cancry | New Wounds, Old Wounds [Locked]

[It's really not fair they're both in their armor because it means Lion is unlikely to feel it when Ruin slides his hand across the breadth of his shoulders as he turns, gets back to his feet.]

I am still learning, remember.

[But the lance feels familiar in his hands as he steps back a few feet, spinning the lance deftly between his fingers as he falls back into a ready position that Lion might find eerily similar to his own.]

Then consider this a learning experience.

[he notices the stance- even though their weapons have different uses, his own more for slashing, Ruin's more for stabbing- their basics are eerily similar. And he knows it is not some innate thing from being an Executor. Or else all the other polearms in their group would fight the same.

That and the similar construction of their weapons... Lion is not an idiot, and dread crawls in his guts]

Your lance is... interesting.

Edited 2020-12-29 23:18 (UTC)

[Ruin is all smirking bravado, waiting for Lion to face him, so the comment about his weapon throws him off. He's..... well he's been doing his damnedest not to even look at the damn thing. It freaks him out, honestly. The way it moves, the ruddy light it gives off giving everything around it the look of being bloodstained before anything has even happened.

For his part Ruin hasn't really seen anyone else's weapons just yet so it's not a logic leap he can make on his side. He merely shrugs, shifting his weight impatiently, trying not to think about the way the lance mimics him. Too eager for violence.

Maybe it's something he should think about... too bad it's not something he wants to.]

Creepy is more like it. Come on.

Fair enough.

["Later", he thinks, standing up and summoning his own. If Ruin's lance is like him then what does Lion's say? This massive unmoving thing. Like the corpse of some long dead monster.

Well, whatever. He makes his way over, falling into stance, his pensive expression falling away into something hungry.

He'll even let Ruin attack first- the tattered scraps of his better nature hoping that if it's retaliatory then the horrors coming could be justified.]

Edited 2020-12-30 15:23 (UTC)

[If it were a proper battle or a spar and not some strange sort of punishment Ruin would dance around the larger man, bait and poke and goad him into attacking first. Then he could use Lion's momentum against him, duck in beneath a swing, something. There's no way he's going to actually get a strike in, not like this. He knows it. But the point isn't to necessarily make contact with the first thrust, striking out towards Lion's forward leg, aiming for the break in the plates around his knee.

The point is to get Lion on the offensive and shatter that careful restraint.]

[If he had fought Ruin before he would have noticed the bait- but he hasn't, and the other man going for a joint was a sound tactic. Enough to ease Lion's fears that Ruin would simply submit.

So he easily smacks the point of the other lance away, careful to not hook the blade of his polearm in the swordbreaker-like protrusions along the end of the spear, and moves in to try and bring the butt of his weapon into play. Aiming for his torso and taking away the advantage of range both their weapons give them.

He has a feeling he can fight up close better than Ruin.]

[Considering Ruin's main ability at his point is summoning a ghost pony for ~~canto~~speed, agility, and keeping him elevated above his foes, well... yeah, fighting up close is not on his list of strong points. Especially not with a lance. He tries to pull back, to dodge out of the way but he realized what Lion intended too late and that blow knocks the wind out of him, sends him staggering back clumsily.

But it's not serious damage, not yet, and Ruin collects himself quickly, immediately making a mental note to keep himself closer, tighter, not to extend his reach so far. He coughs dramatically, grinning despite the way his breath wheezes a little. Now he'll wait for Lion to advance, holding his lance out but not fully extended, for a reason this time that's not just defense.

If he can time it right, deflect the inevitable arc of the blade he may be able to catch it in those protrusions (claws?) and if not break the other weapon possibly at least disarm Lion briefly.]

[Ruin pulling inward is smart- extending himself would be useless against a weapon of similar range wielded by someone physically stronger. It would come down to them poking at each other until one slipped up, and in pure power Lion had the advantage. This now forced Lion to be more aggressive, and open himself up to counters.

Of course, they both knew aggression was what Ruin was after anyway. But it was becoming hard for Lion keep that in mind. Ruin was clear with what he wanted, so the betrayal of a trick was a non issue.

He was just a target.

Lion does as expected and attacks. The wide bone blade of his polearm is easy to catch, but when twisted it doesn't fly from his hands. Instead it creaks in distress as Lion holds on, grinning darkly as his foe before attempting to twist as well... even though Ruin has the better leverage.]

[Better leverage doesn't always mean a lot against superior strength and Ruin is startled by the fact that Lion is even able to keep his grip.]

You-?

[A breathless gasp but Ruin has to think quickly because, despite the heavy material, their weapons were not indestructible. Lion might be willing to sacrifice his blade but Ruin is not and in the end that's what pushes him to release the staff.

He uses it, though, instead of just letting go and dodging aside he flings it into the turn Lion is trying to force, sending the butt of the weapon flying at the blond's face, pulled faster by the tension on his own weapon. Ruin, for his part, darts back a few paces, in the direction it would be hardest for Lion to charge into. Let the other man take a moment to reorient himself, Ruin would try to dart in to retrieve his weapon as soon as he could.]

[The end of the spear smacks Lion in the face, making him bellow in surprise- his one eye tearing up from the shock. He's shaking his head to clear the ringing when Ruin darts over, but he can still HEAR him well enough and swipes his weapon down like a headman's axe where he can blurrily see the other weapon landed.

Thankfully he can barely see, so the aim isn't the best. But do be careful, Ruin]

[If that hadn't landed so neatly in Lion's face Ruin would be in a lot of trouble. As it is he still grunts with pain when the other's lance comes down on the back of his shoulder but if it had been his arm or, Goddess forbid, his wrist it would undoubtedly be broken, armored or not.]

Damn! [Ground out between clenched teeth as he rolls to the side, ducking away from the other man, fingers barely catching his weapon and sending it skittering along the ground after him so he can bring it up once he's back on his feet.]

[Luckily Lion doesn't press his advantage, but it seems to be due to the knock to his head more than any mercy. Even when his eye stops watering the ringing continues. The throbbing headache that's lingered for days us pouring behind his eyesocket.

Thoughts (or voices) swirl around his head- Ruin used a relic. Ruin fought like him. Ruinruinruin-

He curses and shoved the spinning thoughts away to try and focus on what's actually happening in reality, eye looking for Ruin, weapon up in preparation ]

Edited 2021-01-01 20:19 (UTC)

[He needs to be faster but he's not entirely sure he has it in him. Not without his horse. As much as he'd talked about wanting Lion to hit him, now that he's felt the other man's strength he's beginning to wonder if that was a wise idea.

But then... they're dead, right? What does it even matter.]

That all ya got? [A shit eating grin even as unease churns in his stomach and he reaches out just enough to tap the point of his lance against Lions, just below the bone blade of it. It's a taunt, baiting him. A tease. He's riiight here, come get him~]

[Lion taps back, in a gesture that might be friendly, comradely, any other time. But that cruel look on Lion's face ruins (ha) any companionable feeling that might grow here.]

You can't handle everything I have, Ruin.

[He pauses, thinking before stepping back, spinning his weapon]

Or... is that what you want? What you can't handle?

[He swings, using a large amount of his strength, curious if Ruin will dodge, will block... or will take it]

Edited 2021-01-03 00:45 (UTC)

[It's a very strange feeling. Seeing Lion's frequently gentle expression twist into something so cruel, something violent and unforgiving...

And having it directed at him with all that sudden boastful confidence. It would be absolutely hot as hell if it wasn't also terrifying.

Well, maybe it still was but that sort of made it worse. In fact, he's so distracted by it that he doesn't actually register the shift from Lion living up to his name, toying with him like a mouse, and a serious attack. He doesn't have time to dodge and he barely manages not to completely fumble his lance. Still the attempt at blocking barely manages to take any of the impact and just trying to absorb it has Ruin's wrist screaming in protest.

A shouted curse as he fumbles back, staggering, clearly off kilter and open for a follow up attack.]

[ 'I've made my point.' he thinks, remembering Chiron's advice, his conversation with Wolfsbane, everything he's tried to make himself be.

Yet somehow he's tossing his lance aside, running into Ruin's wide open defenses, and closing his gauntleted hands around his throat.

... he doesn't squeeze- no pressure on his windpipe. But his metal claws tickle skin as he lightly presses his thumbpads against Ruin's jugular- just enough to make the pulse fight for it]

... is that all you've got?

[Mimicking Ruin's taunt back at him]

[For a moment Ruin just stares up at the blond, well and truly afraid, hazel eyes wide. He swallows hard and there's a fleeting moment of panic. Sure there are ways to get away, Lion's not even really holding him, not even trying... and that's nothing short of infuriating.

But Lion has hit him... hurt him even, but not stabbed him so he can't quite bring himself to retaliate in the most effective way. Instead he grits his teeth, half snarls at the other man, not exactly out of intimidation but in pain as his wrist protests. But he rolls the lance in his hand over so it is the butt that he slams up under one of Lion's raised arms, into the necessary gap in the plating.

One solid pop of his lance into all the many, many nerves that run through the underside of the shoulder joint, possibly even hard enough to dislocate it if the armor weren't anchoring it in place. But certainly enough to make the blond lose feeling in his arm for long enough for Ruin to get away.]

[In all honesty, he likely wouldn't have needed the strike to get away, Lion wanting that look in his eyes more than to actually strangle him or tear his head free.

But of course, Ruin wouldn't know that, and the hit to his underarm makes him bellow, stumbling back and his arm flaring with pain and numbness in turns. He nearly doubles over with the shock of it, feeling queasy. Still, he noticed-]

Ha... you did not use the spearhead...

[He's eyeing his fellow Executor, looking a bit impressed with his skill and surprising mercy, even while panting in clear agony]

[Once he has a bit of space Ruin transfers the Lance to his off hand, gritting his teeth against the pain in his wrist.]

I told you to hit me, not- [Not kill him, not push Ruin to the point of needing to seriously maim the other man just to get away. But then... did it matter? Lion certainly didn't seem to mind even though he was in a good deal of pain right now.]

Heh... having fun? [Half taunt and half... honest question. This is what the blond really wants, isn't it. Pain and violence, someone smaller and weaker to suffer under his hands. Big brother indeed. He made an attempt at having a plan, doing something stupid and wasteful and all it got was embarrassment and conflict. So maybe it is best if he sticks to things like this.

He makes a pretty decent punching bag when need be.

Which is what drives him to lunge at Lion again and this time it is the head of the weapon that strikes out at the side seam of his armor, aiming under his deadened arm.]

[He opens his mouth to answer- certainly Ruin deserves an answer- but the attack distracts him. He manages to dodge to the side, though the spines of the spear still scrape against his armor. Makes his arm ache even more. He grunts in pain, glaring]

... no. I'm not.

[Lion doesn't come at him, though... and Ruin, honestly doesn't know how to deal with it. There's still something there. Some sort of tension, a charge in the air between them. It's unsettling. Something has to give.

But what?

Without retaliation Ruin just sort of stalls, all the momentum of the attack, all that tension brought abruptly to a halt. He tilts his head, eyeing the blond warily... but for once his damn fool mouth stays shut.]

[Feeling is starting to return to his arm, but it's not enough to wield his weapon properly. Still, he resummons it to his weaker hand, letting its blade drag on the ground]

In the heat of things I... lose myself. So yes, I suppose some part of me does relish it. But after...

[he shakes his head, lifting his weapon to point at Ruin]

Nevermind it, I won't try and excuse what I am. Not to you... the only one here who has noticed. Let's finish this and be done- you may even kill me if you wish, it wouldn't be unjustified.

[His serious expression slips back into that feral smirk before he charges, his weapon a wide but powerful swing due to having to use it like a club rather than a knight's weapon]

[How can one person be so confusing? Talking about himself like he's a monster but then refusing to make any excuses, offering his life in exchange for... for what? Doing what Ruin has been goading him into all night?]

... kill you?

[He barely has time to shake his head, to realize what Lion means to do... and he huffs a little amused breath, smirks slightly, wry and resigned. No. If anyone here deserves to be killed for their callousness it wasn't Lion.

The Lance has barely left his fingertips, falling uselessly to the ground when Lion's weapon slams into his arm, his side. It knocks the wind out of him and throws him off his feet, tumbling to the ground in a tangle of limbs and another shout of pain. Lion may well have felt something snap beneath that blow.]

[He did, and his guts scream for him to leap upon his downed foe. Not just his guts, but the ringing is now full-on screaming. Demanding-

-but he is not the man he was. Or at least, he doesn't want to be. And seeing Ruin drop his weapon right before the blow struck true is enough to make him pull his follow-up attack to the side. The blade of his lance buries into the ground next to Ruin's torso, Lion panting above him, eye wide and glazed but, still somehow, aware]

... ah... I thought... hm. It's your own ruin, isn't it? Not mine.

[He's rambling a bit, but steps back, yanking his weapon free and then tossing it away, wavering on his feet but making no further move to attack. In fact, his armor dissolves, his drive to battle leaking out like pneuma from a fresh wound.]

Are you satisfied now?

[Isn't it?

Hazel eyes go wide, stunned and for a moment he feels sick to hear it spoken so plainly. He hardly has time to really look at it too closely though because Lion shifts like he means to stand. There's a flutter of panic in his gut, hands already reaching for the other man before he has a plan of what to do.

He just knows it can't end like this. Not when he finally, finally, is seen by someone. Something it feels like he's been waiting for all his life. Maybe he has?

Still its not so much a decision as it is a reaction, reaching out to grab Lion by the hair, wrenching him back down as Ruin surges up to crash their lips together.]

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cw: psychosis

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I feel like there should be more CWs here... these assholes are fucked up okay guys

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