[open] unconscious or am i conscious, cut from the heart i am part of

[wolfpuppy]

Who: wolfpuppy & freeinghorror and YOU
When: 7/22 IC (later in the evening following this conversation) ; 6/7 OOC
Where: One of the (supposedly) deserted parks
What: Cerealia's resident Makai idiots decide to vent their current frustrations with everything the best way they can: by punching each other in the face. They also might be getting some unexpected visitors.
Rating/Warning: Fighting, talk of death and spiritual things, general badassery

---

[At this point, Ryuuga's almost glad for the distraction and opportunity to vent by way of punching Jinga in his smug face. His arm's been healed up by this point (Shigeru you are a bro) and feeling as good as new, so that's helped as well. Even if he's exhausted (despite sleeping a decent amount when he got back and in the interim for once in his goddamn life), he's at attention, and doing a few sword katas to try and get back into his rhythm.

He takes a deep breath as he swings down, closing his eyes for a moment before sheathing his sword. His free hand rubs his face, and his gaze flickers upward as he sees someone approaching-]

A. [He's not surprised Jinga got here as quickly as he did - they both needed to do this, and as much as he would hate to admit to the fact, in that aspect, they thought very similarly due to both being Makai (or former, in Jinga's case). He frowns, grip tightening around his sheathed sword.]

Let's get this over with.

B. [... aw hell. Ryuuga's eyes widen, and his posture drops slightly. That's ... not what he was expecting. At all. He was hoping that nobody would be here, and he's really not in any mood to explain what he's doing out here so late, so to his usual defensive mechanism it is!]

What're you doing out here??

C. [Or perhaps you come in the middle of the fight, seeing sparks literally fly as the two of them are fighting with a ferocity that nobody else has even seen before, Ryuuga looking outright furious while Jinga's grinning like a maniac. Grab your popcorn and sit a while, kids, this is going to take a bit. Or try to see if you can stop them from fighting and probably destroying part of the park while they're at it.]

Comments

a

[freeinghorror]

[It what they do, really. Makai were fighters trained from an early age no matter what they decide to do later in life. The Knights were worse with their whole revolving around one single thing: hit the enemy enough times until they never get up again. Just because he was no longer a pure member of the Makai, Jinga still had the trappings of one. And when the nightmares refused to let go of that defining moment of his life, the urge to hit everyone rose.

At least he knew it was nothing more then dreams, otherwise there would have been a slaughter by now. As it was, he had hoped to vent the frustrations properly by hitting a Knight in the face a few times. Maybe once he calmed down enough, they could exchange information, or just relax, who knows. But as he stepped out across from Ryuuga, he could see the same wired tension in the Knight's body, feel the energy of repressed anger, and he smiled.

There was the GARO that he came to know.

He shoved his free hand into his pocket, his other hand holding his sword, with which he sort of waves in an almost welcoming move.]

Good to see you too, Ryuuga. Tell me, have you found out any more information? [This may be a welcoming need to fight, but he still was a bit of a talker.] Or should that wait until after you try to kill me again?

[wolfpuppy]

[It had been a rough week for him to say the least. First getting shoved into the sewers, then dealing with those robot velociraptors in the underground, nearly getting his arm snapped in half and seeing Saber get mauled, and then the revelation of how they apparently had someone actually on their side within CERES, among other things.

It had been a lot to process to say the least, and it definitely gave him an uncomfortably similar vibe to previous events in certain regards.

Maybe that's why he reverted back to how he was then, and the reason why he was more than eager to take up the offer and the opportunity to beat Jinga's face in. He lets out a slow exhale, straightening out and with a hand hovering over the handle of the Garoken.]

It wouldn't stick even if I did it. Besides, I'm in no mood to talk.

[freeinghorror]

Tell me, do you dream of the worst day of your life as well?

[He sure there were plenty of those considering the taste of anger he always felt in Ryuuga. Of course he knew of a few, but what kind of Horror would he be if he just started telling the Knight what he knew? Besides, talking really wasn't why he asked for this in the first place. Maybe after they managed to work it out, maybe after they were tired, maybe then they could talk.

If they didn't kill each other first.

Jinga snarled, feeling a surge of regret, thumbing the sheath off of his sword, and jumping the last few feet to slam fully into Ryuuga. He wasn't going to aim at cutting anything at first, he was going to just use his weight to push the Knight around.]

[wolfpuppy]

You already know the answer to that.

[Nightmares weren't uncommon for someone in his line of work, and with recent events and recent memories making themselves known again, that really didn't help matters much either.

Ryuuga's eyes narrow and he immediately draws his own weapon, though he's forced to brace himself from the impact of a body slam rather than any sort of attempt at cutting him. The wind is knocked out of him for a moment before he lifts his head to glare at Jinga, attempting to plant a foot into the other's stomach to push him back.]

[freeinghorror]

Do you know the worst part?

[The kick dislodged him, and he flipped back, landing in a half crouch and looking at the ground. His finger dug into the grass, tendons standing out and he almost was lost more in the memory, the looping replay of that broken form and the faces of the villagers.]

They way they acted as if we were wrong to defeat that thing.

[He threw the lump of dirt at Ryuuga, following it with a slash towards his neck.]

[wolfpuppy]

[There's no denying that the circumstances that led to Jinga and Amily's Fall weren't tragic - what was probably most terrifying about it was the fact that he wasn't completely wrong. Losing a child, and one you had entrusted to people to take care of, wasn't easy. Especially when they apparently didn't have enough faith in what you did to go ahead and continue a pointless tradition anyway.

Still - even if they had no reason to lie about it (and technically they didn't), Ryuuga couldn't bring himself to completely believe the story. A Makai Knight was a guardian, and slaughtering an entire village wasn't justifiable in any circumstance. Fear was a powerful motivator.

He has enough time to bring himself back into proper position before Jinga throws the dirt at him, shielding his eyes with his off-hand -

Ah. This was familiar.

He listened for the sound of his opponent shifting to attack, relying instead on how the air felt around him and the sound rather than his sight. It's then that he shifts back and brings his arm up in a defensive strike, lashing out again with a leg once he had the proper momentum going.]

It didn't justify slaughter.

[freeinghorror]

[They were guardians. They had to be examples and try to show people a different way than the ones that seeped into them and caused the Inga to grow and spread. Maybe that village had been boiling with it for a while before he and Amily went there to help them. He knew at one level that the villagers had some who were against the tradition - the parents for Gald and Haura for example. Why else would they have been gone during that time only to come back after the fact?

It didn't matter. In the end, they broke and countless people paid for that simple careless action of scared humans who should have had just a little more faith.

Have to admit that Ryuuga at least can fight without his eyes. Jinga growled, reaching down to grab that leg in mid-kick and use it in an attempt to toss Ryuuga at a nearby tree. Despite the violence, there was a note of desperation in his reply.]

The only justice in those wilds were us. The only one who had a higher rank was GARO, and that title had been lost.

[wolfpuppy]

[There's not enough time to react, just try and soften the impact as much as he can. Ryuuga lets out a growl once he shakes the stars out of his eyes (and is able to get back into something resembling a fighting stance) after he slams into the tree trunk, sliding down and bracing himself for a moment before charging forward.]

That still doesn't make it any better! That or anything else you did going forward! What about the families of those you killed or turned into Horrors?! Or the people that were nearly killed after Ladan was awakened? [That last one especially has him bristling considering Rian was one of those in the latter category.]

[freeinghorror]

We were suppose to die!

[He threw himself at Ryuuga, meeting him in mid-charge, and bringing his arm out to block even as he twisted his sword so that he hit with the hilt at some vulnerable spot. Jinga wasn't actually thinking right now, only reacting because the memory would not go away.]

C

[powertotearer]

[Eiji is really, really bad at keeping out of other people's business. But, to be fair, when said business involves two guys fighting in the middle of the park, apparently to the death, then he can probably be excused for being nosy.]

What are you doing?

[Which is a good question, especially when you've got to rush in in your own armor, and you're not sure which guy, if any, you're supposed to hit.]

You're going to get someone hurt at this rate! Can't you just...talk about it?

[Eiji, honey, you're a superhero. Superheroes don't just TALK about their problems--they solve everything with their fists.]

oh Eiji no

[freeinghorror]

[The battle had been going on for a while though neither he or Ryuuga have switched it up to full armored forms. They were just trying to hit each other and hit each other hard, not trying to destroy the whole neighborhood, though it may not look like it from the outside. Their fighting had already taken out a couple benches and tables from when they kicked them at each other, and there were a couple patches where a split lip on Jinga's end had resulted in Inga, but otherwise, they were actually being a little tame here.

Tame as in not cutting down trees or blasting each other with fire.

Jinga had seen Eiji in his armor before, but he didn't expect him to actually try to stop them. Didn't he know about the code of Knights and how fighting each other was better then random passerby? He doesn't actually respond, instead he just kicks a piece of a bench up into the air and executes a roundhouse kick to knock it in Eiji's general direction.]

[wolfpuppy]

[It's actually pretty surprising that they're being as tame as they are with this fight, especially considering how angry both of them had been over everything - almost like it was radiating over the area, even.

Regardless, though - there was no point for them to go into their armor (even then, Ryuuga had proven he could bust through Jinga's defenses pretty easily anyway), so Eiji's attempt at breaking up the fight has him startled for a split second before he ends up moving in front of the bench Jinga had aimed at Eiji and split it in half with a single strike.]

Your fight's with me.

[powertotearer]

[Well, forgive Eiji for coming from that weird generation that prefers to cooperate rather than beat each other's faces concave every meeting.

And unfortunately, he only heard Ryuuga's name once, so although he nods a thank you toward him, he doesn't really remember his name and doesn't know much else beyond him at least helping protect him from the bench.

Time to try the guy whose name (he thinks) he already knows.]

Jin, what's going on? Isn't there some other way to deal with this?

[freeinghorror]

We don't need anyone else getting involved.

[All he was trying to do was get him to step back and not get involved. But Eiji seems to be of the heroing type that would probably get along with Ryuuga far better then him, and given that Ryuuga already blocked the bench, well, Jinga just had to loudly tch at them both. He swung his sword to rest it on his shoulder, tapping it as he thought of an answer.

Well. Maybe he should be honest. Nah.]

Deal with what? We're sparring. [Sparring with the intent to kill each other, but eh, they were Makai. Sort of. He licked his lips, the blacken cut already starting to heal.] We just get carried away.

[wolfpuppy]

[Despite Jinga apparently stopping the attack, Ryuuga's still tensed, ready to spring forward and strike if necessary. His eyes narrow, readjusting his grip on his sword before turning slightly to look at Eiji.]

I won't let anyone else get hurt if it comes down to it. This is just something I have to do.

[It's not wrong, but he feels bad for Eiji getting involved, even if not by complete choice.]

[powertotearer]

[Yeah, not buying it. Feel the skeptical look burning through Eiji's mask, gentlemen.]

I can believe you'll try to stop anyone else from getting hurt. But I definitely don't believe this is just getting carried away, or something you have to do.

What exactly is going on?

[freeinghorror]

[You know, Jinga was way too old to get scolded by anyone, let alone a guy wearing what looked like a traffic light. The anger was burning away though, letting in a kind of resignation at the fight coming to a halt. After all, if he was going to start attacking, Eiji would step in and, as tough as that armor looked, he doubted it would hold up to getting hit by a Makaiken.

So he just rolled his eyes and found a suitable piece of wreckage to lean against, tilting his sword to look down the length of it and make sure that it was fine after all he had put it through. He might need to clean it, and that made him frown as he clicked his tongue.]

You're going to nag us until we tell you, aren't you? [He looked up and snorted at Ryuuga's stance.] Sit down before you fall over, GARO.

B

[notsogreedy]

[Ankh, meanwhile, is just walking around, and he happened to wander off where there aren't any people because it's easier that way. No people means no spirit animals to run into and no unwanted memories. Being out here is safer than being at home that way; he and Eiji usually have no problem sharing a relatively small space, but the foxes have been making that a bit more difficult.

But it seems like this area isn't entirely deserted. He looks a little surprised at being yelled at all of a sudden, but otherwise unfazed by it.]

Taking a walk. Is there something wrong with that?

(ooc: Almost forgot ability permissions)

[wolfpuppy]

[There's a pause as Ryuuga clenches his jaw - technically there's nothing inherently wrong with Ankh taking a late-night walk, and hell, if it weren't for the fact that he was about to be fighting Jinga shortly, he might've been doing the same thing. It's really only out of concern for others that he's even bristling like this in the first place.

He doesn't look terribly annoyed, per se, more ... almost embarrassed for yelling like that, really. He's definitely been more tense than usual lately, and it shows.]

Not really, but I don't think you're going to want to be near here in the next few minutes.

[notsogreedy]

Why? What's going to happen?

[He doesn't seem at all offput by the warning. A little curious, if anything.]

[wolfpuppy]

[... now the question is how does he even explain this without coming off as a psycho or something.

Balls.

He shifts slightly, readjusting his footing now that he's been taking out of preparation mode.]

"Arranged sparring" might be the best way of putting it. Though it might get a little rough.

[notsogreedy]

[Really, it's hard to sound crazier than some of the people Ankh has known.]

Hm. I won't get in your way, then.

[Not like he came out here for conversation, anyway. More the opposite, considering all the issues he's had with this stupid fox following him around. Which of course is going to decide to go get closer to his present company as soon as he turns to start walking away.]

(ooc: Let me know if you have any requests for memories or if you'd rather avoid it.)

[wolfpuppy]

(Any and all are good! I extend the same offer to you since there's a lot of jarring memories thanks to the nature of his canon in the first place. :x)

[Ryuuga simply nods, though he notices his own fox curiously sniffing around near Ankh, and he tries to shift forward to stop it, not really realizing he's talking out loud:]

Wait-!

[notsogreedy]

(Anything fine here, too! Ankh has met Jinga and doesn't yet realise they're connected so including him could be potentially interesting.)

[Ankh hears that call and pauses-]

Ah?

[And looks back just in time to see his fox brush against the other's leg.

Ankh starts underwater, immediately taking in his surroundings as he surfaces. The first thing he does is find Eiji, who seems to have washed up on a rock, to shake him awake and yell at him because he's supposed to be getting Ankh's medals, he prioritised someone else over that, and how dare he. Eiji is, predictably, unrepentant, going on about the value of other people's lives like he always does, even as Ankh shoves him over into the stream.

"Don't get so full of yourself, Eiji! If it would get me my Core Medals back, I would kill you right here."

"And you would be okay with that? Good luck getting your medals back without OOO."

"And what about you? If I got rid of you, you wouldn't be able to save her, or her brother's body." And Ankh would be free to keep that body for his own use, get rid of the sister who's in the way, too, and go after his medals without some do-gooder causing him problems all the time. It sounds pretty good, except for the part where Eiji is right. He isn't strong enough on his own.

Eiji glares back. "If anything happens to either of them, I'll make you pay."

"And that's why I'd kill you first!"

"And what'd you do if you did, huh?" It's at this point that Eiji realises what they're both saying and yells in frustration. "Man, it's like we're stuck with each other!"

He barely has time to get annoyed with his fox for stumbling into a stranger again before the other fox hits him.]

[wolfpuppy]

[Ryuuga's eyes widen as he's thrown into the memory - he recognizes Eiji, but the situation in and of itself is unfamiliar. There's a weird sense of deja vu with it, and especially considering recent events with Jinga - just on opposite ends. Even then, it's not so much that they need each other's help as it is that they have a greater threat to worry about.

Not that Ryuuga wasn't confident he could stop Jinga should things come to a head. But when he calls out, that causes his own fox's head to snap up, clearly startled, and brush against Ankh's leg as well - and before he can do anything, he's hit with a wave of nausea and nearly stumbles as the memory plays out:

He's stopped at what looks to be a makeshift prison cell, a taller man that Ankh would recognize as Jinga facing a younger man with his sword drawn-

"I'm taking Gald back."

Jinga slowly turns, a manic grin on his face as he turns - and Ryuuga's anger rises, bristling. He's already sick of everything that Jinga's been responsible for so far, directly and indirectly. The Fallen Knight lets go of the younger Priest, his full focus on Ryuuga. "I knew it was you, Golden Knight." He pauses, drawing out the tension if only to get more of a rise out of him. "What do you even get out of saving this guy?"

And without even missing a beat: "We're going to defeat you and seal Ladan together."

Jinga laughs harshly, forcing Ryuuga on guard even more, leaning forward. "You're saying that you're friends with this guy?! The one that says he hates all Makai Knights?"

"Even if we're not technically friends, I will protect all people - because that's what a Makai Knight does!" As if to punctuate the statement, he draws his sword, cutting down the anchoring point for the barrier creating the cell while lunging forward. He stops short, pausing for a moment to see if Gald was okay before he redirects his attention to Jinga, slashing at him repeatedly.

Unfortunately, Jinga just seems to be casually avoiding the barrage, leaning from side to side until he ends up kicking off the wall and drawing his sword, smiling all the while as their blades clash, sending sparks everywhere. "How fun! I'll play with you."

The fight is renewed, this time with Jinga pressing the offensive, though both of them are surprisingly even after a few exchanges of blows. Jinga spins around, kicking Gald away as he's trying to move forward, pointing his sword casually at the Priest's neck while staring down Ryuuga, who got knocked over in the same motion. Ryuuga practically snarls as he's glaring upward, but he gets up quickly enough, forcing them to move the fight out further in the industrial complex, and it's about now that things get kinda stupid. (13:56-14:28)

The memory ends with them clashing again-

And Ryuuga's nearly doubled over, using his sword to prop himself up.]