(Untitled)

[cardio_swindle]

[It's a Tyki. In that outfit. You know the one. White, form fitting, revealing. Black leather pants. He doesn't seem particularly bothered by his own appearance at least, long hair neatly tied back, posture relaxed

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[cardio_swindle]

[Solo has the other's hand, firmly. They are left, after Solo's little display, in the middle of a lot of rushing water, with none of it touching them. The water is almost luminescent, for some reason, around them, lighting them with the palest of blue glows--less illuminating and more just giving shape and suggestion to their forms. Highlighting deeper shadows in the gloom

[solo_insanity]

What the hell are you

[cardio_swindle]

[Solo still has that poker chip. It's cold, but the burning-a-hole-into-him cold subsided when Cardio let go. Now it's merely a slightly numbing chilliness. Even that is receding a bit. The water still glows, and while there's much less of it, it seems brighter. Things are a little clearer--the silhouette ahead, for example, is recognizable

[solo_insanity]

[He keeps the chip clenched in his right hand as if letting go would mean something disastrous. He takes a few steps to get closer to the other figure. He is disappointed that the man isn't his cheerful friend but rather glad not to be faced with a harpy or some other creature. He'd tip his hat but he lost that somewhere, so he goes for a small bow instead

[cardio_swindle]

[The figure tips his hat. Polite nod.] Downriver fighting himself, I believe.

[The man, it's not really a Tyki, but isn't not not one either, swings his cane done in front of him, rests both hands on top of it.] But you shouldn't concern yourself in such things, Earl. You know as well as I that they work themselves out in the end.

When are you going to finish the job?

[While Solo has a reflection in the glowing water--a distorted reflection, the other creature doesn't even seem to ripple the water where it stands, let alone cast a shadow or reflection.]

***

[It succeeds in maneuvering. Mainly because Tyki's too busy taking advantage of the sudden lack of defenses to realize why until they're falling. And then it's much too late to do anything about it. He manages to pry fingers loose, breaking three or four on his way, before he takes the impact to the water below--even half concentrating on rejecting things doesn't save him from losing the air in his lungs, being stunned by impact, inhaling too much water

[solo_insanity]

Is he now? [The tone of sarcasm is subdued by how odd the statement sounds. Fighting himself. What trouble did the other man get himself into

[cardio_swindle]

[The man takes his arm, but his footsteps don't disturb the water like Tyki's do. As they move forward, the reflected light from the water turns red and orange instead of pale blueish. The cave opens up to sky, and the water becomes earth and leaves. Firelight dances across their faces and ahead of them a mansion burns

[solo_insanity]

[He blindly gets tugged farther into the trees as the vision of the burning mansion fades from a moment from view as a thick group of shrubbery blocks it. He looks back at the man's voice guiding him and speaking to him. It isn't the face of the man he wants to see

[cardio_swindle]

[Allen frowns, disentangling Tyki's fingers from his collar.] You have to stay still. [He says firmly.] You can't move in that condition

[solo_insanity]

[He brings a hand to the side of his face instinctively. He can feel the flaking flesh and actually has to spend a moment making sure all the Noah Memories are there along with his own memories of this place. Had to ensure he wasn't back home for a second. To lie and convince himself not to bolt for the mansion blindly

[cardio_swindle]

[Allen snaps, stumbling and whirling on the Noah, his cloak pinning Solo to the ground as the Exorcist nearly shouts in frustration.] Tyki will you just--

[Whatever he was going to say is cut short as the bushes rustle and he drops to his knees, shutting up and slapping a hand over Solo's mouth in case the man has any bright ideas about speaking. Allen watches the bushes until the movement and noise continue on, passing them over by some miracle. The kid looks stressed when he whispers through clenched teeth.]

I don't know what you're talking about but stay here. And don't make a sound. [And then his expression softens with that trademark compassion, just for a moment.]

If it's someone that important I'll look, all right? I have to go back. I'll be back.

[But of course Tyki's been through this. Allen won't be back. He'll be dead.]

***

[The lack of reflection doesn't bother Tyki. The being trapped--well, there is always another exit if you keep going. That seems to be a universal law of this place like not eating anything rainbow

[solo_insanity]

[If it weren't for the time and place, he'd be highly, highly amused at being underneath Allen Walker. He'd have a retort or two, but now isn't the time. He is quite relieved to hear that the Exorcist has no idea what he's talking about. Music to his ears. The other man couldn't have gotten that far ahead of them. He probably is sipping that drink on the beach somewhere

[cardio_swindle]

[Allen squawks, surprised and caught off guard. Tyki was half-dead when he dragged him out of the fire, the boy wasn't expecting this kind of reaction or resistance. Unsure if it's an attack, or what's going on in Tyki's mind, Allen's cloak tries to shield him, protect him while he tries to struggle out of the hold.]

Tyki![It's hard to pin a squirmy teenager when you feel as if you're about to black out from pain. None of the physical injuries are actually there, true, but the memory of them is real enough. They happened, and to Tyki the sensation is just like it was then, as sharp and real and blinding painful to move think, exist

[solo_insanity]

[He hears the Crow more than sees them. Doesn't even realize Allen blocks some of the attacks for him. But the shove will send him sprawling out in the grass next to the Exorcist as the boy rises. Tyki doesn't stand up right away. Rather he digs the heels of his palms into his eyes.

He was having a hard time separating reality from fantasy. He knew it wasn't then. Wasn't back so many years ago when fire and blood boiled the landscape. But he wasn't sure if this was a nightmare either. They'd become less frequent, but they were as vivid as that night when he had them. The pain. The shouting. How he knew what was going to happen next and could alter the short term, but never the result of the night.

And he remembers that he always died in those nightmares.

It was because he couldn't help himself. He couldn't stand and simply watch. It wasn't about saving Allen Walker. It was about killing anyone and everyone who dared come here. His home. The cheating boy was just an ally at this point

[cardio_swindle]

Stop! [Allen blocks another attack with his sword, attention divided between his own opponents and Tyki.] Don't kill them

[solo_insanity]

Idiot. [Not said above conversational tone so it will be a miracle if Allen Walker can even hear the insult. But he focuses on the two blobs coming to flank him. Pathetic. They weren't even Exorcists. They were nothing but humans. Useless, foolish, normal humans. How dare they even think could stand a chance against him? But, oh, they had magic. Made for binding. He was going to get hit by one. Couldn't avoid it