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 May 21, 2023 2:43:12 GMT 9
Gyarados and Buizel are watching their trainer on the shore, muttering quietly to each other. It’s been a long while since The Incident occurred—specifically the one where Gyarados evolved and nearly killed their entire team in a fit of megalomanic rage—and things have been a bit better, trust-wise.
It helps that Gyarados has reverted back to his pushover self, the same when he was a Magikarp.
<Does something feel off to you?> Buizel asks him.
The behemoth, bent down to put himself at eye-level with the tiny weasel, very very minutely shakes his giant head. <NO. I MEAN— PERHAPS? I DO NOT FEEL AS REFRESHED, BUT IT MAY SIMPLY BE THE WEIGHT OF GUILT THAT REMAINS FOR MY PAST TRANSGRESSIONS.>
Sweet Lugia, Buizel thinks, shaking her head, before they’re called forth by Kazuki’s whistling. The first bite had arrived.
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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 May 21, 2023 2:21:55 GMT 9
CW: Drowning
They both fall. His hands dig into metal, clawing into it to hold on as Verai struggles. The world is dark and silent here. His lungs burn, and his wounds sting something fierce, but it all blurs into the background as he concentrates on keeping his heart beating at a steady rate and fastens himself to Verai like an anchor.
He has died plenty of times by now — most often violently and quickly. To drown would be new.
Verai’s putting up an admirable fight, but he’s made his own coffin with that armor. Kazuki smiles at him, his visage lost in the dark water, but it’s easy to keep track of the armorer. The white of his hair is like a beacon. He moves his hands, tracing a path upward. He has nothing weighing him down. He could swim to the surface if he wanted.
His hands stop to tangle themselves in Verai’s hair. His movements stop. Bubbles are popping out of Verai, desperation written in his eyes, and he just can’t help but watch. His senses shut off then, a cold numbness taking over.
He doesn’t realize how long he’s remained static until Verai has managed to shed most of his armor. An arm grabs him, and when he blinks, they’ve breached the water’s surface.
He chokes. It’s as if the water in his lungs just manifested, sputtering out of his mouth while he tries heaving air into them.
His hands tremble as they dig into Verai’s shoulders, cold as ice. The whites of his eyes are bloodshot, and shuddering breaths are taken before he can speak. “Too good to drown me?” he says with a raspy chuckle. His hair clings to his face, the ends floating limply in the water around them. He looks and sounds like a waterlogged mutt.
He collapses against him, heavy as deadweight, and shudders. His bare skin is already cold from the water, but against Verai’s breastplate, it’s like pressing against a fucking igloo. His blood dyes the water around them an unsightly hue.
Kazuki closes his eyes and continues to breathe in steady little gasps. He doesn't move.
{Prompts} KAZUKI (BLACK BELT) - SNEAKY/CAREFUL - use a teammate to cover your attack
- attempt to conceal yourself
- engage in distracting banter - attack from behind your opponent
- try to blind your opponent
- fake an injury
- lay a trap
- create a distraction - observe your environment carefully
- bide your time - wait until you're in position - carefully line up a precision shot - anticipate a move before it hits - take a hit on a non-essential part of your body - find cover
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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 May 21, 2023 1:25:30 GMT 9
Verai snapping at him only makes him laugh. He makes no effort to downplay his intentions: whether it’s an innocent squirrel or some unlucky trainer, they’ll get flattened if they get between his and Verai’s fight. Anything stupid enough not to run at the sight of the clash is basically asking to be decimated, anyways.
They come to an agreement. Verai turns to him and goes for a handshake. Kazuki chuckles, noting how carefully he tilts his head. He does it again—nudging his chin with a finger, despite Verai having faced him perfectly, just because it pisses him off.
Before Verai can deck him, he takes the offered hand, sealing the deal. “This is going to be fun,” he hisses, before snapping his free hand in a particular rhythm—his choice of quick gesture for fast travel. They’re transported off to the arena hub in a blink of light.
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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 May 21, 2023 1:05:17 GMT 9
Even though it’s justified, hearing Verai apologize still irks him. The way he’s slumped on the ground looks like defeat. It makes Kazuki want to challenge him to a rematch. But he refrains.
When Verai extends his hand and asks for help, Kazuki quirks a brow. It’s kind of amusing to a degree, how easily he says it. As if he expects Kazuki to just follow without protest.
“Back to your old bossy self,” Kazuki huffs. He reaches down, not accepting Verai’s hand, not touching his skin, instead grabbing hold of the man’s armor. His uninjured hand digs into the intricate metal and pulls, dragging him up as fast as possible.
He doesn't linger, letting go as soon as Verai finds his footing and putting distance between them. His eyes narrow at the man’s face. “Can you still see?”
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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 May 21, 2023 0:44:05 GMT 9
Kazuki grins, watching Verai put the little pink egg harness back on. The bandits were no longer stirring, so then came the next concern.
“Still pretty damn far,” he says, having finally pulled open his UI. The quest marker remained twice as far as the distance they’ve already covered—being kidnapped, which is impressive, and also bullshit. He clicks his tongue, eyes scanning down. “It’s all been plotted out. Overcome three obstacles: Defeat the bandits, escape the forest, and find the recipient. Only the first one’s finished.”
At the mention of the carriage, he raises his eyes, gives Verai a flat look. “I live in the twenty-first century, Ver. Of course, I haven’t driven a fucking carriage.”
5 minutes later, he’s dragged Verai to sit with him at the front of one of the carriages. The back has been stuffed full of loot. There is a pile of unconscious (dead?) bandits left on the clearing, all of them hogtied, and also in their underpants.
“Now how hard could this be?” It’s like a sports car, but the engine neighs. He grabs the reins in front of them, immediately cracking them like whips.
The two Mudsdale in front suddenly came to life—their eyes full of fury. With mighty roars, both the large steeds galloped forwards at a terrifying rate, causing the entire carriage to rattle and bounce with every bump of stone.
Sprigatito cries out in fear and excitement, also sitting in front, his fur flying in the wind. His claws have dug into the wood of the seats, bracing for dear life as they blitz through the forest on the stolen carriage, quite literally crushing everything in their path.
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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 May 20, 2023 18:10:57 GMT 9
It's been a while since they went fishing, actually. Considering the current state of things, he supposed it would be best if they didn't do the usual route grind.
Kazuki's stationed by the coast today. It's a quiet affair. He hasn't let Sprigatito out to frolic, the cat instead napping in his Pokeball. Those that are around him are mostly his water types: Buizel and Gyarados both out for a swim, and to help reel in fish. With the distance between them and the trainer, things almost feel completely normal. FISHING ROD SET!
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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 May 20, 2023 17:51:31 GMT 9
The fight rages on. The Nidoran jabs and scratches Tepig at every opportunity, while Tepig learns not to push his speed any further, instead taking advantage of his defenses. He adjusts his footing, his angle, so all hits land at the most ineffectual points, and by the time the clash ends, he finds a single window of opportunity to charge at the Nidoran, covered in fire.
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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 May 20, 2023 17:50:08 GMT 9
A Nidoran pokes out from the ground. Tepig doesn’t wait for orders this time, instead rushing towards the poison type with a mouth full of fire.
Kazuki simply spectates. He hadn’t had nidoran in mind as an opponent for the pig, but since they’re already leaving, he supposes letting him get at least some kind of training in would be worth it.
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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 May 20, 2023 17:48:30 GMT 9
The Doduo passes them. Tepig declares himself thoroughly bathed, climbing out of the little pool of mud and shaking himself off. He feels a lot more refreshed!
Kazuki grimaces as some of the mud flakes on him, but makes no move to wipe it off, instead turning and beginning down the road again. “We’re heading back. If there’s anything worth stopping for, we will, but we’ve wandered around long enough.”
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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 May 20, 2023 13:35:12 GMT 9
It’s nothing short of a miracle that she agrees. The ‘promise’ hadn’t really been a promise, but maybe she’s just too nice for her own good. Or too curious.
Kazuki waits, but even as Domino’s arrival is heralded by loud wingbeats and the scent of false flame, his gaze remains turned to the darkness beyond. He doesn’t stir until she’s close enough for her voice to permeate his thoughts (or lack thereof), and when he faces her, there’s a split second of bewilderment there, as if he hadn’t been expecting her at all.
He snorts at her quip, plastering on a crooked smirk to mirror her playful one. “Not that different, really. The water’s just rancid here, and the fish are… bigger.” He knows this isn’t the best rendezvous point. It’s unnecessary, but at the same time — he has to. He has to be here.
She hasn’t changed a bit. Well, he’s unsure if she had been wearing the jacket and hot wheel kicks, and the Charizard is new, but it suits her; makes her look like the seasoned player he’d pegged her to be. The mention of Ash’s warning and Domino’s subsequent questions about his state causes the edge of his mouth to twitch.
“I’m fucking peachy.” He feels like a broken record, saying it, but he means it. Believes it with every fiber of his being. Sure, he’s more restless in the game these days, but he’s fighting as well as he always has — maybe even better. His adrenaline is unceasing, and when he gets into it, he gets into it.
“It’s this one that’s not looking too good.” He turns, presenting Sprigatito sleeping fitfully against his arm. “Bringing him to the shrines does nothing. And I just don’t fucking get it, I only upgraded it one goddamn stage, so how is this cat already so—” the cat mewls, shivering as he curls tighter into a ball. Verai is going to find a way to perma-kill him at this rate.
Kazuki’s face contorts into a snarl, green eyes raking over Domino. “You’re the veteran here. What the hell is going on? What even is this corruption bullshit?”
SPRIGATITO'S HP: 150/250
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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 May 19, 2023 23:12:19 GMT 9
When Muin answers his barrage of questions, it’s with this detached, clipped tone that leaves no frills, and betrays no emotion. It still has that haughty know-it-all edge to it, fueled by a trove of unconventional knowledge befitting a bonafide nerd. But there isn’t a passion to be detected. It feels like talking to a textbook: a blatantly fruitless endeavor, but Kazuki has never been known to read.
“Hello?! Can you guys focus?”
“Shut the fuck up!” Kazuki calls, having to raise his voice to be heard over his pokemon’s tantrum. “The princess has declared you unnamed and unloved!”
Having paralyzed the brat with psychological (confusion?) damage, he turns his attention to the battlefield, where Muin has ordered the ninetales to throw the chimchar behind bars. Mudsdale tenses, braying loud when she sees the malicious picture the fox paints, but the thump of Chimchar’s body hitting the floor stops her attack. It writhes on the ground, mimed into an invisible box as froth builds in its mouth.
Kazuki whistles. Not bad. Muin turns to him and offers him a two-word challenge, the smile on his face grows. He raises his hand.
Mudsdale’s eyes are shut in a solemn expression. There is no resisting this fate. Plus, her mercy’s been shot by the fact the Chimchar had scratched her ass. <I will make this quick.> She raises up onto two legs, her shadow engulfing the tiny Chimchar as she prepares to use HIGH HORSE POWER.
“Hold it.”
Mudsdale pauses, wide eyes turning to her trainer. <What.>
Kazuki, still grinning, turns to Muin. “I don’t take orders. And now that I think about it, there’s not really a point in finishing off the brat’s pokemon right?” He looks down at Muin, green eyes bright in the shadow over his face, just as shiny as his sharp teeth. “Not when there’s a better opponent right here.”
He's taking the battle hostage.
"Horse. Protect the monkey. Your new target's the fox."
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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 May 18, 2023 5:17:45 GMT 9
They’re getting near the end. Kazuki’s shoes hit the floor of a cavern littered with what at first appeared to be steel wiring.
A parade of Gatorade worms leads him and the rest of the tree explorers further down the damp tunnels. The enemies here are even stronger; now full-blown Pidgeot that threaten to rip them right off their feet.
Scorbunny lets out a warrior screech. <Get cooked!> and using his trainer’s head as a platform, he breathes in deep, before releasing a plume of EMBER that renders one of the zooming Pidgeot into a mere featherless biped. Once a bird, now deemed a man.
SCORBUNNY used EMBER! NEXT PROMPT (82): [Tower]lySB6Z6o1d50 1d50
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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 May 18, 2023 4:14:29 GMT 9
A bird comes toddling past them. Tepig continues to watch from his little mud pit, ears twitching as he hears the strange conversation the twin heads are having amongst themselves.
“Maybe we should just call it a day,” Kazuki wonders aloud, which Tepig would protest, but he’s getting invested in the story the Doduo is discussing with itself. It turns out there’s a lot of gossip to be shared even in a barren-seeming place such as the steppes.
spawn reset
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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 May 18, 2023 4:12:27 GMT 9
They manage to escape the walking nose.
Tepig is now sitting in a pool of mud, which isn’t really what he had in mind for a training day, but he supposes he’s done enough cardio to warrant a quick spa trip. Unlike water, mud doesn’t irritate him. It’s nice and cool and it’s fun to squish under his little feet.
Kazuki sits on a rock nearby, massaging his temple. “How is it so difficult to find you a good fight?”
Tepig shoots him a look, as if saying, Yeah that’s what I want to know too.
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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 May 18, 2023 3:47:40 GMT 9
He lands a second hit when no response beyond more feral growling comes. Verai goes boneless under him and he freezes, eyes wide, his fist raised and bleeding. It unfurls, reaching down to touch the man’s neck. Checking for a pulse. If he had hit him enough to breach his pain threshold, he should’ve disappeared and later respawned at the foot of the shrine.
Gradually, Verai comes to, and a tension Kazuki hadn’t realized had settled over his shoulders dissipates. He remains there, however, bracketing Verai with his legs, not quite believing he’s back to normal until he hears his voice.
He breathes when he does. “In the flesh,” he says, but it’s a lifeless quip. He slowly rises to get off of him.
Verai is eyeing him with a squint. Kazuki meets his gaze with a complicated expression. “You don’t remember what just happened, do you?”
He raises his hand. The gnarly bite mark is still there, still bleeding. Every indent human, save for four particularly deep indents of fangs. "That's too bad. It turns out you've got a hell of a fucking bite."
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