Childe "I Can Make Her Worse" Tartaglia (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
monoceroscaeli) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
insurmountable2023-10-29 11:43 am
monoceroscaeli) wrote in insurmountable2023-10-29 11:43 am
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how could i ever forget // outside the morning was cool and wet
[It's not often Ajax finds himself getting his head slammed down onto the hood of a car, least of all a cop car. Usually it's him doing the slamming.
But today the young man finds himself denting the hood, the sound of metal caving in under his head ringing in his ears. Not exactly the ideal situation he was hoping for, but he figured sooner or later he'd have a run in with the cops due to the sensitive nature of his profession, but that doesn't mean he has to like how inconsiderate they are with him as they cuff him and throw him in the back of the paddy wagon. Not that he was considerate to them when he was discovered, as evidenced by the blood all over his clothing and knuckles from the fight he'd gotten into with them. How he managed to avoid getting shot is beyond him- plenty of shots were fired, but that hadn't stopped him from knocking a few of them out.
It's just too bad he'd been instructed that he couldn't kill anyone, or else he'd of gotten out of there without being caught.
The lights of the police station are bright, almost too bright from the contrast of how dark it was outside. Ajax squints as he's dragged inside, held tightly by two cops who hurry him through the station, but not fast enough that he doesn't catch a glimpse of the secretary behind the desk as they come in. Pretty, blonde, looking like she'd rather be anywhere else. Gorgeous eyes, ones that catch his attention almost immediately as he's being shoved towards the back, shining with a radiance that captures him instantly. His eyes lock with hers, feeling something silent yet powerful surge through him from this tiny, insignificant interaction. He doesn't even have a moment to think further on it, before he's so rudely interrupted.
Get moving.
The curt voice of the bigger cop on his right cuts through the moment, anger welling up in Ajax's chest and something dark stirs in his core. If he wasn't cuffed and being restrained, he'd turn that guy's face into a new work of art, something so abstract some insane art collector would gladly pay millions for it.
No sooner had Ajax been ushered in, he disappears from sight as he's taken back into an interrogation room, the mysterious blonde no longer in his sights, now getting shoved into a corner of a room.]
What's with this? Don't you even have the courtesy of giving me a chair to sit in, at least?
[From outside of the room, muffled noises of a scuffle as the cops lay into Ajax can be heard, the loudest of which is a thud of a body slamming into a wall, accompanied by a groan from the ginger kid. Though little do any of them know, their real problems haven't arrived just yet, waking from their slumber right outside of the city...]
But today the young man finds himself denting the hood, the sound of metal caving in under his head ringing in his ears. Not exactly the ideal situation he was hoping for, but he figured sooner or later he'd have a run in with the cops due to the sensitive nature of his profession, but that doesn't mean he has to like how inconsiderate they are with him as they cuff him and throw him in the back of the paddy wagon. Not that he was considerate to them when he was discovered, as evidenced by the blood all over his clothing and knuckles from the fight he'd gotten into with them. How he managed to avoid getting shot is beyond him- plenty of shots were fired, but that hadn't stopped him from knocking a few of them out.
It's just too bad he'd been instructed that he couldn't kill anyone, or else he'd of gotten out of there without being caught.
The lights of the police station are bright, almost too bright from the contrast of how dark it was outside. Ajax squints as he's dragged inside, held tightly by two cops who hurry him through the station, but not fast enough that he doesn't catch a glimpse of the secretary behind the desk as they come in. Pretty, blonde, looking like she'd rather be anywhere else. Gorgeous eyes, ones that catch his attention almost immediately as he's being shoved towards the back, shining with a radiance that captures him instantly. His eyes lock with hers, feeling something silent yet powerful surge through him from this tiny, insignificant interaction. He doesn't even have a moment to think further on it, before he's so rudely interrupted.
Get moving.
The curt voice of the bigger cop on his right cuts through the moment, anger welling up in Ajax's chest and something dark stirs in his core. If he wasn't cuffed and being restrained, he'd turn that guy's face into a new work of art, something so abstract some insane art collector would gladly pay millions for it.
No sooner had Ajax been ushered in, he disappears from sight as he's taken back into an interrogation room, the mysterious blonde no longer in his sights, now getting shoved into a corner of a room.]
What's with this? Don't you even have the courtesy of giving me a chair to sit in, at least?
[From outside of the room, muffled noises of a scuffle as the cops lay into Ajax can be heard, the loudest of which is a thud of a body slamming into a wall, accompanied by a groan from the ginger kid. Though little do any of them know, their real problems haven't arrived just yet, waking from their slumber right outside of the city...]
no subject
They don't even know how long they were asleep for. There's so many questions left in this dreary laboratory unanswered, including what day it even was. What if they were asleep for several days? How powerful was that drug they were given? What was injected into their arms, if anything at all? What are they doing with their blood samples?
He can't focus on that now, as they trot back down the hallway towards the trail of sludge that coats the floor and walls. He wishes the entire place wasn't covered in it, at least that way maybe he could make heads or tails of what direction it's going in so they can use it as a trail out of here. But all they can do is pick a direction and pray.]
This way, [he says, quickening his step and leaving all those questions behind them for now. He makes sure he's in front of Yoimiya, in case something jumps out at them from behind a corner. Normally he would take up the rear, but it feels like if they're going to run across these monsters, they're not going to be behind them.]
I don't know if this is the right way, but let's hope for the best. This place can't be that big- ngh-!
[Stopping, Ajax's hand comes up to cover the part of his chest where his mark is, feeling something pulling at him and beckoning him in the direction that they're headed. The mark has begun to glow, and he gasps before looking over to Yoimiya to see that her mark too, is glowing and pulsating beneath her shirt.]
What...?
[It tugs and coaxes him to keep moving forward, and he finds that he can't resist it...like a command given that can't be disobeyed.]
Yoimiya, do you feel that too...?
no subject
But before Yoimiya can even say a single word in response, she's suddenly hit with the sensation of something tugging at her, motioning her to press on in the direction they're pursuing. It's enough cause of concern that she stops, stunned to see a bright blue glow from underneath her shirt. Of course, that's not all; there's always more awaiting them in their tumultuous lives. From the corner of her eye, she spots Ajax's mark glowing as well. And judging from his response, she immediately understands that the same feelings are stirring inside him as well. ]
Yeah, I can.
[ She says in almost a reverent whisper as she tries to make heads or tails out of this strange sensation. ]
It feels like... we're being coaxed into this direction and we don’t have a say in the matter. It’s almost like we’d be disobeying a high order if we go elsewhere.
no subject
The ooze goes in this direction too, and now he starts to realize why they were ignored in the cells.]
Yeah. And now we know why the monsters moved past us. They were also probably called to by this strange force. So that means...
[Whatever lies at the end of this walk isn't good. The creatures still managed to kill people on their way over, so it's not like they didn't have an extra moment to wreak havoc on the people of the facility.]
...we're getting pulled right into imminent danger. Let's hope whatever's at the end of this has the reigns pulled in on the monsters or else we might not make it out of here.
no subject
She looks up at him with the slightest hint of reverence when he pulls her into his side, almost like she's staring at him as if he's her king, her protector. If this were the Yoimiya on that fateful night, she'd be too scared to even think about going down this unknown hallway but with Ajax at her side, she feels assured and ready to head down into the depths even if it means running into danger. ]
... Yeah, there's no telling what's waiting for us at the end of this path. If it's a force powerful enough to control the monsters, then we're in for our toughest challenge yet.
[ She gives his hand a firm, confident squeeze, a silent declaration of feeling safe so long as she has him at her side. ]
If It comes down to it, I'm fully prepared to fight our way out of here. We've come too far to kick the bucket now. I'll stand by your side even till the bitter end, my king.
[ Her King. She says it so casually that it doesn't even dawn on her. ]
no subject
He returns her declaration with a confident smirk of his own, letting some of the power of the monster inside of him skitter and crawl through his veins in anticipation of the fight.]
Let's take back our throne, shall we, my queen?
[All that's left is to follow the pull, answer whatever call is beckoning them forward. Ajax no longer attempts to resist it at all, following the path before them with Yoimiya's hand in his, tucked into his side where she belongs. His exalted queen next to him...together, they'll doll out punishment to whomever has decided to usurp their authority.
It's not long before they reach a hallway where the end of it has been torn and ripped apart, the doorway no longer existing. In lieu of that, the opening of where the walls had previously been lead to a larger room with a man inside who floats just above the floor by a few inches, half ravaged by something similar to the monsters inside of the room that surround and bow to his power.
Slowly, the man turns, revealing him to be half-human, half-monster. When his gaze comes across them both, the urge to fall to one knee is too great, and Ajax finds himself on the ground, bowing in reverence against his wishes, teeth gritting.]
So it's you two...
no subject
But as shocking as that is, nothing, nothing could prepare Yoimiya for what they're about to encounter next. It's not shocking to stumble across another presence in the room, she knew there had to be someone behind this strange ordeal but what she didn't expect was the identity of the person in question. It's already weird enough that he's floating, it's even weirder that he looks like some sort of cross between a human and a monster but even with his body contorting and what looks like a strange ring sprouting out from his back, Yoimiya knows exactly who this is. ]
Ghislain?!
[ The man in question is none other than the person who conducted their interview.
But before Yoimiya is even able to process her shock, his gaze immediately causes her to fall onto her knees, bowing down to a man who isn't her king. Violation, shock, disgust, bending the knee for someone other than her king makes her feel gross inside. ]
What do you mean, "So it's you two"?! We should be the ones saying that! [ Even in this dreadful moment, this firecracker still has it in her to bite back a little bit. ] So, YOU have been working with them the entire time?
[ He doesn't seem to be bothered by Yoimiya's little outburst. If anything, he chuckles, seemingly amused. ]
I suppose you could put it like that. Although it's probably more accurate to say I've been... cleansed by their baptism.
no subject
Ajax isn't sure what he means by "you two", but he does know that if they can't move soon, they'll both be killed. He hadn't anticipated being brought to his knees before the fight even started.]
So, they've been experimenting on you, [he states, strained through his gritted teeth.] And now that they've granted you this power, this is how you thank them? By killing every single person in this place?
[A cowardly move, in his opinion. But Ghislain only laughs, spreading his hands in front of him.]
I am the magnum opus of Poucé's work, a testament of their research. I am the proof that their theories of how the underside of the world operates are real, and now I find myself bearing the responsibilities of that post. And it's all thanks to you two.
[Laughing again, the monster eyes his minions, wondering which one he'll have destroy both Ajax and Yoimiya. They can't be allowed to live, and he wants to test his new powers out on them. They aren't able to resist his command, so maybe he'll have a little fun with this.]
no subject
And the worst part of it all? They're unable to move, glued to the floor as if they're lambs to the slaughter, swearing fealty to the man who used to be human. ]
What do you mean, thanks to the two of us?! Ghislain, I genuinely thought you were a decent guy, someone I enjoyed working with. I never would have thought that one of my coworkers would turn out to be a monster! Keeping us kneeled to the ground is a cowardly move! Where's your honor?!
[ Yoimiya is aware she's poking the bear with a stick, but at this point, she's desperate to try something, anything to get out of the hold he has on their bodies. The monsters look like hungry, ravenous animals, ecstatic to sink their fangs into their next meal. One of the wolf pups floats closer to the pair, bearing its sharp, dark fangs, and ready to devour the two as soon as the command is given. ]
Cowardly, huh? Oh, Miss Naganohara... I always knew that your sense of our honor would be your downfall. I just didn’t think I would be the one to finish you off. Well, since we were “coworkers” I suppose I could show you one final act of kindness. I’ll get rid of you first so you don’t have to watch your boyfriend suffer.
[ Ghislain motions to the wolves that hunger for a taste of flesh. He gives the command, snapping his fingers to sick the hounds upon the terrified blonde. With a snarl that turns her blood cold, the wolves begin their lunge, fangs drawn and claws out stretched to tear her from limb to limb. However, in the midst of this dire situation, a warm, faint glow begins to shine on Ajax's chest. It’s the goldfish and it’s trying to help free him. ]
no subject
But he's not going to get that chance. Ghislain isn't in the business of keeping them alive any longer, and before he knows it, the wolves are snapping their fangs and diving in for Yoimiya. Ajax's eyes go wide, feeling his stomach drop at the feeling of utter helplessness he's experiencing right now, fighting with all his might to move, to do something to save her.
Without warning, something feels like it's breaking the restraints on his arms and legs, his body flooding with a power that isn't his. That warmth melts the now feeble shackles on his body, and in a flash he moves, his left arm forming his dark armor and slamming it into the face of the first wolf that lunges at Yoimiya.
Ajax grips it tightly in the palm of his hand, squeezing harder and harder until he feels something break in the wolf's jaw, accompanied by a sickening cracking noise that elicits a sharp wimper out from the creature. Fire burns behind his blue eyes, throwing the wolf pup as hard as he can against the back wall of the room, letting it slam into it with a noise akin to shattering bones, before it drops to the floor. It all happens in a matter of moments, and he's not done there either.
The next two wolves end up suffering a similar fate, as he spins to grab one to toss it into the other, only to follow up with a fierce punch that sends them both into the wall. Ajax stands up to his full height after dispatching them, glaring at Ghislain with bloodlust in his eyes, and a venomous smile that would poison a person from just looking at him.]
Try that again. I dare you.
[Holding out his armored arm in front of him, he clenches his hand into a fist, abyssal energy radiating off of it as he challenges this fraud. The monster floating before them glances down at his arm, realizing exactly what's happening, before laughing hysterically at the threat.]
Hahahaha-! My mistake, I guess I shouldn't of underestimated you two. How interesting...do you know what Nizhnii would do to get their hands on the both of you? And you, you've been hiding this the entire time from your masters, haven't you? Too bad they won't get their little attack dog back.
[More of the monsters shudder suddenly from behind Gihslain, and Ajax knows that they're both about to get the full force of the assault that they'd managed to avoid while they were asleep. Not good...]
What, you have to try to restrain us to win? No matter, I'll slay all these monsters myself. And when I'm done, I'll make you pay for what you've done. Step down, Gihslain. You know you can't win against me.
no subject
This might truly be the end of her life..
Just when the situation was looking bleak, Ajax cuts through the darkness like a beacon of hope. Before those horrifying fangs sink into her throat, she hears the sickening sounds of bones being crushed. Nervously, Yoimiya looks up to find Ajax free from whatever spell Ghislain had on them, and the wolf pup dead, crumbled into a heap on the ground. ]
Ajax!
[ Oh, he truly is her one and only king, her knight in shining armor. There’s no hiding the sigh of relief that spills out upon realization she’s still alive. However, they aren’t out of the woods yet. Once again, she’s trying hard to break out of the invisible restraints, but to no avail, she’s still stuck with her knees glued to the floor. How Ajax managed to free himself is a mystery to her; he truly is built differently. Regardless, she curses herself for being unable to break free, her heart sinks into the pits of her stomach, and unless she does something, Ajax will be forced to fight all these monsters and Ghislain all alone.
Despite it all, she sees the fire burning behind his determined blue eyes, she can sense that thanks to Ghislain’s stunt, he’s out for blood. Ajax’s smile seeps with so much malice and venom that it’s hard to believe Ghislain hasn’t already dropped dead just from their stare-off. If she weren’t his queen, the blood in her veins might have frozen over from her king’s imposing presence.
Even if her blood ran cold, the ice particles would have burned away from the fire that courses through her. She’s upset Ajax is fighting on her behalf, worried that he might die because she’s unable to free herself, pissed off at someone she once considered an acquaintance, and with each passing moment she’s unable to free herself, her emotions run high, accumulating into a fierce flame ready to burn everything in her path if it means helping Ajax. ]
Release me, Ghislain! Release me, you absolute coward! You’re pathetic for not even allowing us to have a fair fight!
[ Her desperation has kicked into an all-time high, she raises her voice and berates the man in front of them, in a way that’s unlike her. On the floor, all she can do is struggle, desperately looking for any means to rid herself of these invisible shackles. ]