sheep_game | cage match: thistle vs clover

[ He's only a little bit taken aback by Lupin's ability to dodge, but that's not going to stop him from chasing him down as he parkours across the roof.

The sudden appearance of the demon startles him more, and he only just barely manages to zip out of the way of the lightning. Are those green sparkles in his wake? Don't worry about it. ]

Hah! Of course someone as annoying as you would use lightning. Good try!

[ A cyclone starts to build in his hand as he dives after Lupin. ]

[despite the large drop, he lands on the ground just as gracefully as he parkoured across the rooftop, standing up and turning to face Zenith just in time to see that cyclone]

I don't know what that means, but don't think it's the only thing I can do!

[another flash of blue fire, his mask vanishing from his features. this time, he's on the defensive-- another creature appears to stand in front of Lupin, this time to raise a shield to block Zenith as he dives]

[Lupin takes a defensive stance as well, digging his heels into the ground and crossing his arms in front of himself, as though the action would give his Persona more staying power]

[ it means he has a vendetta. it's fine.

Zenith scoffs like he doesn't think that's even worth replying to.

He's slotted Lupin in his head as an electro user, so he's entirely unprepared for the shield. It's unexpected enough that Zenith (and his cylcone) crash right into the shield in a chaotic whirlwind of anemo that ricochets him backwards. ]

-kh. How cute! Are cheap tricks the only thing you're capable of?

[Lupin can feel the impact, and the wind whipping up at his feet, sending his coattails flying. . . and he lets out a small grunt as though he himself were hit by that attack. some ways, he really was-- Chi You is a part of his soul, after all. . . and if Chi You takes damage, Lupin does as well]

[with a sharp exhale to shake it off, he stands up straight again, arcing one hand forward, fingers splayed]

You think that's what these are? Let me show you, then-- what a Wild Card can do! Chi You!

[he has one Persona out already, SO WHY SWAP TO ANOTHER? this time, he's flinging a burst of psychic energy Zenith's way. THEY DON'T HAVE PSY. . . O IN TEYVAT]

[ He has no frame of reference at all for this power Lupin can use, so he's just going to keep using brute force until it stops working. He's going to have to land soon, but... he's going to push himself as far as he can before that happens. ]

Is that what you call this power? What a stupid name for a stupid-!

[ He's cut off from further insults as he swerves to the side, tanking the hit of psychic energy. It's enough to temporarily knock him off-course, but he grunts and grits his teeth, flying directly over Lupin and Chi You-

-and then stomping down to summon several vicious cyclones. ]

[that's a good opening as any; because after the attack, Chi You dissipates back into nothing, unable to maintain a solid form for longer than a few short moments. Lupin is in the process of recalling his Persona when the vicious cyclones whip to live around him, kicking up dust and debris, and--]

[picking him straight off of his feet]

[AND FLINGING HIM SEVERAL FEET AWAY. this time, when he lands on the ground, he does so with a loud and painful WHUMPF]

[oof!1]

[he's quick to get up, but not without a few bruises and winces]

Edited 2023-09-13 22:58 (UTC)

[ A lucky opening, you could say.

And it's good it hits, because once the cyclones crash into them, Zenith is forced to land.

He catches himself on the ground and has to take a moment to right himself, but he's quickly darting after Lupin. He laughs as he approaches on foot, spinning another ball of anemo around his fingers. ]

Is that all you've got? You aren't too tired to continue, are you~?

If you get on your knees and beg forgiveness, I might go easy on you!

Hah!

[he's bruised, but easily still full of fight. at this range, there's no point in summoning his Personas, so. . . he whips out a dagger instead, the blade gleaming in the light, and prepares himself for a melee brawl]

Too tired? I'm just getting started!

[HE LIFTS HIS DAGGER TO BLOCK--]

[and then Caster's explosions echoes throughout the field, startling him enough to give Zenith another "lucky" opening, his gaze whipping around towards Thistle's barn in wide-eyed surprise]

[ Caster's bombs do draw his attention as well, though it makes him burst out into a fit of manic laughter.

And he's absolutely not above taking advantage of Lupin's surprise for a sucker punch.

Zenith bursts forward with a gust of anemo, and he might not be able to fly just yet, but he can slam into Lupin with a point-blank burst of wind magic. ]

[WELL]

[THAT SMARTS]

[it's an impressive punch that catches Lupin right in the jaw, and the added element of Anemo sends him reeling, stumbling back with a pained, slightly strangled cry. he's gonna be bruised from that later, that's for sure!1]

[but though it smarts, although it hurts, and although he knows he'll be feeling it later, he's still on his feet. still manages to throw his shoulders back, lifting his gaze with burning eyes as he wipes at the corner of his mouth, brushing away a tiny trickle of blood]

Are you. . . [a bit breathless] Trying to blow up our barn??

You're fucking insane!!

[and yet. he's laughing???]

[ That was a very satisfying punch.

He huffs out a laugh of his own as he stumbles back, shaking out his wrist. That's not quite the reaction he expected, but he grimaces all the same. He readies another flicker of anemo around his hand, though it's not quite as strong as before. Even he has his limits. ]

Trying? It looks like we're succeeding!

[ ...it does seem like Thistle's barn is mostly intact, though. ]

[Lupin's hitting the ends of his limits as well; the SP drain from multiple Persona spells, plus some serious bruising from the punch and burst earlier. . . but he still has fight left in him, even if some of it is only powered by pure adrenaline. the adrenaline of knowing that Thistle deserves to get their ass kicked, but knowing that he can't just lie down and take it, because if he isn't wiling to fight to defend his own choices, then he shouldn't be making them in the first place--]

[he holds out his dagger, blade pressed against his palm, and sucks in a deep breath]

I don't know what the hell your definition of "succeeding" is, but we're still standing!

[another breath]

Come on! Come at me!

[Right as Lupin says that, a blur is going to come rushing at Zenith. He might not be able to knock Zenith away with his feet-first tackle, but if he even distracts the guy that's enough for him.

Interrupting Odin gooo!]

Edited 2023-09-13 23:53 (UTC)

[ Zenith would never admit it, but he would fully respect Lupin for that kind of mentality.

That isn't going to stop him, though. Even though it does seem like their fight is winding to a close, he's not going to hold anything back- not until one or both of them is knocked out. Or worse. If it was up to him, it'd be worse, but there sure are a lot of people watching- ]

Not for long.

[ He doesn't need to be told twice! As soon as Lupin challenges him, Zenith charges forward-

-and is immediately tackled to the side by Odin, crashing back into the ground. ]

WAIT YOUR TURN, BRAT-!

[ He whips up another cyclone around them to try and blast Odin AWAY. ]

[FUCK]

[FUCK???]

[ Zenith will ALSO find he has (1) turn of improved defense from damage of all types from a shield that Caster is casting on him from afar ]

Be careful, Zenith!

[ he was a little skeptical about the whole master/servant thing but no, he loves his new daughter. this is the best gift anyone could have given him. ]

They're going to need to try a lot harder to beat me!

[~here's your green good luck sparkles dad~]

WHOOP THEIR BUTTS!!

[ this is the Zenith defense squad over here ]

-- ODIN, TWO ON ONE ISN'T VERY FAIR??

[. . . because of that he isn't making a move but he is POUTING because HEY. HE WAS HAVING FUN???]

[It says something to his determination to fight that he doesn't waste energy to show off and dispel the cyclone. No, he leaps back to dodge and run around it instead. It takes a moment but he can yell at Zenith while doing it.]

Why waste time on him when he's exhausted? It'll just tire you out for your fight with me.

[Once he's around the cyclone and back near the other two he shoots Lupin a quick frown. This is a look of "we talked about this, I'm disappointed in you". Then he turns to face Zenith properly.]

Besides, I'm the one you want. You're here for Clover's sake, yeah? I made the final call in that game.

[Technically Loki did, but Odin should have stuck to his guns and fought for trust. So it's on him, at least in his mind.]

[. . . . . . . . . . . . . THE URGE TO CALL ODIN OUT AS A LIAR STRUGGLES WITH HIS URGE TO PROTECT LOKI. . .]

-hah. You think I can't take you both on at once?

[ He's pretty cocky now with Caster's buffs on him, and the shield absorbed most of the hit from Odin tackling him into the ground. Zenith summons the wind around him again to fly, swiping one hand up to assault Odin with a spiraling cyclone from the ground. ]

You're all so eager to take responsibility! So eager to sacrifice yourselves for each other! It's so adorable, it's making me sick!

[ He fires out several windblades towards Odin in quick, rapid succession, circling around him. ]

I don't care whose fault it was- just die already!

DAD.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

1/2

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

1/2

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

[from a distance]