yogen | MISSION 1

[ Light flashes inside the swirl of darkness, a storm condensed and rolling towards the building's front door that opens and draws the shadow in, hunger that grows and overwhelms and

tears apart into shreds at the threshold of the door, darkness enveloping the sky above while light swallows the ground below and Clamor, Lucifer, Shinobu, Gundham, Meng Yao, and Amami find themselves face to face with one another once more, the building and its surroundings washing away around them and leaving just them and nothingness and the man that stands between them, hands lifted off his ears and instead pressed over his face— his mask, a thin line running from the marks on his cheeks past the eye that cracks and starts to fall apart the more he tries to keep it together. ]

( well this... is not what he'd expected to happen, or the way he'd thought this scene would unfold at all. the three of them prepared for some kind of epic last-stand with the whole gang, and what they're faced with instead is a blank canvas and a man who gives off an almost pitiful impression with the way he struggles to hold himself together. kind of miss that chance at arson ngl, but it's probably for the best. after a moment, amami takes a step forward, voice tentative. )

...Kazuki-san?

( he has a lot of questions. )

[ Kazuki.

Of course this is his fault. Shinobu had him pegged for a monster from the start. They should’ve dealt with him like he was from the get-go, she thinks, but Clamor and Rantaro didn’t want him dead. They insisted on peaceful alternatives to fighting, even if it almost meant their lives. Even if it almost meant everybody’s lives.

And, in spite of all that, Rantaro still seems to be of the mind that Kazuki should be suffered to live. Shinobu knows she can’t convince him otherwise, so rather than press the point, she keeps her hand on her sword hilt, ready for anything to go wrong. ]

… Be careful, Amami-san. We may have him cornered now, but animals are most dangerous when they have nowhere left to run.

[It's a huge relief when the darkness finally dissipates. Clamor's shield ripples and fades only once he's confident the immediate danger has passed... but they're not out of this mess yet. His hand stays firmly pressed to his book, shoulders tense, ready to act again if something else goes wrong.

But for now... maybe, just maybe, they can still get some answers. He shoots a weary look at Amami.

... well, what else is there to say besides "be careful"? He'll back the younger boy up if he has to. That's the least he can do in these circumstances.]

[Lucifer being Lucifer, he'd also sought the death of the gardener for really no discernable reason, other than the fact that his authority as a spooky demon had been challenged... somehow? Listen, no one has time to pick apart Lucifer's brain like this. The fact is, he's standing at attention, upper wings raised over his shoulders and lower wings fanned out to either side of him.

He's also... standing behind Clamor protectively, like a weird cryptid with glowing red eyes, don't... don't worry about it.]

[ In all honesty, he could've attacked once more, but surprisingly that's a course of action he doesn't want to take just yet.

So, Meng Yao is watching this goes down for now, ensuring he's hanging nearby Amami.

His hand hovers nearby Hensheng's hilt, ready to strike at one false move, but honestly he's hoping that's unnecessary. There is no tight grip just yet what with it having been properly sheathed for now; he's just prepared to act and things to go to hell in a handbasket. ]

Kazuki, we are not looking for a confrontation. To be quite honest, originally we were just trying to find answers. We still are.

Your situation doesn't seem ideal either, from what I can tell, what with that other form...?

[ Good, the trap worked! Thankfully everyone is alright.

...Well, for the most part, at least. Gundham watches on as a man stands there in the beast's place, as he struggles to keep the mask on. It certainly feels like they're cornering a hurt fox. He wants to know how the man even got into a mess like this. Hopefully they helped him, or can help him in some fashion. ]

Please, enlighten us, Kazuki, for it seems that the time has come to do so. It is far past the need for masks, for secrets now.

[ Shinobu is right: they could have saved themselves a lot of trouble if they'd just killed the gardener, I could have unlocked the courtyard half a dozen comments in. But instead they chose to talk— to understand— and after all they've seen and experienced... he's not sure they do.

There's the slightest turn of the head at each person who speaks, though his hands remain covering his face until everybody's had their say. ]

That "other form" is who I am. [ A monster, an animal, as they're likening him to in their minds. The real other is the man who stands before them, who moves to walk away from them. ]

If you were there, perhaps the binding would have worked.

( listen sometimes you want dorms and sometimes you want... lore. there's a reason he survived past june... )

We need to talk. This might be our only chance to understand anything.

( words accompanied only by a haphazard glance over his shoulder, said more for the benefit of the clamor crew (understandable in being on-edge) than kazuki himself. as much as fear and anger prickles underneath the surface of his skin at the things that he saw, the fear and anger alone won't help him do what he needs to do. it won't help him get out of this place — or get rika out, or shuichi, or anybody else for that matter. when kazuki turns to try and leave, amami pursues — another step to keep the distance between them even. after all, where's kazuki gonna go? there's nothing here. )

So then you must be... it. ( the thing that they're not supposed to let hear them. )

But why were you being bound to him then — and if it didn't work, why don't you attack us?

( attack them now, but like, also attack them ever when he's in that form. amami spent a whole month outside hanging out with you and didn't become a snack so...? )

[ When Kazuki confirms to him basically there's nothing to save, Meng Yao concludes he's stating basically stating that he needs to be killed. Maybe Kazuki has given up hope he can be what he used to.

But also as far as he's concerned, he's a being who now also doesn't like to give straightforward answers, and would do what benefits him.

...In the end, a liability. He glances at Shinobu and Luci, before back at Kazuki. ]

Then what you are saying is that there's nothing that can be done, is there? "Kazuki" can't return to being a teacher, like he used to be?

...and don't you dare just walk away!

[ Just for the sake of ease, y'all can assume after everyone asks their questions (if others have any more!!) he is going to try to get right in front of Kazuki and slice his mask in twain.

Emphasis on try and people are free to try to stop him but also why would you. ]

[ Meng Yao needn't work so hard to be in front of him, because at the mention of the word "teacher," the gardener whips around to face him. ]

The binding wasn't to—-

[ The blade catches the crack and splits the two halves apart, the porcelain shattering irreparably when it hits the ground, and the face that stares back at Meng Yao...

There are no eyes that stare back, sockets empty and scarred with shredded lids, the skin and flesh and even bone around the eye sockets heavily disfigured by gashes upon gashes dragged from eye to ear as if gouged out by claws, or by fingernails. In the shattered pieces of porcelain littered upon the ground, one of them may notice broken markings on the inside of the mask where it'd pressed against his forehead, may recognize it as a binding seal— one that, now broken, starts to smolder with black smoke that bursts forth and envelops the gardener and forces the transformation to that monster form that snarls and howls and towers over them.

Amami asks why he never attacked. Masked, bound, the man could be a gardener, a teacher, a person who tends to his tree and watches the days go by. Not an option for him anymore.

Meng Yao vc: arson ]

[welp

The moment the gardener starts to transform, Clamor reaches forward to yank Amami back by his shirt, and if Gundham is close by he's also getting yanked over. They are both getting out of swiping range and into the protective bubble, he's had enough of this shit for one day.

He nods to Lucifer, Meng Yao and Shinobu—leave the fighting to the fighters. He'll make room for them behind the barrier if needed, but his focus right now is on keeping the kids safe. Good luck with arson.]

( this is just to say that amami has been successfully yoinked back, and after the initial surprise passes, he's not looking too happy about it. he'll be obedient and quiet while he braces himself for what's to come, lips drawn in a thin line as he shoots meng yao in particular a frustrated look, but like, what's he gonna do about it? think about the choice words he's about to have for meng yao once they get out of here, he guesses. plain ass useless ass human ass.

anyway apparently arson time will not be stopped. )

[ ...The moment the shift happens Meng Yao realizes that he fucked up. He's become far used to resorting to violence more often than not, even if he can't even say that this place hasn't been slowly eating away at his sanity. But when he receives that look he feels he deserves it. If he was going to screw up he should've ensured Kazuki was at least completely dead instead of a threat.

He just accepts responsibility for his actions, hopping onto the sword, and flying up so he's around the rear end of the creature.

But since he's likely to be striking first, he'll utilize a fire talisman...followed up with an explosive one, hopefully to debilitate it further. There's enough mass in the first place that he can ensure that his allies won't get caught up in it, not to mention there's the barrier. ]

[ nooooo please, the mask was going to fall apart anyways. Meng Yao was just speeding things along, and he gets the first strike in because of that, fire erupting and catching the monster in its flames, bones of its mask reflecting the glow but in those sockets there is nothing but the deepest darkest black.

Claws lash out, scraping Clamor's barrier and slamming on the ground, and the monster raises them again— and digs its claws into the ground, holding itself within the flames and screaming all the while, a talisman bursting against its side, its limbs, its face, it crouches and holds on. ]

[Well folks

You know it

You love it

The only spell Lucifer apparently uses,

One (1) binding spell, aimed in particular at those claws so that maybe Clamor has to expend less effort against repelling attacks. Barriers only hold for so long where Lucifer comes from, after all. And, besides, if our clawed buddy swats at Meng Yao, that won't be good either.

Lucifer has approximately one use as a support caster.]

[ Amami: the lore!!!
group 1:

The binding spell brings the monster down immediately, without resistance, the monster lying flat on its side barely able to raise its head but it struggles enough to look at Meng Yao, to turn away and bare its throat. ]

( all these short-term ass thinkers... who will think of the lore!!

anyway, the strange behaviour doesn't escape amami's notice. all he can think of is the way kazuki had been in that garden, curled in on himself with his hands over his ears, the hollow feeling of guilt in his chest, and it's seriously stressing him out. he's not stupid enough to think he'll accomplish something by jumping out of the barrier and trying to play hero, but he does look to clamor, reaching out to grip other's arm if he doesn't notice amami. the look in his eyes is serious, urgent, and if clamor's gaze lingers he'll indicate kazuki's restrained form with a nod because. idk if the others are making noise and amami doesn't know if kazuki gets a choice in the matter of attacking people who do.

but whatever. clamor, you're the thousand-year old elf with magic, you're the spirit expert, so do something. put a wall around kazuki, cage him in, cut the others off, whatever — anything. he knows clamor didn't want to hurt him in the first place, this is their last chance to step in before someone takes this opportunity to learn anything about what they just saw for good. )

[It's hard not to catch on with how the creature—how Kazuki—is acting. This isn't a rampaging beast trying to kill them. This is...

He feels a hand on his arm, and Clamor tears his gaze away from the scene to look at Amami, eyes pleading. He doesn't have to say anything... he knows what he's thinking. And the sensible part of Clamor's brain says it's a terrible idea, they should just let this happen and sort out their regrets later, they've already made too many mistakes, it's too late to fix things now...

But he's never been a creature of logic. Clamor sighs, deep and weary.

The barrier ripples and fades... but after another moment of focus, of redirecting and shaping his magic, a fresh wall of light springs up between Kazuki and Meng Yao, dividing them. He'd like to surround Kazuki completely, but that would really be asking for too much... he'll have to settle for a wall to match the beast's height, wide enough for their group to stand behind safely. Lucifer's bindings should be enough to make up for the rest.]

This fight is already over. So talk. [he sounds exhausted in more ways than one, and he won't be chiming in any further for now. he's got a barrier to maintain.]

[ The monster roars from the other side of the barrier. It can't talk... It can't change back to talk, not like this.

Also it's probably a bad time for this but bits and pieces of Kazuki's situation were found inside the school, drawings and talismans and the fact that he was a teacher, once upon a time. ]

[ ... Okay, well, that is something that just happened.

When the creature bears its throat, Meng Yao hesitates, and then before he can think of doing anything else, the wall is up.

It's never quite a bad time for those things; though speaking of talismans, he did happen to have one of the binding talismans still saved, which he'll take out. He does jump down from his sword and properly sheathes it. ]

Edited 2021-08-26 00:03 (UTC)

[This is my response to say that Lucifer is here to let Clamor lean on him as needed because Clamor is tired and Lucifer is a ~~gay~~ stupid bird.

Other than that, he's maintaining the binding spell and he's not thinking about attacking, just kind of staring at everyone else like "please let this man die you're just making everything worse", not because he's wanting to show mercy for Kazuki or anything but more because he wants to go to bed.]

[ For all that Shinobu resents him for what he’s put them through, Kazuki is still… something. A living being. Whether he’s human or demon or something else entirely, she’s not sure, but she’s let that black-and-white binary dictate what she should do for too long.

What would her sister do? Kanae would reason that it wasn’t his fault, she thinks; maybe his hand was forced, she’d say, or maybe he was just scared. He never meant them any ill will. She purses her lips and frowns thoughtfully. ]

I don’t think he can. It doesn’t seem as though he’s much longer for this world.

[ She takes a step forward, wordlessly volunteering herself to do what she thinks has to be done. What else is there for them to do? With his voice pained and his throat bare, Kazuki’s practically begging for them to finish him off. ]

… I can put him to sleep.

( y'all are seriously testing his patience today. it's different — he gets that. the way her words come together, it's more like an offer to put him out of his misery than to make him suffer for any supposed threat he could pose. amami still doesn't like it, though. he gets it. he gets it, but it's been a whole minute; even if it were painful, if it were him, he'd still rather go out knowing that the people who did this were willing to make an effort for him, rather than having his end decided because of one rash decision made without even having the full picture.

he gives an extraordinarily big sigh. )

Sorry, but can you hold on that? ( god he is so tired. exhausted. he sounds it. ) I'm not going to say you can't do it if it's necessary, but you're all so quick to give up on things. I think it's clear we've misjudged him, so we owe Kazuki-san some consideration at least in this.

( cool your jets!! well, not that he can stop you, as has been shown. anyway, he'll shake is head and set his hands on his hips. )

That mask, you all saw how he tried to keep it from falling apart... This is our fault, so making him pay for it shouldn't be our first resort.

[ While everyone is sort of bickering and mulling over what the heck to do, Gundham is going to carefully step forward to the bound being. Now he truly knows why he was so fervent on trying to keep that mask up.

Gundham... is going to try something. Kazuki himself is not an animal, and he doesn't mean to call him one, but the beast form definitely seems akin to something similar. Gundham has been around animals for so long that he's learned to pick up on their personality and just guess what they're thinking based on very keen intuition. He's going to try to ask a yes or no question. ]

Will us binding you properly let you speak once more?

[ Gundham certainly didn't waste his own talismans either, he definitely has at least an extra. If Kazuki agrees. ]

arson time

this isnt arson :(

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anything can be arson if you try hard enough

oh moderately insane but understandable

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cw: eye... stuff

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lucifer looks so damn pleased with himself in that icon i'm losing it wolfie

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