[Food is food, and Leon knows he has to eat to keep his strength up. He can't pass out from hunger in a place like this, when he has so much left he has to do.
So he follows, and Chal will just... pick up the conversation, since Leon's going to remain stubbornly silent.
"Have you been alright out here...? There are a lot of dangerous things, aren't there?"]
[Another time, perhaps, and Namazuo would've teased Leon, working to get him to open up just a little bit. But not now. Not after everything he's seen over the past few days.
But there's no need to let them know how tired he is, physically and emotionally. Leon would be even less willing to accept his help then, he thinks, and he doesn't want to make Chal worry. The little sword needs to focus on his master, right now. So he nods, loose hair cascading over his shoulders.]
Yes, there are... I've been able to take them down, but only long enough to run. [Which is probably the most frustrating thing about all this--their enemies just won't stay down.] I'm alright, though. What about you two?
[That's been Leon's experience as well, which is why he just makes a noise in acknowledgement; Chal follows it up with, "Us too... Usually we can take on anything, but these monsters just keep putting themselves back together."
It's frustrating for the both of them, but Leon has at least learned to not pick fights he can't win.
After a long, arduous handful of experiences.]
...Have you seen any of your companions?
[Leon's...well, he's a little worried for Kashuu, honestly, but he'll never say so.]
[Namazuo nods, stifling a sigh. He'd been hoping that Leon might've had better luck, but it seems no one has figured out how to kill them yet. There's nothing more to be said about it, then.
There was one in the vicinity of the building he's headed to--if he listens hard, he can hear the scrape of metal even from here. But it can't be helped. They'll dodge, and fight if they have to. Between the two of them, it shouldn't be an issue.]
Mm, here and there. [He's not sure who all Leon knows, so he decides to play it safe and mention everyone he's seen. The list is frighteningly short.] I saw Kashuu-kun underground, a few days ago, I think? Back towards the beginning of this. And I saw Mikazuki-san and Tsurumaru-san more recently, up here.
[He pauses to peer around a corner, and there's only a moment of hesitation before he returns the question.] Have you seen any of them?
[None of the other names matter to him--it's just Kashuu, and now Namazuo a little bit, who he's met and cares about even if just a little. Even if that's something he won't admit either. And... so to hear that Kashuu has been around is a positive thing.]
No.
[He's been unlucky in general, because he's looking for--]
...Have you seen someone with too much blond hair, and a vacant expression that makes it clear that there are absolutely no thoughts in his head? ... He is usually smiling.
[...]
His name is Stahn.
[Thanks, Leon. He's focused enough on this that he doesn't notice that some of those scraping metallic noises are coming closer, either.]
[For a minute, Namazuo is silent, turning to stare at Leon. Then his shoulders begin to shake, and he starts to laugh.
How many days has it been since he had a reason to laugh? Too many, it feels like, and he's a little too slow in lifting a hand to press against his mouth. Leaning back, he slumps against the wall, but he's smiling even when the giggles subside.]
Ah... Leon-san is a good friend. [To Stahn, he means, if he can describe him like that.] I haven't, I'm sorry. But if I do, I'll tell him you're looking for him.
[STOP, LEON... the laughter is already bubbling up in his throat again, but Namazuo valiantly fights against it. He pushes himself back up off the wall, and it's as though some of the weight of the last few days has been lifted-- he looks just a little more like himself now.]
Does he have a sword too? It's a little bit easier for me to sense other spirits. [hi chal hiiii]
<>small[Leon, you're adorable. Nama's gonna gossip with Kashuu later, just you wait.]
Alright, I'll let you know if I feel anything similar to Chal-kun. [Nothing right now, though... once again, Namazuo wishes Haru was here with them. He'd be far more helpful in this situation.
But for now, it's just them. Them, and the scraping of metal that's growing uncomfortably loud. They've lingered here too long.
Namazuo immediately slips back into sortie mode, peering around the corner. As subtly as he can, he points to a building just barely visible from their position--the only thing remarkable about it is how much roof it has left.] Across this street, over there. Quickly.
But Leon's immediately on his guard as well at the louder scraping of metal; he frowns, drawing Chal, and nods shortly. Immediately, he starts to head that way--only to jump back immediately, flinching. A large, metallic hand crashes into the ground before him, barely avoided, and Leon hisses out a short--]
Tch!
[He lifts his sword, but Chal's attention is on something else, something behind them.
"Namazuo, look out!"
Two on two odds are suddenly really not looking so good.]
But that's definitely not good. Namazuo's expression doesn't change, but inwardly, he's worried. How had that creature gotten so close without him noticing? Has he slipped that low? If Leon had been any slower...
His focus is on Leon, and he adjusts his grip on his vessel, ready to step forward and help him fight. But his fatigue, combined with all the little damages he's taken over the past few days, have his reflexes downright sluggish compared to their usual levels.
He spins around, leaping back, but the machine monster is faster. One of its limbs--a hand? a mouth?--catches him squarely in the side, knocking him across the ground like a rag doll.]
Nngh...!
[It takes longer than he he'd like to admit to get back on his feet, but he manages, wiping blood from his mouth. Damage to these bodies may not last, but it still hurts like hell.
There are more pressing concerns, though. Between the two of them, they could've handled one--he's sure of that. But two? When he's damaged and fatigued and Leon hasn't eaten in days?]
[That looked bad, and Leon doesn't like the sound of that at all. He's immediately turning to look when Namazuo is swatted aside like a fly, but then he has to jump back quickly to avoid the monster in front of him again. He stumbles over the treacherous, rubble and refuse covered ground, and then desperately turns to look again.]
You must be joking!
[He lifts Chal, grimacing, and casts his arte--it's just a pillar of stone rising from the earth, but it slams into the monster in front of him, momentarily knocking it off balance.]
[Namazuo has his own hands full. He winces as he lifts his vessel, and a quick glance shows an ugly scratch down the middle of his blade. That's... not good. Their options are dwindling rapidly, and if they don't do something fast, neither of them are going to make it out of this.
Gritting his teeth, he lunges forward, slashing at the leg closest to him. It hurts, and he's pushing his luck just by using his damaged vessel, he knows. But Leon is human. Leon has Chal to look after. Leon's searching for a friend. If this fight goes the way he thinks it will, he can't let Leon get himself killed by pride.
With another slash, he slides over, and aims a kick at Leon's side. It's not hard, but it's enough to nudge him in the right direction--and a promise, if sorts, that he still has strength left in him.]
[Pride, or concern for his companion--or both, maybe. Either way, Leon's wavering for a long moment, despite the kick sending him staggering a good few steps forward (he is small and frail, in a lot of ways). But it's the promise that Namazuo will follow that gets Leon to hiss out an annoyed breath.
He understands that sometimes it's necessary to retreat.
This is one of those times.
So he starts to run, and...trusts that Namazuo really will follow.]
[For his part, Namazuo does intend to follow. He doesn't like to lie, not unless it's absolutely necessary, and he's no paragon of selflessness and sacrifice. More than anything, he's a victim of his own optimism--he hopes beyond hope that they'll both make it out of this.
That hope lasts until he makes it out into the street.
As he runs, the two creatures are naturally drawn to Leon, but Namazuo had expected that. As soon as they turn to follow, he's there, slashing at whatever he can reach to draw their attention back to him. Just long enough for Leon to make it to safety, he thinks. Just long enough that they don't see where he's gone. He won't be able to take them down in this state, he knows, but he's faster than they are, and he can lose them in the side streets before he doubles back to join Leon. So he grits his teeth against the pain of steel on scrap metal and fights with all his strength.
When he deems Leon is safely out of whatever passes for their minds, he stumbles out into the street--the wider space will make it easier to dart around them. But over all the screeching and crashing and blood rushing through his ears, he hadn't noticed the second monster gearing up for a different sort of attack. It's there, and it's ready for him, and maybe another time, he would've been prepared-- but not now.
It catches him as soon as he steps out, and the hit from before seems feather-soft compared to this. Something like a claw slams down on top of him, and he hits the ground hard, crying out. He can't slip out or twist away, and it's pure desperation that keeps his vessel from flying out of his hand. He looks up, faced with a cat that's bored of playing with its prey, and for the first time, the true reality of the situation sets in.
He's not going to make it out of this.
The monster he'd been fighting lumbers out to join its companion, and the one blessing in all of this is that it seems to have forgotten Leon. The head twists, metal grinding, and slowly, slowly, begins to come down towards him. And as it does, Namazuo sees what he has to do.
Hunh. Who would've thought it would end like this?
Taking a deep breath, Namazuo goes limp, everything about him signaling defeat. His grip on his vessel is loose, and he watches the face draw closer and closer, ready, no doubt, to examine its prize. He waits until it's right in front of him, until the wires tickle his face and sharp metal cuts into his skin-- he waits, and waits, and when the claw pinning him down begins to pull away, that's when he finally strikes.
Quick as a viper, he jams his sword into the creature's neck, wedging it as deeply as it will go. Then he pulls, dragging it through metal and broken concrete and whatever else makes a monster. His blade isn't meant for this kind of thing--tears well up in his eyes as his true body begins to bend, his skin tearing beneath his clothes. The monster makes a sound, something like a shriek, and pulls away from him. Biting down on his lip, Namazuo forces himself to sit up, and with the last of his strength, he yanks his sword through the remnants of its neck.
He feels his blade snap almost before it does. The monster screams, or maybe that's his own voice--he can't tell anymore. But through a haze of pain, he watches it collapse, and then--
He really should have known better than to have faith.
When has believing in other people ever gone well for him? When has it ever led to something good? No. Never. It's always...always been something like this, a painful situation, and losing something he didn't want to lose, and he doesn't know why he believed, but he wanted to--
And it hurts.
He ran, because he believed, and because Namazuo seemed like the sort who believed too, and that was the fatal flaw. As soon as he was out of range of the first monster, he slows, and then he sees the second double back--he turns then in a panic, because he knows what that means. If both of them are focused on Namazuo, there's no way this can go well. Even a sword can't handle too many enemies.
Especially enemies made of metal and junk, instead of flesh. Swords were never made to fight things like this.
And it's not enough.
The scene he comes across is a disaster, and he'd known it would be. He hates that he'd known it would be. He hates that he was right.
Immediately, he's lunging forward, but it's with cold, calculated fury. He can process what happened later. Right now, he knows he has a task he has to accomplish--he has to grab those pieces of Namazuo's vessel, the broken, snapped sword, and he has to do it without dying. Dying now would just be a mockery of what he's done.
He makes use of every arte he can as he ducks and avoids the other monster still alive, and he knows he has to hurry--the previous monster is slowly piecing itself back together, and it seems cruel, really, that this would be the ending someone like Namazuo would face for no good reason at all.
But he just clenches his teeth, and he utilizes every skill, every bit of strength, and when he escapes the mass of monster limbs, he's more bruised, but he has Namazuo's vessel in his hands, both pieces held tightly. He'll... carry them, until they fade away if they do here, or until he can return them, or until whatever happens to them happens.
But he couldn't just leave them there, and as he starts to limp his way away again, bitter and pained, he knows--
He shouldn't have trusted a single word he'd said.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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So he follows, and Chal will just... pick up the conversation, since Leon's going to remain stubbornly silent.
"Have you been alright out here...? There are a lot of dangerous things, aren't there?"]
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But there's no need to let them know how tired he is, physically and emotionally. Leon would be even less willing to accept his help then, he thinks, and he doesn't want to make Chal worry. The little sword needs to focus on his master, right now. So he nods, loose hair cascading over his shoulders.]
Yes, there are... I've been able to take them down, but only long enough to run. [Which is probably the most frustrating thing about all this--their enemies just won't stay down.] I'm alright, though. What about you two?
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It's frustrating for the both of them, but Leon has at least learned to not pick fights he can't win.
After a long, arduous handful of experiences.]
...Have you seen any of your companions?
[Leon's...well, he's a little worried for Kashuu, honestly, but he'll never say so.]
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There was one in the vicinity of the building he's headed to--if he listens hard, he can hear the scrape of metal even from here. But it can't be helped. They'll dodge, and fight if they have to. Between the two of them, it shouldn't be an issue.]
Mm, here and there. [He's not sure who all Leon knows, so he decides to play it safe and mention everyone he's seen. The list is frighteningly short.] I saw Kashuu-kun underground, a few days ago, I think? Back towards the beginning of this. And I saw Mikazuki-san and Tsurumaru-san more recently, up here.
[He pauses to peer around a corner, and there's only a moment of hesitation before he returns the question.] Have you seen any of them?
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No.
[He's been unlucky in general, because he's looking for--]
...Have you seen someone with too much blond hair, and a vacant expression that makes it clear that there are absolutely no thoughts in his head? ... He is usually smiling.
[...]
His name is Stahn.
[Thanks, Leon. He's focused enough on this that he doesn't notice that some of those scraping metallic noises are coming closer, either.]
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How many days has it been since he had a reason to laugh? Too many, it feels like, and he's a little too slow in lifting a hand to press against his mouth. Leaning back, he slumps against the wall, but he's smiling even when the giggles subside.]
Ah... Leon-san is a good friend. [To Stahn, he means, if he can describe him like that.] I haven't, I'm sorry. But if I do, I'll tell him you're looking for him.
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But he does bristle at that, unsurprisingly.]
What are you talking about? I am not!
[Not a good friend............ ok sure.]
... But yes, see to it that you do. He is someone I have to search for.
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Does he have a sword too? It's a little bit easier for me to sense other spirits. [hi chal hiiii]
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He does. His Swordian's name is Dymlos.
[So... so if you can sense that, that'd be spectacular.]
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Alright, I'll let you know if I feel anything similar to Chal-kun. [Nothing right now, though... once again, Namazuo wishes Haru was here with them. He'd be far more helpful in this situation.
But for now, it's just them. Them, and the scraping of metal that's growing uncomfortably loud. They've lingered here too long.
Namazuo immediately slips back into sortie mode, peering around the corner. As subtly as he can, he points to a building just barely visible from their position--the only thing remarkable about it is how much roof it has left.] Across this street, over there. Quickly.
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But Leon's immediately on his guard as well at the louder scraping of metal; he frowns, drawing Chal, and nods shortly. Immediately, he starts to head that way--only to jump back immediately, flinching. A large, metallic hand crashes into the ground before him, barely avoided, and Leon hisses out a short--]
Tch!
[He lifts his sword, but Chal's attention is on something else, something behind them.
"Namazuo, look out!"
Two on two odds are suddenly really not looking so good.]
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But that's definitely not good. Namazuo's expression doesn't change, but inwardly, he's worried. How had that creature gotten so close without him noticing? Has he slipped that low? If Leon had been any slower...
His focus is on Leon, and he adjusts his grip on his vessel, ready to step forward and help him fight. But his fatigue, combined with all the little damages he's taken over the past few days, have his reflexes downright sluggish compared to their usual levels.
He spins around, leaping back, but the machine monster is faster. One of its limbs--a hand? a mouth?--catches him squarely in the side, knocking him across the ground like a rag doll.]
Nngh...!
[It takes longer than he he'd like to admit to get back on his feet, but he manages, wiping blood from his mouth. Damage to these bodies may not last, but it still hurts like hell.
There are more pressing concerns, though. Between the two of them, they could've handled one--he's sure of that. But two? When he's damaged and fatigued and Leon hasn't eaten in days?]
Leon-san, get inside! Hurry!
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You must be joking!
[He lifts Chal, grimacing, and casts his arte--it's just a pillar of stone rising from the earth, but it slams into the monster in front of him, momentarily knocking it off balance.]
I am not running away like a coward!
[He is not leaving you behind.]
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Gritting his teeth, he lunges forward, slashing at the leg closest to him. It hurts, and he's pushing his luck just by using his damaged vessel, he knows. But Leon is human. Leon has Chal to look after. Leon's searching for a friend. If this fight goes the way he thinks it will, he can't let Leon get himself killed by pride.
With another slash, he slides over, and aims a kick at Leon's side. It's not hard, but it's enough to nudge him in the right direction--and a promise, if sorts, that he still has strength left in him.]
Go! I'll follow!
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He understands that sometimes it's necessary to retreat.
This is one of those times.
So he starts to run, and...trusts that Namazuo really will follow.]
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That hope lasts until he makes it out into the street.
As he runs, the two creatures are naturally drawn to Leon, but Namazuo had expected that. As soon as they turn to follow, he's there, slashing at whatever he can reach to draw their attention back to him. Just long enough for Leon to make it to safety, he thinks. Just long enough that they don't see where he's gone. He won't be able to take them down in this state, he knows, but he's faster than they are, and he can lose them in the side streets before he doubles back to join Leon. So he grits his teeth against the pain of steel on scrap metal and fights with all his strength.
When he deems Leon is safely out of whatever passes for their minds, he stumbles out into the street--the wider space will make it easier to dart around them. But over all the screeching and crashing and blood rushing through his ears, he hadn't noticed the second monster gearing up for a different sort of attack. It's there, and it's ready for him, and maybe another time, he would've been prepared-- but not now.
It catches him as soon as he steps out, and the hit from before seems feather-soft compared to this. Something like a claw slams down on top of him, and he hits the ground hard, crying out. He can't slip out or twist away, and it's pure desperation that keeps his vessel from flying out of his hand. He looks up, faced with a cat that's bored of playing with its prey, and for the first time, the true reality of the situation sets in.
He's not going to make it out of this.
The monster he'd been fighting lumbers out to join its companion, and the one blessing in all of this is that it seems to have forgotten Leon. The head twists, metal grinding, and slowly, slowly, begins to come down towards him. And as it does, Namazuo sees what he has to do.
Hunh. Who would've thought it would end like this?
Taking a deep breath, Namazuo goes limp, everything about him signaling defeat. His grip on his vessel is loose, and he watches the face draw closer and closer, ready, no doubt, to examine its prize. He waits until it's right in front of him, until the wires tickle his face and sharp metal cuts into his skin-- he waits, and waits, and when the claw pinning him down begins to pull away, that's when he finally strikes.
Quick as a viper, he jams his sword into the creature's neck, wedging it as deeply as it will go. Then he pulls, dragging it through metal and broken concrete and whatever else makes a monster. His blade isn't meant for this kind of thing--tears well up in his eyes as his true body begins to bend, his skin tearing beneath his clothes. The monster makes a sound, something like a shriek, and pulls away from him. Biting down on his lip, Namazuo forces himself to sit up, and with the last of his strength, he yanks his sword through the remnants of its neck.
He feels his blade snap almost before it does. The monster screams, or maybe that's his own voice--he can't tell anymore. But through a haze of pain, he watches it collapse, and then--
That's enough. This is enough.]
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He really should have known better than to have faith.
When has believing in other people ever gone well for him? When has it ever led to something good? No. Never. It's always...always been something like this, a painful situation, and losing something he didn't want to lose, and he doesn't know why he believed, but he wanted to--
And it hurts.
He ran, because he believed, and because Namazuo seemed like the sort who believed too, and that was the fatal flaw. As soon as he was out of range of the first monster, he slows, and then he sees the second double back--he turns then in a panic, because he knows what that means. If both of them are focused on Namazuo, there's no way this can go well. Even a sword can't handle too many enemies.
Especially enemies made of metal and junk, instead of flesh. Swords were never made to fight things like this.
And it's not enough.
The scene he comes across is a disaster, and he'd known it would be. He hates that he'd known it would be. He hates that he was right.
Immediately, he's lunging forward, but it's with cold, calculated fury. He can process what happened later. Right now, he knows he has a task he has to accomplish--he has to grab those pieces of Namazuo's vessel, the broken, snapped sword, and he has to do it without dying. Dying now would just be a mockery of what he's done.
He makes use of every arte he can as he ducks and avoids the other monster still alive, and he knows he has to hurry--the previous monster is slowly piecing itself back together, and it seems cruel, really, that this would be the ending someone like Namazuo would face for no good reason at all.
But he just clenches his teeth, and he utilizes every skill, every bit of strength, and when he escapes the mass of monster limbs, he's more bruised, but he has Namazuo's vessel in his hands, both pieces held tightly. He'll... carry them, until they fade away if they do here, or until he can return them, or until whatever happens to them happens.
But he couldn't just leave them there, and as he starts to limp his way away again, bitter and pained, he knows--
He shouldn't have trusted a single word he'd said.]