[attr="class","ooc"][break]

BY GUNSMILE

[attr="class","kazu1"]

[attr="class","kazu2"]The state of his partner coaxed a concerned frown from the mute man. What has happened here? While he is no stranger to pain, it is the first time he’s been partnered with someone in such a state. “Hm.” With a frown, he immediately undoes his windbreaker. He offers it to Xenon with an insistent push. While it would not heal her injuries, the jacket might provide some protection against further scratches.
[break][break]
Unfortunately, there is nothing he can do for the woman’s stalwart companions. To each of them, he offers a single, respectful nod. Whether the jacket is taken or not, he will listen to her in typical silence. Golden eyes slid toward the target location. After a momentary hesitation, Kazuya ‘speaks’. His lips, however, are pressed into a tight frown. “It is a DRK Triad base.” As something he never said in real life, the acronym is stilted and static. He does not know much of these people, only that they stood against his allegiance.
[break][break]
Then, the young woman eradicates his first impression. She is not some tired, limping young lady. It is a predator who displays those scars with pride. A person who fought through hell itself to stand before this place. Perhaps a bit of a fanatic who hungered for blood as much as the creatures beside her.
[break][break]
There are many questions he wishes to ask. Perhaps to clarify the circumstances of this young woman’s stance. Had these people destroyed her homeland? Committed some unspeakable act? Instead, he settles for a single, powerful question. “Why?” There were ways to neutralize enemies without spilling blood. That sort of indiscriminate slaughter only served to extend the cycle of violence.
[break][break]
Beside him, even the normally gregarious Bewear looks unnerved. The pair share a wordless glance as Kazuya rearranges the pack upon his back.

[attr="class","notes"]NOTES[break]
Xenon Antheil

[attr="class","ooc"][break]

BY GUNSMILE

[attr="class","kazu1"]

[attr="class","kazu2"]This girl was…interesting. Her body seems to have seen many battles. Her personality meanwhile, reminds him of a small, bitey dog. A total terror in a package that didn’t seem to fit. “I won’t.” Doing so wouldn’t get his jacket back. Besides, he had more than one of those things. All week? That sounds dangerous. Perhaps it was a lack of sleep making her behave this way? The frontier of the future? “What are you after?”[break][break]

Hm. The way the girl cracks her neck gives him the creeps. It reminds him of a doll in a horror movie. Perhaps an angry Banette. But it is her implications of humor that make him pause. “Mm.” The man took a shaky breath. “It was not a joke.” He knows the cost of war. And that death could be the kinder, preferable fate.
[break][break]

The rapid way these Paradox Pokemon heal holds his attention for a moment. It is a truly wondrous act of science. Something he’d call magic in a different life.[break][break]


And, at the end of the day, most people fought for a reason. But, perhaps this girl was right, most deaths were the result of self-preservation. There was little time for idealized thoughts in battle. After trying to come up with a fitting response, he merely nods. It did not seem as if he could change this woman’s mind.[break][break]


Checking to make sure his Pokemon follow, Kazuya begins the journey to the base in the distance. As they draw near, his eyes catch on a beacon of light. His eyes widen. “Get down!” The concerned shout is quiet, toned down by the device at his side. A big hand reaches to tug Xenon down as the Zap Cannon tears through the air above him.
[break][break]

It seemed they had a fight on their hand. Good. They could do it her way.

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[attr="class","notes"]NOTES[break]
Xenon Antheil

[attr="class","ooc"][break]

BY GUNSMILE

[attr="class","kazu1"]

[attr="class","kazu2"]The woman’s words earn another acknowledging nod. That belief reminded him of an oxen, plodding forward across a barren field. If such beasts had the temperament of hibernating bears. But the Tauros did not plow for its own goals. It charged forward because someone cracked the whip. Not content to deem her crazy, the mercenary tried again. “I’m referring to the destination, not the path.” Certainly, these people were opposed to them, but that did not explain why she forced her way through.
[break][break]“Unown?” Kazuya laughs. Golden eyes probe the distant settlement, but he does not see any sign of those creatures. “There are only so many letters, Miss Xenon.”
[break][break]
Unown looked like something he could break with his teeth. His lips perk upward as he pushes himself back to his feet. Her orders seem sound, and he knows better than to argue with a woman like this.
[break][break]
“Understood.” A quick roll of his shoulders and he’s bolting after her. As to objections? “The plan’s simple enough!” He shook his head. “I will just be the one drawing fire.” As the larger target, he figured they’d fire on him first. From that distance, Xenon looked pretty harmless. You couldn’t see madness that far. Dropping his hands to his belt, the mercenary races forward.
[break][break]

A Seed Bomb explodes at his speed. But with a quick wipe of his face, he’s off again. For a big guy, he’s pretty nimble. Two of his party members join him as he flanks in. First is his Magnezone, Konsento. It draws in the metal projectiles fired, sending the bullets back in a haphazard spray. Second, is a giant wall of jolly Mamoswine. “Destroy the wall!” With the Magnezone acting as a shield, the pachyderm charges in. The structure shakes as one of the snipers teeters on her perch.
[break][break]
CRACK! Her neck snaps on impact. As he looks to the East, Kazuya cannot help but think her lucky. Something told him Xenon liked to play with her food.
[break]
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[attr="class","notes"]NOTES[break]
Xenon Antheil

[attr="class","ooc"][break]

BY GUNSMILE

[attr="class","kazu1"]

[attr="class","kazu2"]On the surface, it almost makes sense. People loved words like equality. Heck, it’d be nice if he’d had the same start as the rich kids up the street in Lavaport. But then the cracks in the tale become visible. “Pretty sure that’s just anarchy with extra steps.” And, last he checked, no one was stopping them from doing that now. The termites just had a hive to defend themselves.
[break][break]

The Mamoswine backs out of its tower entanglement. Wires and metal tresses wrap around his head like some steel magnate’s crown. It turns to face its trainer with indecision in its eyes. “Chase em off.” Kazuya pauses to close the young woman’s eyes. If he had alcohol on him, he’d have poured a glass out. After a moment, he rises to his feet. “Peace be with you.”

[break][break]

Out of the corner of his eyes, he sees Unown begin to crowd his elephant. Its tusks batter them out of the way, its teleportation tricks a lot harder on something the size of an SUV. For a moment, he pauses to watch Xenon wreak her own brand of destruction. “And you’d be okay with that?” A bloodied hand reaches for his boot, streaking it red. Judging by the fact that half the soldier is gone, there’s only one kindness here. “Starting over?”[break][break]



Natsu crushes the man’s head with a powerful Hammer Arm.

[break][break]

He might not want them to die, but he could make sure they did it well. As he stares out at the sea of destruction, he sighs. He’s heard a lot about these guys. They’re made out to be the next apocalypse. But under all that is just people. “So much for DARK.” Maybe the mythicism around these guys was bunk.

[attr="class","notes"]NOTES[break]
Xenon Antheil

[attr="class","ooc"][break]

BY GUNSMILE