paixaorpg | Brotherly Interventions [Active/Closed]

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Brotherly Interventions [Active/Closed]

Character(s): Zidane and Kuja, later Scar and Dagger
Content: Kuja can't just go around blowing people up, y'know.
Setting: Cea de Mouraria
Time: Afternoon
Warnings: Violence, yelling, Scar being a douche....

Zidane took a few moments to compose himself before he started his search for Kuja, having a vague idea of where he should be. He told Dagger that he'd be out on errands and left before she could question him about it - he... he knew she could protect herself, but he was worried about her being there. He wasn't so sure of the state Kuja was in anymore. He thought, as he had told the Doctor, that they were on the same page, but now... He had to find out.

He had gone through a few buildings in the area before finally settling on the opera house, because really, who was he kidding? Where else would Kuja go?

He remembered this place, distantly. He remembered it before Hades nearly demolished it. He used to sit atop the dome and listen to the performances, but that led down a path of memory he would rather push back down. That Emizel kid had awoken some of those thoughts. He didn't need them anymore touched.

He walked in, keeping casual, poking his nose around the different corners. He hadn't been in here since Hades' show. It did appear as though Kuja had begun to fix things up, which Zidane could appreciate. As he continued to poke and prod, he kept alert, sure that Kuja knew the moment that Zidane entered.

He whistled. "Coming along nicely, I gotta say. Couldn't help but come take a look. It is public property, after all," he spoke out, having a feeling that Kuja would be listening.

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Kuja had indeed felt the presence approaching, knowing full well it was Zidane. Was that the curse he was forced to bear, being that they were cut from the same cloth? It was an absurd thought, that someone brimming with utter perfection in every sense of the word had the same... markup as someone like Zidane.

Out from behind one of the pillars, from the shadows, Kuja took a step into the light, a hand underneath his chin as he examined his guest. "Curious as ever I see. I'm disappointed you couldn't wait for an invitation. Dropping in unannounced isn't very good etiquette, I'm afraid. Though I can't expect that backwater lowlife thief to have taught you any better."

Zidane bristled at Kuja's insult, spinning to face his brother with a glare. And who's fault is it that he got brought up the way he did?

"Good etiquette, huh? How about some etiquette that involves not attacking people, Kuja!" Ah, right to the point it is, then.

Ah, so he knew the frail human, did he? Or he'd heard from him at the very least. A shame, people just couldn't keep their troubles to themselves these days, could they? Of course, Zidane's outburst did nothing but cause the smallest of smiles to start to form at the corners of Kuja's lips. "It's only appropriate to retaliate against someone that raises a hand against your allies isn't it Zidane~? I was only trying to protect a friend of mine. Surely you would have done the same."

That causes Zidane pause, and he wants to believe Kuja - he so badly does - but.

But.

He grits his teeth. They haven't gotten off on the best foot. Zidane hasn't had any real proof that he could trust Kuja... He can't just give him the benefit of the doubt. "Glad you've been making friends. Who were you protecting?"

Friends. Hah! He almost laughed, but kept himself from indulging. He shifted his weight slightly. "I'm surprised you would ask such a thing. Does it really matter? Do you --" he paused, mostly for dramatic effect, "need a reason to help someone?"

Zidane just... stares. Did he really just say - to him. He gapes, at a temporary loss, before he closes his mouth and glares. The Doctor seemed like a good guy, and Kuja? What was he supposed to do with Kuja?

He looks away, frustration building. "Can't we ever just have a normal conversation?"

"A normal conversation?" he tilted his head to the side coyly. "Correct me if I'm wrong of course, but those don't tend to begin with threats, do they?" he ended the statement with a pointed note to it, his eyes starting to gain a meanacing glint to them. "Let alone, barging in where you don't belong!"

Fine, Kuja had a point, but Zidane wasn't going to acknowledge it.

"This is a public place," Zidane answers immaturely. "It's hardly what it once was, but it's still not yours."

"Enough!" he shouted, his hands balled into fists. Zidane just had a way of getting to him. Catching himself after the outburst, he softened, and sat back, floating in the air. "You've obviously come here for a reason. Perhaps in an attempt to honour that inferior creature? Is that it? To seek revenge in his name?"

Almost mirroring Kuja in that brief moment, Zidane's hands clench.

"He's not inferior, Kuja! No one is inferior! Dammit, haven't you learned anything?! I thought -" he trails off.

Thought what? That he would have changed?

"It's inferior if he can't defend against even the most basic of skills. If you look at it matter-of-factly, I was practically doing him a favour. It's only a matter of time before someone that worthless dies." There was a strange little smile that he wore when he talked about it. As though he was replaying the events in his mind, and enjoying it.

"So what, you're just going to attack anyone who can't defend themselves because you think they're inferior? Kuja you can't -" he pauses, running a hand over his head and scuffing a foot against the ground, "you can't do that." Not to mention not everyone have magic in their worlds. How can they defend against something they've never encountered before?

He can't let Kuja do that. Don't argue with him on this Kuja... he'll have to stop you.

"Oh? I can't~?" he asked, a sing-song tone creeping into the words. "And just who is going to stop me? It's natural selection at its best, the most basic of life principles! Surely you can't hope to argue against nature itself."

Zidane sighs, hopelessly staring away from Kuja. Then, after a moment of coming to a decision, he stays with it, gaze finding Kuja once more with a new found determination. He doesn't want to do this, but Kuja's forced his hand. This can't go on.

He unsheathes his daggers, feet sliding apart in a battle stance.

"Sorry, Kuja, but I guess I'm gonna have to be the one."

"Tch," he looked down his nose. "How brave you are!" he called, mockingly. Kuja hadn't exactly wanted it to come to this, but there just didn't seem to be any alternative -- not with the way Zidane always poked his nose in where it didn't belong!

The mage lept backwards, cushioned by the very air around him, sending a wave of glowing orbs towards his challenger.

So it really came to this. He was hoping, almost foolishly, that Kuja would not fight, that he'd see Zidane's will and determination and... change his mind. But no, Zidane didn't know Kuja very well, but he did know that Kuja wouldn't simply step down like that.

But if Zidane were more honest with himself, he was raring for a battle.

The spheres didn't catch him much by surprise. He took a dive to the left instinctively before he even fully registered them, moving quickly around the perimeter in order to out-run them and get himself close enough to Kuja to attack. While keeping an eye behind him and Kuja in sight, he flings one of his daggers in a boomerang-like maneuver, expecting to retrieve it once more if it missed his target.

Edited 2011-12-15 22:51 (UTC)

Kuja was able to dodge the incoming dagger at the last second, his expression turning to mildly annoyed in the process. He jumped higher into the air, twirling as he did so, and aiming downward, "Hah!" he cried, conjuring three holy rings of energy and launching them towards Zidane as he worked to call forth the next spell in his arsenal, waiting to see what the mongrel would do next.

Well at least he managed to annoy Kuja, not that that would probably benefit Zidane in the end, but he couldn't help but be a little cocky, even if his attack didn't hit. He draws up his remaining dagger in an attempt to block the rings, but some of the magic breaks through and burns at his skin. He recovers his second dagger and knocks away the rest of the rings with ease, but... he's now rather grounded for Kuja's next spell.

This time Kuja took the offensive. Dashing forward, he called forth several more glowing orbs, and waved his hand, striking at Zidane when he was finally within reach. He twirled, and brought around his other arm, acting as a conductor for the magic that surrounded him as he swing wildly, not wanting to give his prey the chance to react before his final blow in the formation came from above! He brought his arm down and forward, commanding the magic to explode as it descended.

Jeez, Kuja never liked doing anything in halves, did he? Zidane tries to tough it out, dodging so that he can get close to Kuja, but the exploding magic is hardly helping. Dammit, Kuja. Why did he have to be like this? Was it Garland? It isn't that Zidane didn't know... but the question is what was he missing?

Irked, he pushes higher into the air, using the wall to help escalate him further, trying to arc over the exploding magic and dive-bomb Kuja from above.

He was going to fix this.

He was going to fix this.

He was going to fix this -

Energy cracks. First a small bubble of lightning-pink energy whitewashing in front of Zidane as he fell, but then the distinctions became clear: tuffs of fur, the frame of his body more accented from the Trance.

A loud, echoing yell pulls out of him as descended.

He was going to fix this.

Kuja's eyes widened with delight at the transformation before him. Yes. Yes! "Let me see your so-called power!" he cried almost gleefully, tumbling into another array of twists and turns, his magical energy building up around him again.

Extending his arms forward, he moved to plant a flare spell; hoping to strike Zidane in the heart of the energy first, as the shards of energy around waited for their moment to strike the target.

He was perfectly fine with showing Kuja his powers.

He all but tackles Kuja, the closest thing to a brother that Zidane can name, and slams the hilt of one of his daggers against the underside of Kuja's chin. The veil of pink energy moves with him, burning a trail through the air. He moves his other hand, fisted over his dagger, and swipes down to land another blow.

It's a fleeting thought, but it spurs into his mind like a disease: he just wants Kuja to stop laughing. To stifle that glee. To be taken seriously. That's where it has to start, doesn't it?

This isn't the right way, another part of his mind whispers, but the Trance puts his mind through tunnel-vision and instead, he keeps beating on Kuja.

The cool metal of the dagger under his chin made him stop in his tracks -- and seethe. Was Zidane getting the better of him? No! It was only because of that Trance! The unmistable flow of limitless energy that consumed him! A power... that should be only his.

As the second hit connects, the dagger barely missing his face to graze his cheek, Kuja called forth a burst of energy around them, wanting -- perhaps even needing -- to put some distance between them. As the spell took his course, he used the opportunity to attempt to jump back.

His shoulders lifting and falling was the only indication that he was even slightly tired. The mage reached up to touch his cheek -- and then examined his hand to see his own blood trickling down.

No, Kuja, no. Zidane had seen what he did while Tranced, destroying their home - albeit a home that Zidane never considered as his own, but it was his "birthplace", and something he never had the chance to even know, to learn about. Kuja couldn't Trance here. He couldn't.

The spell knocks Zidane back, ruining some of Kuja's hard efforts of sprucing the place up. He slams against a wall, bringing down a painting when he crashes to the floor, shudders, and drags himself back to his feet.

Blood.

He actually made Kuja bleed. Zidane's breathless for a moment from disbelief. But it isn't enough, is it? It will just make Kuja pissed. No, just a bit more... He has to keep at it... after all, Kuja didn't let up when he attacked the Doctor, right? This was for that man. Not just for Zidane. Not just an outlet for his turmoil of emotions. He has to remember that, somehow. Keep it in the front of his mind, not just hiding in the back.

He shrugs the remnants of the painting off of him, and charges once more for the other genome...

It was probably a bad plan to follow Zidane, but in the end Dagger just couldn't help herself. He had said he had to run errands, but there was something behind the way he said it, something that left her feeling like he was keeping things from her. And so a few seconds after he left, she'd slipped out the door and trailed behind him.

How she'd managed to keep him in her sights and not get caught was even beyond her. She was stealthy enough, sure, and had practiced this sort of thing time and time again, but Paixao was a maze even on the best of days. Somewhere close to the opera house she kept back, watching him slip inside without actually going in after him. Whatever he was doing here, it couldn't be any typical errand.

She approached the building slowly, but kept herself from entering. She leaned her ear against the door and stood on tiptoe to try and peer in through windows, but didn't have much luck seeing what was inside. Dagger didn't want to go too much further in, at the risk of exposing the fact that she was effectively spying on the man she loved.

Then the sounds of fighting shook the windows of the building and Dagger began to doubt her plan of remaining hidden. She tried desperately to see through the grimy windows. She had to know what was happening!

"Spying? Now, that's hardly ladylike, wouldn't you agree?"

As Scar brought himself forward from the shadows of a nearby building, Neoshadows dredged themselves up from the darkness, surrounding the young woman where she stood. A predatory grin broke across the lion's muzzle as he walked closer, one slow, menacing step at a time.

With his approach, the Heartless closed in around their target. "To put it quite frankly, what's going on inside is none of your business. But if you were hoping to help the fellow in there with the monkey tail...Well, I'm afraid I simply can't let you."

The menacing voice behind her caused Dagger to spin around quickly, eyes immediately falling on the approaching lion and the Neoshadows that were quickly surrounding her. Neither of these sights were a complete shock, she had encountered heartless and other talking animals before now, but that didn't stop a look of fear from spreading across her face. Being threatened and cornered weren't exactly the best places to be in.

Reaching out, there was a small burst of magic as Dagger summoned her weapon to her hand. She brought it up in a defensive stance, eyes darting back and forth between her new found enemies.

"Who are you?" she asked, the fear disappearing from her face to be replaced by the firm stare of a queen, "And what place is it of yours to deem what I can and cannot do?"

The lion's deadly smile only grew as the girl summoned a staff. A magic user, was she? Kuja would probably love to see what this girl could do. But that would just have to wait. There was some chance he knew the girl already, for that matter.

"It's too bad those are none of your business either. Not that knowing who I am would make any real difference anyway." A few steps closer, and the Neoshadows began to leap into the air, converging on her like an eclipse over the sun.

"Such a shame, to see such a pretty little thing go to waste just to sate the Heartless..."

"Do not underestimate me!" Dagger growled, raising her weapon. Holding it like a baseball bat, she swung in time to knock a neoshadow away from her and dodge out of the way of the others. These monsters were larger and faster than ones she had dealt with before, so smacking it with the staff did less than she wanted.

She needed enough space to cast a spell. Her normal attacks were not like Zidane's, she didn't do much damage. Dagger called on her white magic and cast a mini spell in the nick of time. Hopefully it would at least have some effect on some of the Heartless.

If not... she would have to see if she could manage an Eidolon.

Oh, she had some fight in her. Perhaps this would be entertaining, then. Or, perhaps, this would be even more of a bore. Seeing that small use of magic, Scar wasn't about to let her get away with anything more. Smaller, faster Soldiers appeared from dark portals, charging at her as soon as they touched the ground.

The Heartless had proven themselves rather well in the past--he saw no reason they would fail him now.

Her tactics weren't working as well as she had hoped. Without someone to cover her, Dagger had no time to cast any more spells, let alone call Shiva, Odin, or any of her other Eidolons. But she wasn't going to back down just yet, even as the Soldiers swarmed closer.

Another swing of her rod sent a few of them tumbling away. Every swipe of the little monsters' claws caused her to step back, inching by inch until she was backed against a wall.

Not good. She looked left, and then right, but Dagger couldn't find any openings. Grimacing, she realized she had nowhere to run.

"Oh, isn't this just too bad..."

The lion slowly approached, each step of his own driving the Heartless nearer and nearer their prey. And her magic had almost had him worried. "You certainly don't have much of a chance fighting on your own, do you?"

Just as the Heartless began to leap, Scar spoke up again. "Stop." The command brought them to a rather abrupt, and very confused, halt. "I don't want her harmed."

He looked straight into her eyes with a grin threatening as a pit of daggers. "Why don't we step inside? I'm certain Zidane would just love to see you."

The Heartless, instead of tearing at her, simply grabbed her. Two Neoshadows for her arms, and one to hold her up around her waist from the back.

The look on Dagger's face was a mixture of anger and fear. She was kicking herself for letting herself be backed into a corner, and completely unsure of what was about to happen to her. When the Heartless started to jump at her, she threw her hands up to block her face, only to crack her eyes open at Scar's command for them to stop.

She did not respond to his question, but hissed in anger as the creatures grabbed her. "Unhand me," she snapped, glaring at Scar, "And leave Zidane alone!"

Her command fell on deaf ears, leaving her to struggle uselessly against the grips on her captors.

"Oh, I won't be doing anything to him," Scar reassured her as the Heartless silenced her by putting claws over her mouth.

"What do you say we drop in and say 'hello' to the two of them, hm?"

The lion slunk inside the building in a way that was more akin to a snake, commanding the Heartless to bring his hostage just as silently. It wouldn't do interrupt a fight by being loud, after all.

Ah, but he did seem to pick a most opportune moment.

"Oh, Zidane?" he called out as the young man charged forward.

The voice immediately caught the mage's attention. He hadn't expected Scar to reveal himself -- but seeing why he had ignited a cruel look in Kuja's eye. "Well, well, what's this? You came to ambush me with this pitiful party? And here I'd almost thought you were going to fight fair! Once again, you've been incapable of raising to my expectations... You really are outliving your usefulness..." he tsk'ed and shook his head to the side, pinching his chin beneath his clean hand. He was building up for this, delighting in the moment, having already seized victory in his mind.

"Now I'll have to go and use it against you..." he lowered his line of sight, casting Zidane a dangerous look.

Zidane's gaze jerks at the new voice, more annoyed than anything at the interruption, but then his eyes hone in on Dagger and the charge that Zidane had been in the process of loses all its steam. He staggers mid-air and lands awkwardly somewhere away from Kuja, a blade digging into the ground being the only thing to keep him from completely losing his balance. He sucks in a breath, and his trance aura flickers briefly, almost falling away from the shock.

No no no no. What was going on? This wasn't how things were supposed to go!

How were there? They were already going wrong.

"Dagger!" Zidane yells, voice strangled.

He's left himself wide-open.

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Brotherly Interventions [Active/Closed]

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i dont know if its my turn but i might as well tag!!! |D

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