Event Log: Predator vs. Prey

[hadrielmods]

Who: All characters participating in the event
What: The event log for the Predator vs Prey event
Where: All over the city
When: March 13th-March 21st
Warnings: None

It all starts with an explosion, because Rage is excellent at managing her anger. But an explosion isn't enough - she hasn't worked out all her feeling yet. Not until the city itself has gotten caught up in her anger at Fear for being unable to save Delight. And yeah, that means you.

So now you're a predator (Rage) or prey (Fear). You want to hunt, or you're being hunted. Maybe you were defenseless before, or maybe you're the sort who no one could be afraid of... but it's different now, because the gods are passing on their blessings to you. All the better to catch and kill, or run and hide.

What will you do? Try to resist the urge? Good luck with that. Who would want to resist, anyway, when it feels so right to give in? Hunt someone down like a cat after a mouse, or flee like a deer before wolves. Maybe you can find someone to help you, whether that means hunting in packs or looking for safety in numbers. Who knows, maybe you'll even make a few new friends while trying to kill your old ones.

► This log covers March 13th-March 21st.
► Please tag headers of threads with content warnings where they apply
► Please put your character's name and open/closed in the subject line of your starters!
► If you get caught by a predator or have things turned on you by your prey, please let us know here.

Comments

[blessedmaiden]

[All the progress they made with each other, all the conversations about moving on... Rydia would slap herself right now if she had any ability to think properly. She moved on, Mist moved on, everyone did and she wanted so badly for Kain to be able to find his peace as well yet there she was, attacking him and speaking lies just to hurt him.]

It's not! Raise your spear and fight, are you really just going to accept defeat like this? Even at the moment of your death you refuse to give me any satisfaction? You're a coward!

[The summoner has to stop to breathe after her attack, she's not used to follow peoplelike this and her body isn't trained for this kind of movements. If it wasn't for Rage she'd already be on the floor, panting and trying to recover but no, she's moving forward out of pure stubborness. Spells follow one after the other even if her mana is now reduced to a sliver or what it was and elements alternate each other as she tries to hinder his attempts to escape.]

What else did you expect from me? You ruined everything, always, how do you think I feel whenever I remember what we did under those gods's influence? Disgusted, that's how.

[Not once she had regrets, even if a bit weird those weren't negative memories and she accepted what happened... but now Rydia is trying to make him feel guilty. About Mist, about his betrayal, about their closeness in Hadriel... everything she can.]

[dragonsgrasp]

I am no coward!

[Yet he's consumed by this very cowardly instinct to run, not to stand and fight like a man ought to. It's very frustrating to him, feeling like he's not quite himself somehow… it wouldn't be a first for that, in a general sense, but he's never felt like this before.]

[It pains him deeply when she mentions how disgusted she'd felt. Kain had been a bit confused about his own feelings soon after it had ended, but it wasn't a bad thing. In fact, he'd… rather liked how it had felt, caring about someone and finally having those feelings returned. So now, though, she's giving him the ultimate rejection. Yet again, he's unworthy. No woman will ever have him, will they? He's such a failure.]

Is that how you truly feel about it?! Was there nothing positive at all?

[No, why should she care for the man who slayed her mother's dragon and burned her village to the ground? Kain struggles to get up, not to fight, but to flee. Unfortunately, she's striking him with a barrage of spells. Lightning sizzles and strikes him, fire flares at him and frigid ice makes him cry out when it also hits. He does his best to try and evade, but… he can only do so much. His endurance is pretty high, as he's physically very strong, but she's wearing him down fast. He needs to pull himself together. Kain groans as he pulls himself up from the ground, already starting to back up and start fleeing again. But he's much slower now.]

[blessedmaiden]

Oh yes you are and you bring shame not only to yourself but also the dragons you pretend to be. Look at you, covered in fake scales like the buffoon you are!

[Oh, it feels so good to see how her words are having an effect on him. The summoner bites her lips while she approaches, this feels so unnaturally pleasant. Why had she always repressed this kind of sensations? Why did the eidolons teach her to control herself instead of letting her power flow freely with her rage?

Oh, she would hate herself so much if she could hear her own words. Perhaps Rydia didn't quite know if she felt more than deep friendship for him or not but she certainly didn't want that. The closeness she enoyed, the kisses, she loved those... and she was atually... open to try again? Even if the obsession she felt under Love was gone she still cared, she still... still...]

Positive, uh? Do you really expect anything positive coming from you? You break everything you touch, you hurt everyone who dares to walk too close and you wonder if anything good can come from you? No, dragoon, and I am tired to pretend otherwise.

[She's tired, her lungs are burning and her mana is completely depleted by the time he slows down but the summoner keeps walking toward him. Just a bit more, she keeps repeating herself, she may be unable to use more of her magic but there's a deep determination as she places a step after another.]

Why can't you just die? Everyone would be happier without you around.

[dragonsgrasp]

No! I... I've done all I can to honor the dragons... and the dragoons... I've failed many times, but then, I... I've always done all I can to repent...

[But maybe she's right. Kain feels his heart sinking deeper into despair with each and every one of her words. He'd done terrible things. He's the only one of them who'd acted so disgracefully. His father would be so ashamed. He's brought dishonor to his family, the dragoons, and Baron.]

Is this how you've always felt about me? All along...? Do... the others feel that way too?

[Kain is wearing down fast. He'd usually have more stamina for this, but her spells are taking a toll on him. Plus, he's throwing in so much extra effort than normal to flee, to keep moving. Unfortunately, he ends up stumbling, falling over to the ground. He rolls around so he's at least facing her, panting heavily.]

[blessedmaiden]

Each time you try to repent for your sins you fail and only hurt more people. Why do you think Cecil went on the mountain and changed while you already spent so much there and nothing changed? Where has been the guiding voice for you? There's none because you deserve no salvation!

[There's no voice because Cecil was guided by his father, he had companions, he had someone he loved waiting for his help, he had more than Kain ever did. And deep down the summoner knows that, she just wants to make him feel miserable.]

Why do you think we all celebrated Cecil and Rosa's wedding without even trying to find you? [It certainly wasn't because no one knew where the dragoon went or because the half lunarian knew his friend would return once ready...] And I was on my way to anoher party in Damcyan, wasn't I? Why? Because everyone is feeling better without you.

[She falls on her knees as soon as she reaches him, her whole body feels sore after running for so long and consuming all her energies but she's still finding the strenght to crawl toward him.] Are you finally giving up?

[dragonsgrasp]

[So there it is. The thing he's always dreaded facing, the awful truth of the matter. Cecil is better than him, after all, it had taken him barely any time at all to achieve redemption. Whereas he, Kain, had struggled up there on that mountain, seeking answers that were hard to come by. It's because he's unworthy, isn't it? Rydia is confirming his worst thoughts.]

I never... I never presumed to be worthy of salvation, but I... I had to try anyway... but I failed. I know that.

[He coughs a bit, struggling to stand. He manages to just barely get up, only to fall back down again.]

I'm not one to ever give up... I tried, you know. I tried to be a better person than I am, to be a better friend... But I guess now I know the truth. They don't miss me, and they are better off if I'm not there...

[blessedmaiden]

[Cecil just had more luck, best friends, an happier life... it's so unfair to even compare them yet Rydia knows no mercy as she keeps moving toward him. Oh, her body isn't pleased with all the movement she forced it to do but at this point she just... keeps going.]

Then why even trying?

[That's so unlike her, Rydia has always been so proud of her friends and even if sometimes they made mistakes she always knew they would someday suceed with their goals...but none of that matters as she finally reaches for him, sitting on the floor next to the dragoon and places a hand on his shoulder. She wants to savour this.]

Right? Sometimes people make so many mistakes they're unforgivable. Don't worry, the world will be a better place without you, I promise. Any last word, dragoon?

[dragonsgrasp]

[All he wants is to flee, to run and keep going. But his body just won't cooperate, as he's spent his last bit of energy. He's trembling like a cornered animal, hating the feeling of this overpowering fear. It's clouding all of his thoughts and common sense. He ought to consider that Rydia was never like this before... but all he can think about is the present moment.]

Am I truly beyond forgiveness?

[Kain stares up at her, eyes showing nothing but the terror that he feels all throughout him.]

asdfghj I finally managed to reply here

[blessedmaiden]

Yes. Yes you are but don't worry, dragoon, I will make sure your demise is at least one to remember.

[There's no way out for both of them: one is destined to fall, the other to stain her hands with the blood of someone she may even feelings for. She looks even pleased as she wraps one lock of his hair around her fingers, pulling it slightly.]

You know what both my mothers always told me? Always keep a good ether around, just in case.- And they were right.

[She takes one small bottle from her pockets, playing with it for a moment as she admires the blue liquid inside. Rydia pops it open with her thumb and after one quick gulp at least a little portion of her magical energies are restored. The summoner smiles widely as she climbs over him as she did before when they were intimate, too bad there's no kindness as she looks down at him and presses her hands against his chest. It will not take long before the armor gets unplesantly warm and her intentions are clear.]

Fear not, Kain, I will cleanse you with fire.

OHHH!!! awesome, yay, let's make it memorable indeed!

[dragonsgrasp]

Rydia, please...

[There really is no way out. Kain is too exhausted and hurt to move, even if he wasn't so paralyzed by fear. He can't fight back, can't do anything in his own defense. The worst part is, he fears she's right. He's always been afraid of this whole matter erupting one day, of Rydia rightfully taking the revenge she deserves. He and Cecil had taken everything from her. She might still have a mother and her entire village were it not for their actions. Not to mention all the ways he'd betrayed them all later...]

[So he can only watch in horror as she drinks that ether and replenishes her magic. He doesn't have anything on him to help himself, not that it matters at this point. She's got him right where she needs him. There's no chance to escape now.]

Please, don't do this...

[But it's a pathetic plea, both helpless and hopeless. Kain's eyes widen in fear as his armor starts getting warmer. He struggles, trying to pull it off, but only ends up shouting in pain, as it's too hot to even touch. HIs face reddens a bit with the growing warmth. The current effect on him mentally only makes this worse: He's never been so afraid in his life.]

You don't... you don't want to do this...