[Event] Invasion - Inner Death City Districts + Waterways

[soul_mods]

Characters: Open to all
Location: Death City - Inner Death City Districts + Waterways
Rating: R
Time: November 16, midnight - 4am.
Description: Now that Shibusen’s defenses have been shattered, what sort of things will come creeping in to take advantage of this? List of relevant links to the event here.

Comments

[Karkat, Selendis] [CLOSED] [Financial/Services (FINALLY)] [1:30-2-ish?]

[dungenessmaster]

Three or four meisters later -- he honestly lost count -- Karkat finally made it to his district. He was tired already, headachey and angry from the stress of all those different wavelengths he'd struggled to mesh with, and he's not as aware or quick as he normally would be. He's back up on the rooftops, scanning around the melee looking for Selendis, when a kinshin egg swoops in from behind and slams into him before he can dodge, knocking him off the roof and skidding across the street on top of him.

Trolls are tougher than they look; Karkat regroups and rolls out from underneath the monster just before it strikes, claws throwing up sparks as it hits the pavement instead. Knowing he can't kill this thing himself, Karkat lets self-preservation win over pride and turns, intending to take off, but it grabs him by the back of the shirt and pulls, dragging him back with a squawk.

[justiceisdue]

Selendis has been running almost the entire night, trying to find her partner and help out wherever she can. This is the second time there's been trouble in the city and she hasn't been able to reach Karkat before it starts. It's frustrating, worrying, and she's more than ready to start killing kishin by now.

When she finally does spot him, it's to see him go down under the claws of a kishin. Putting on a final burst of speed, Selendis crosses to the rooftop he vanished off of and follows them to the street. Preoccupied with Karkat, the kishin probably doesn't even see her coming right at it.

She goes in low, ramming the monster with the shoulder of her armor and letting momentum carry it off of her partner.

[dungenessmaster]

Selendis was successful; the kinshin topples off Karkat and staggers backwards several steps, which is more than enough space for the troll to spring back to his feet and reach for his partner's hand. It's practically reflex by now. He mutters something under his breath, something that sounds a lot like "fucking finally."

[justiceisdue]

Selendis pulls away from the kishin, already back on even footing while it's still reeling. She finds his hand easily, gripping tightly until she's holding an axe and their familiar resonation picks up.

She can tell he's tired, and he can feel her frustration just easily, but those are things they can deal with later. Right now they've got some kishin to take out, and she's ready and waiting for this one to make a move.

[dungenessmaster]

Before tonight, Karkat hadn't fought with anyone else since partnering with Selendis, and he's surprised by how comforting the familiar resonation is. It's nice not to have to coach another newbie to focus or scream instructions on the fly. He drops naturally back into his role in this partnership, staying on the lookout for any more threats as Selendis attacks the kinshin egg that nearly killed him.

He doesn't hold back or make any secret of being worn out or pissed off. In fact, she's probably noticed that their resonation has improved significantly since they got past the blood issue, and now he's a bit more open with her. The frustration he understands, but yeah, that's something they can deal with once the city isn't being overrun with monsters.

The kinshin egg gets back up and appraises Selendis and Karkat for just a moment before swooping in low, aiming to slash at her legs.

[justiceisdue]

She doesn't notice the improvement immediately, if only because it's natural for her to be in tune with whomever she's fighting alongside. That tended to be exclusive to protoss, but the unique nature of resonation means Karkat's on that list now. When she has time to reflect on it, she'll be impressed with their transition from uncertain partners to what they are now.

Until then, the weapon in her hands feels right, her head is clear, she's quicker on her feet, and her partner has her back. This is combat she knows well.

Selendis swings the weapon up and around, grasping with both hands, and then brings it down to deflect the blow towards her legs. Zerglings had always gone for their long legs, and had always met a quick end on their psi blades. The kishin isn't going to fare much better as she brings the axe down on it hard and fast, hoping to end this quickly.

[dungenessmaster]

A different kinshin egg rushes by overhead, catching Karkat's attention, but it's focused on someone else and doesn't join this battle. The impact from Selendis smashing him into their quarry's neck snaps him back and he growls a little, drawing his anger back to the forefront. Time to kill this thing.

The thing in question flops on the ground and shrieks, bleeding desperately and clawing at Selendis and spouting some sort of weird religious blasphemy. Kinshin eggs are weird.

[justiceisdue]

There's not a hint of hesitation as Selendis steps forward, unmoved by the monster's flailing or whatever it's saying. She's focused entirely on destroying the kishin, relying on Karkat to alert her of any dangers.

She lifts the axe up over her head and brings it down on the thing's head in one swift chop. The satisfaction of cutting through a kishin's flesh is short lived, as the flesh melts away and all that's left is that damaged soul. One more egg for them, but there were hundreds of others swarming the city.

Selendis picks the egg up in one hand, loosening her hold on Karkat if he was going to change back. She finally looks down at his reflection in the blade. "You are unharmed?"

[dungenessmaster]

Karkat does change back, and looks like he's not too thrilled about the prospect of eating that soul. Still, he takes it from her and does his weaponly duty.

"Yeah. It's been a bullshit night, I swear half the fucking city is running around like it's a free-for-all wiggler rumpus jamboree and not an actual monster seige! I've stuck my neck out for more unpartnered idiot meisters tonight..."

He trails off, looking up at her. He... might look just the tiniest bit contrite about leaving her in the lurch.

"Um, so... what about you?"

[justiceisdue]

"I assisted where I was able." Her tone is annoyingly neutral, but even if she seems mad, it's not really directed at him. She can't fault him for helping others, but she does need him to be effective. Missing her weapon for several hours wasn't sitting well with her, though she's relieved he wasn't hurt.

Selendis looks away from him abruptly, listening to the sounds of nearby fighting. Without saying anything, she starts walking, keeping a sharp eye out for more kishin. This street seems relatively clear, but that can change in an instant.

When she speaks again, she doesn't even look back at him. "We had warning that this attack was coming, and we were still not prepared. Being separated for so long is unacceptable."

[dungenessmaster]

Karkat turns and walks with her, lengthening his stride so she doesn't have to shorten hers so much. He's also on the lookout for more kinshin eggs, but so far the ones they can see and hear are already engaged in fights. His frown deepens as she chastises him -- she's right, of course, and he was a little worried about her, but what did she expect him to do, ditch Terezi? Let those humans die?

"I already told you, I tried. I've been trying to get down here since like eleven, but people kept getting in my way!"

[justiceisdue]

"We were not prepared, Karkat. I cannot fault you for your actions any more than I can excuse my inability to reach you myself. We are meant to fight alongside one another, and yet twice we have failed to do so at the onset of a crisis."

They'd worked hard enough together that she has very few doubts about their capabilities. The frustrating part is that they're not always together, and she can understand why Shibusen would encourage partners to share living space. Unfortunately, she can't ask Karkat to run the rooftops with her, and she certainly wouldn't do well in an apartment.

Selendis stops in the middle of the street, listening instead of looking for trouble. She can smell something burning, but it isn't close by.

[dungenessmaster]

Karkat was thinking the same thing, but what did she want from him? He's not Nepeta; he likes being indoors. Even in winter, the direct sunlight isn't very comfortable, and the thought of them sharing a hive is just pathetic. Either she'd be cramped, or he'd feel like he was living in a dollhouse.

He calms down a little as he realizes he's not getting yelled at and stops when she does. The fire doesn't really grab his attention -- they're there to fight kinshin eggs, not that, and it doesn't seem severe enough to put anyone in danger.

"Okay, so... what the hell do you want to do about it? Stay closer to the hivestems? Have me move closer to this district?"

[justiceisdue]

Selendis is silent for a moment, partly because she doesn't have an immediate solution, mostly because she's not letting her guard down. She doesn't like going into things half blind and unprepared, and she avoids it where she can. The last thing she wants to do is micromanage their every step, though. He's not a protoss, and their thoughts and actions aren't always linked like that.

"I do not have an answer that will solve everything. To start, I will remain closer to your residence and trust this sector to those working under us. The choice is yours as to where you wish to live."

She didn't expect him to up and move when she was the more mobile of the two of them. Something had to give, though, so she'd start with altering her own routine.

[dungenessmaster]

Karkat frowns. He hadn't seriously thought about moving before this, but she was right. He'd been late twice, putting her in danger, and something needed to change. There were nicer apartments closer to their zone. He could look into it, but not now.

Right now, a very large, burly kinshin egg has his sights on Selendis and charges, roaring. Karkat reaches almost casually for her hand.

"God I'm getting tired of these fucking things."

[justiceisdue]

Selendis shifts her stance to face the oncoming kishin, and taking Karkat's hand is starting to override her usual instinct of igniting her psi blades. That hasn't worked in months, but it was a reaction that kept her alive. At least now it's getting easier to rely on the weapon she has to use in this place.

Said weapon in hand, she runs straight for the monster and jumps right over its head. Lashing out with her legs, her feet strike right in the middle of the kishin's back, knocking it forward as she pushes off to land right behind it. The axe is already swinging through the air once her feet are squarely planted on the ground.

"Then we will make this quick."