “You think I’m soft and nice?”
Sprigatito settles, pressing his cheek against his trainer’s chest, his collar clinking. He listens to the lullaby of a steady heartbeat. <I think you’re silly.>
The sea of darkness parts, swirling around Kazuki’s legs as he moves forward. He clutches Sprigatito tighter against him, looking up to see a familiar glimpse of distant light peeking through the miasma.
Sprigatito mumbles as his eyes shut, his voice falling background to the sound of chalkboard scratch and metal grinding.
<The silliest person ever…>
SPRIGATITO || 200/250
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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 Jun 11, 2023 5:34:54 GMT 9
There’s something a bit off about this – this Tuesday knight is looking a little too smooth. Then again, she could just be used to it. He hasn’t met many of The Creed’s members yet, but there’s plenty of talk on reputation from other players and NPCs, and the consensus is this: People will pay top BYTE to get Creeds out of their hair.
From the vibes (blinding and Midas-gold), Kazuki can tell this extends to the welcome party.
“Good impression’s an understatement,” he chuckles. “I’m still messing with the first cat I met. Chasing you guys around is fun.” And from the way he meets her golden gaze, it seems he’s taking her into consideration.
When she moves onto the conditions for the starter pack, the amusement on his face drops, turning into mild annoyance and curiosity. He figured all he’d have to do is pick the damn thing up, but it’s not that far-fetched to have a task attached to it. Even crafting in this game requires you to do a little dance.
The mention of a uniform and a picture is strange, though. He scoffs as he marches up to the crates. “If by uniform you mean the strips of leather C.L.A.W.’s goons are wearing, then I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I’m already half-naked by default.” Wearing that costume would arguably make him more decent: not as a person, but in marketability.
The lid of the crate clatters on the floor of the lighthouse. Tattooed hands settle on either side of the open box, Kazuki peering in. He squints, puzzled by something, before pulling out a train of soft black fabric and white ruffles. Even the dumbest man on the planet can tell what it is.
“You’re shitting me. A maid outfit?!”
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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 Jun 11, 2023 2:15:33 GMT 9
The next floor turns out to be a carnival affair.
Shadows flit in and out from the corners of the area, the challengers and opponents thrown into a disorienting cat and mouse sequence where both can emerge looking like visual distortions, or crumpled aluminum foil.
It becomes quickly apparent the hog hunting has taken its toll, because not only are the watchog utilizing this environment, they’re also going full throttle on the puppy-dog eyes.
Kazuki blinks, coming back to himself. “You are not a puppy,” he hisses down at the watchog that stands in his way, its sad Pomeranian eyes returning back to its usual unnerving target board pattern. It rises back up on twos, and Kazuki feels all the more stupid to have been duped into thinking it’s anything like an adorable canine.
He releases his Gyarados, the pokemon barely fitting in the narrow wooden hallways. Sheets of glass and silver crack and buckle as the giant fish wiggles, trying to find breathing room.
<THIS IS TERRIBLY INCONVENIENT,> the fish mumbles.
“Then make some room. Whirlpool.”
Water bursts out from gaps in the floor, coalescing under the targeted watchog, who is quickly disposed of, flush toilet-style.
GYARADOS USED WHIRLPOOL! NEXT PROMPT #67: [Tower]fgBK7|c91d50 1d50
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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 Jun 9, 2023 3:55:01 GMT 9
It’s a simple question, so Kazuki doesn’t understand why Verai’s face suddenly shifts. They have stopped walking. The kittens are now off to China for all they know, but before Kazuki can hazard a guess—maybe the guy had gotten booted out of the ring; bad retirement—he’s grabbed by the wrist and dragged into an alleyway. “What the fuck—"
Not exactly a move he’d expect from someone this reserved, but he digresses.
They stand there in the shade for a brief moment, Kazuki staring in pure confusion as Verai gathers his words. When the man finally speaks, it’s with a stream of thought that leaves Kazuki unmoored, each word only amplifying the shock and disbelief that forms his face.
The gears in his head creak as they struggle to crush this information into digestible pieces.
“You… An underground fighting ring? In Taeko?” He mutters, just parroting things now as he searches Verai’s expression, then the ground, then where Verai holds his wrist, seeing the calloused hand squeeze his pulse before letting go and leaving an awkward silence to sit in the vacancy between them.
He closes his eyes and pinches the bridge of his nose because—fuck, well, this isn't exactly what he’d been expecting, signing up for a Pokemon game. But then again, Verai himself had been a surprise, and he’d signed up for him without a second thought.
His hand drops, arms folding as he regards Verai critically. The logical part of his brain tells him to call bullshit. The other, much bitchier and more stubborn part of his brain says Verai would sooner blow up a cat rescue than fabricate a fake backstory of such intricacy. That humor just didn’t align with the character he’d come to know these past few months.
“… If you went through all that, then why fight?” he asks. “Why do you keep up with it at all? Wouldn’t it bring up shitty memories for you?”
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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 Jun 9, 2023 3:07:26 GMT 9
Sprigatito yelps as Kitten lunges for him, bracing for the worst—but instead of being turned into burnt salad, he’s tackled to the ground and treated to the roughest brushing by Kitten’s tongue. <Ow, ow, ow,> Sprigatito says, taking damage, but upon realizing it’s not killing him, he decides to flip a little so she can get his cheek. <Ow, ow, ow.>
Combusken would call him out for goofing off, were it not for her own predicament. She had been duped! In the brief moment her attack collides, Kitty takes the opportunity to lunge, displaying her secret fighting prowess by kicking several fast-flying stones in Combusken’s way. The fighting bird clucks in panic as she tries to dodge, but the rocks hit her in several places, leaving bruises and ruffled feathers in their wake.
She turns up her beak at the little pink kitten, realizing she had been wrong to underestimate her. Now, she means business.
Combusken takes to the sky, flipping in an intricate pattern as her feathers glow and burst into fire, her FLAME CHARGE enveloping her with bedazzling ribbons of flame in different colors as she comes crashing down on Kitty.
The trainers are in a standoff. The force Kazuki exerts against Verai stutters as the man speaks. Worried. He’s worried about him. Kazuki had betrayed Verai to his face, and here he is, not even having the decency to enact brutal vengeance against him. Un-fucking-believable.
“Well, aren’t you sweet,” he says, tightly.
The sword acting as a barrier between them shifts as Verai puts his weight forwards, Kazuki baring his teeth as he resists. Kind of a bitch to do—the guy’s his size and in full-body armor. Verai answers him, and the realization that this place is randomized makes him chuckle bitterly. It means Verai hadn’t even chosen it to torment him. “Great, so it’s the game taking a piss at me.” Again. He’s losing the tug of war here and has to step back to find his balance.
And the next thing he knows, the world flips on its ass.
Kazuki curses as he slips, back and skull slamming against the obsidian, the wind knocked out of his lungs. His arms manage to brace in time, taking hold of the sword that nearly bisects his face and halting the blade inches from its target. His hands shake as they grip it, his palm bleeding and droplets plinking against his eye. But that is the least of his concerns.
The humming is right next to his ear.
His eyes widen, shooting to the side of his head, where a void crater sits. His heart rate shoots as a familiar bone-chilling sensation seeps into his bones, shadows crawling the frames of his vision as he looks up to Verai who is now too fucking close.
“Ver—Ver, get the fuck off! GET THE FUCK OFF!” He shrieks, feet slamming against the weight atop him.
{Prompts}
Kazuki (Player) - get a running start - take a hit on a non-essential part of your body - get blood in your eyes
Sprigatito - carefully line up a precision shot - anticipate a move before it hits - bide your time
Combusken - use a fire or electric-type move - create a loud sound - describe a visually dazzling move
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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 Jun 8, 2023 11:57:01 GMT 9
A tree rots and crashes down, causing a Mudsdale to stumble, the carriage on its back getting crushed, the unfortunate driver flung off to the side. The driver groans, only to scream and scramble to his feet, running away as the undead NPC horde move forwards as one.
Kazuki presses skip on the floating music player at the corner of his vision, letting his ears be filled with hard bass and a steady beat. He’s keeping pace with the Patrat up ahead. He should be able to wear it down soon.
But his rhythm is interrupted. He feels something grab his arm, causing his head to whip to the side to meet eyes with a stranger whose lips are moving with unheard words. A quick air tap shuts his music off, just in time for him to hear the latter half of the question.
“Your partner?” Kazuki asks, raising a brow. He must admit, this one is ballsy. What kind of suicidal maniac just walks up to a big shirtless guy covered in tattoos?
Green eyes trail down to the fluttering eyelashes and the hand curled over his bicep. Internally, he corrects himself. Horny suicidal maniac.
But he does squint. There is something naggingly familiar about this guy, from his face to his hair and his demure act. It irritates him enough that he doesn’t tell him to fuck off immediately, instead opting to see if he can do some sleuthing. Makes the rat chase more interesting at least.
“That depends. Is this the first time we’ve partnered up?” He says, faux-sweetly. “Could’ve sworn I’ve seen a face like yours somewhere. The cover of a magazine, maybe.”
The Patrat ahead of them squeaks, ducking as debris flies from the chaos wrought by encroaching disaster behind it. It needs a place to hide. Its panicked eyes dart around, before it pivots violently from the route, heading to an alleyway at the edge of town.
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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 Jun 7, 2023 19:22:45 GMT 9
Despite being told by Professor Ash to go meet Cygnus to address his issues, Kazuki had made no effort to follow that advice and held no plans to—at least until now.
Verai next to him parrots his guild leader’s words. Kazuki chuckles, arms crossed as he leans to murmur with him. “He’s nuts,” he says as a high-tier compliment. As much as he enjoys C.L.A.W., the kooky old man seems like he’d be fun to mess with. He hangs back as everyone moves to inspect the contents of the table, not really in a rush. While he signed up to prepare for the raid, the whole flying bit is—he’s already had his fill. Flying lost its magic for him years ago.
When Verai returns, Kazuki raises a brow at the chosen equipment and the accompanying request. “Of course you’d pick the wings,” he scoffs, taking the offered harness. “Arms up, then. You've got to put it on like a bra.” Laughing, he does as asked, the mechanical harness being in fact more complex than a bra. There are additional locks and fastenings to secure it to the body, which Kazuki aids with until he ends it by pulling taut a belt that wraps over Verai’s midsection. He pulls one wing open, the feathers unfolding like a fan under his hand. “There we go. Now all we need is some glitter and you’ll be able to upstage the Prince.”
Now it’s his turn to suit up. There are still a couple of contraptions on the table. He spots Tuesday nabbing a glowing sailboard and a kid he doesn’t know hopping off with both a jet pack and a pair of boots. He takes an antigravity belt, figuring it will obstruct him the least should all of this go tits up because they’re doing flight tests on the route known for storms and gravity surges.
He pauses as he moves to secure it around his waist, noticing a very small player with a very big, poofy hat nearby. “Oi, kid. You need help with that?”
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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 Jun 6, 2023 19:06:35 GMT 9
KAZUKI[tangent=Current Heart Level | What][/tangent] |
Your acute knowledge about the mating habits of Flamigo blows his mind. “… Uh-huh,” he says intelligently, distracted once again not just by your beauty, but also brains.
You call him to attention with the severity of your stare and tone. The gift-giving and merriment is over. Now comes the time to get serious.
He doesn’t seem to know what to do with your heartfelt question, depressingly trust-deficient, or maybe because he lacks friends.
But as you trail off, gathering your feelings, he speaks.
“Alright, I’m gonna have to stop you right there. What’s going on?”
He’s looking around as if there’s anyone other than the two of you here sharing this intimate moment, which is silly—because again, THERE IS NO ONE WATCHING.
“This can’t be an update. A heart level? I thought we already finished the Valentine's event! We set a man up to smooch five fish and he divorced all of them, what else could they possibly expect us to—”
NO ONE.
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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 Jun 6, 2023 2:15:37 GMT 9
His hand curls tighter as armored claws rake against his wrist, the sensation of blood dripping a line down his arm.
He wants to shake him. Shake him like some feral stray plucked off the street, goad him into acting on those silent threats. Make him e̵͕͖͠a̴̳̹̮͝t̵͕́̔̚ͅͅ his words.
But his eyes catch sight of his fingertips. They’re hooked into Verai ’s collar, the fabric ends fraying as if eaten by invisible moths. And then there’s Verai’s reaction, the blind man’s rage, beastly and instinctual, and hauntingly familiar.
Kazuki lets go.
"Fucking hell," he scoffs. "What's the point of fighting you if you aren't even you?"
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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 Jun 6, 2023 1:38:44 GMT 9
"What have you tried to address this? Anything?"
Kazuki’s arm shoots out, grabbing Verai’s collar and yanking him up to his face. All pretenses of keeping distance, of keeping bloodlust at bay, are abandoned, and fury burns bright in verdant eyes.
“Don’t you dare fucking talk like that. You think I haven’t tried? You think I haven’t reached out for help?” The armor cuts into his wrist, but he curls his nails into the fabric of Verai’s collar, veins popping on his arm. “I didn’t slog through that fucking nightmare a second time just so you can preach to me, Ver.”
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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 Jun 6, 2023 1:05:09 GMT 9
“I didn’t even know it could get that bad!” Kazuki hisses, even as the weight of guilt bears down on him. He does not hold back in fights, but he’s not so low as to deal a killing blow when they already agreed on a truce. He still remembers, it’s the last thing he remembers before whatever it is had taken over—the two of them side by side, a brush on his hand, Verai laughing, saying drowning would be too good for him.
And he’d just blow them up right after? Like a cartoon?
“The first time it happened, I figured it was just—I don’t know, a fucking fluke! The second time was when it took over—” His mouth clamps shut.
Goddamn it, he's said it out loud. It feels like admitting defeat. Kazuki crosses his arms. “Why are we even arguing about this? Even if I told you, it’s not as if you can do anything about it.” He does not ask why Verai pushes. Verai has always fallen into the trap of playing hero.
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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 Jun 5, 2023 13:52:38 GMT 9
The attempt at diversion falls flat on his face. The rope snaps.
Kazuki levels Verai with a glower, but it’s an attack directed at no one. The man isn’t looking at his eyes. It forces Kazuki to look down at himself, to really take in what’s changed and of course, he fucking hates it.
“I already told you before.” Like pulling teeth. He will offer the truth, but it will take ripping out that core manually, barehanded. “What happened was Mistra. I brought something back, but I am handling it.”
It’s fortunate that they’re in a cave this time, but even the stone under his feet seems to grow brittle and dry. Not so much lifeless as it is petrified.
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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 Jun 5, 2023 13:41:34 GMT 9
“Just means we got weaker because of some new updates.” Kazuki, who apparently has said l33t g4m3r knowledge, doesn’t seem to mind explaining. (Most of what he knows comes from Ren anyways.) “Black Belt and Armorer don’t exist anymore. You’re an Ironsmith now, and if you want to keep fighting on your own, you’ll need to funnel points into your Player class.”
He clicks his tongue, so wrapped up in his explanation and checking his UI that he doesn’t notice how Verai falls into silence. It’s only when he stops bitching under his breath that his own nerves spike, and he raises his eyes to meet Verai’s. The way Verai is zeroing in causes him to tense.
An itch, once again.
He smiles crookedly, like his mouth is a wood plank hanging by one rope. “You're looking at me as if you want a fight.” Internally, he’s dreading it. He doesn’t want a re-enactment. He does not enjoy losing control. “See something you like?” Diffuse.
The area around him is soaked in it, this unspeakable aura, this tangible dread. His own avatar, which he remains oblivious to, has shifted, albeit slightly. The ink of his hair is becoming literal. The bright red camellias littering his skin wither.
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