and then a liet landed on your floor

[justaszabla]

[There's a trail of destruction running down the halls of Headquarters. Every door in a number of hallways has been destroyed: slashed in half, broken off its hinges, or splintered to pieces. The rooms beyond these doors are overturned: bookcases tipped forward onto the floor, sofas and mattresses flipped over or ripped apart, closet doors torn

Comments

Both, either, doesn't matter~

[evenburnssouls]

[Just a simple assignment, right? Find Alfred and Toris and drag both weapons back to Shibusen whether they liked it or not. Easy. Fast. Except he doesn't think this is Braginsky's house, where both of them had last been reported as being seen near.

He is not wholly familiar with the building, but he is reasonably certain that all the destruction is recent. Not done by Alfred, though. He's only slightly relieved, but immediately returns to full alert when he rounds the corner and hears what sounds like Toris' voice, whereas the only person in sight is Braginsky.]

Ah, Mr Braginsky. What a pleasant surprise.

[No, not really, but it's the gentlemanly thing to say. The only thing pleasant about this is that he now knows where half his objective is. And that likely the other half isn't far behind.]

[justaszabla]

[Toris is taut as a wire, ready to transform if Arthur makes a more threatening move. He keeps his eyes on Arthur, trying to communicate with his eyes that he does want this to happen but this is the wrong way to get it. not that he knows what the right way is, either.]

Let go first.

Ivan, please just stay and sign the contract ...

[evenburnssouls]

[He releases Ivan, if only because he does not want to be dragged further down the hallway. However, he is more than prepared to attack should Ivan attempt to flee.]

I suggest you listen to your partner, Ivan.

[snowymadness]

I don't want to anymore.

[justaszabla]

[Toris looks at Arthur helplessly, swallowing hard.]

I-Ivan, please ...

[evenburnssouls]

I will give you this chance, Braginsky. Listen, or suffer the consequences.

[Already readying his attack, however.]

[snowymadness]

[Don't think he won't notice that when he turns back. It only makes his grip on Toris tighter.

There's only one choice, really. Only the one. So if he has to fight, he's certainly ready.]

And what are they?

[justaszabla]

[Toris has been trying as hard as he can to not be aggressive. He knows Ivan wants him to transform and he's been resisting. But when he sees Arthur prepared to attack, well - what choice does he have?

In a flash he's a szabla in Russia's fist. His scabbard clatters to the ground and naked steel flashes.]

::Synch with me!::

[Arthur's not an opponent to be underestimated, even without a weapon. Toris knows what he's capable of: they need to do Soul Resonance. He's reaching out with metaphorical arms to Ivan.]

[evenburnssouls]

I drag you back to Shibusen broken and bleeding.

[Well, it appears Toris has decided for them. A shame, really, his fight isn't with the young weapon. Still, if he can land his attack, break up their Resonance before it begins, he can likely end this with minimal damage to the szabla.

He brings his palm forward, striking for Ivan's chest, energy crackling in the air around his hand.]

[snowymadness]

[It can't be broken if it doesn't start. Before anything, Ivan brings the sword in front of him and pushes into the attack to at least block, hopefully counter. It would be nice if he could cut Arthur's hand in the process.

It's only after that he backs away, finally able to focus on that request.]

[justaszabla]

[Ivan doesn't sync with him, which means Toris takes the full brunt of that attack with his own wavelength, metal, and all the force Ivan can physically bring to bear.

It's punishing, not unexpectedly, as if a bell was struck right next to his ear.

Toris has eaten 47 kishin egg souls. That's not an unimpressive number, but Arthur is the meister who formed Alfred into a Deathscythe and he has a considerable wavelength of his own. Using all his might, Toris manages to deflect the blow, but not block it. He certainly comes nowhere near cutting Arthur's hand.

He's still a little stunned from the attack when Ivan steps back and opens himself to Soul Resonance. He responds in kind.

Ah, his favorite part of syncing is definitely his sudden complete awareness of Ivan's insanity. For once, though, Toris is pushing for ever higher Soul Resonance instead of shying away from it. They'll need it for Arthur - Alfred as well, if it ever comes to that.]

[evenburnssouls]

[He almost feels bad for making Toris endure the brunt of his assault, but considering the weapon was the one who decided this would be a fight, he can't say he genuinely feels any remorse at the moment.

The deflection makes him grunt, lowly, because he can feel his wavelength being pushed in a different direction. Not a complete block, however. That is definitely noted.

Of course, of course they don't resonate until after he attacks. Arthur scowls, because he can at least feel it, even if he doesn't have the ability to see it as Alfred does.]

Tch! Never took you for the sort of coward who'd let your weapon take the entire assault, Braginsky.

[Now, he is well aware that may not be true, but he's trying to goad the other meister into acting without thinking.]

[snowymadness]

[He's still, holding Toris in front of him. Clearly he's more than accepting of the stronger connection, as well.]

It's more effective.

[Laughing, he lowers the blade slightly. This far into it, no, they definitely can't be thrown out of sync by any little distraction anymore.

Ready? A soundless thought to his partner, before raising his arm back up. I want to destroy him.]

[justaszabla]

[Ivan is exactly the sort of meister who would let his weapon take an assault alone: it's simply good tactics in this case.

But Toris wants to refuse that plan: Ivan can no doubt feel his resolve waver dangerously.

He will defend Ivan to the death. But maybe against Arthur, the best defense is a good offense? He's grateful to have never fought the meister before, but as a result he doesn't know. Hopefully Arthur will have the sense to back off if they're winning.

Let's fight him off before he gets a chance to hurt you, he returns, and thrusts for Arthur's face.]

[evenburnssouls]

[He steps aside quickly, away from the blade, though it does catch and cut short a few hairs off the side of his head. Much too close. Unfortunately, without a weapon of his own, he needs to keep close. If Ivan flees, he doubts he has the speed to catch him.

Still, right now he merely intends to disable, not kill. He's convinced this will be easy. So when he strikes, it's not a hard punch. Just reaching out and pushing lightly with his hand, but a good deal more firmly with his soul.]

If you insist!

[snowymadness]

[Not close enough, really.

Stepping back isn't enough to avoid the blow completely, but, it doesn't matter. He can be hurt. That's fine. He's confident that it won't stop Toris, though.]