Better I'm the Last One Alive, Than A Soul Denied

[fracturedbeauty]

Who: Yukari and you! (OTA, Will match format)
What: Yukari's adjusting to his missing eye.
Where: Around Hadriel
When: February 14th
Warnings: Mild violence; Mild descriptions of gore.



[A] Training

If Yukari had to admit to anything, it would be that living with an eye-patch has been more troublesome than he thought it would be. Losing his eye due to a poor choice of words and intentions, he's lost some of his depth perception to go with it. Relying on Curufin has been... odd, to say the least. Not that he isn't grateful for the Elf. Yukari's just so independent. Having to rely on anyone else is beyond what he ever expected for him. Or, at the very least, he expected to be old and weary before he would have to rely on someone. He aims to take care of the burden he's being as soon as possible, and take that stress off of Curufin's shoulders. Despite that he's been told he should probably rest until he's had the chance to heal properly.

He finds a wide, open area in the fields before he draws his sword. Already, everything feels off, as if the world had shifted left while he wasn't looking. He gives a light huff before he starts swinging, practicing the basic moves and working his way up. His skill feels clumsy, since he can't witness it from his right side for how wide his sweeps are, or where he's aiming just beyond that peripheral vision. It's fairly frustrating, actually. He pauses after a few more movements, trying to determine to see to his right side more easily. If only he had a mentor who knew how to direct this kind of thing, or an opponent to practice with, he'd actually appreciate it in this circumstance.

[B] The River

After all of that practice, he's settled himself before the water. His sword lays in the grass in front of him as he stares pensively into the water. He knows he won't be able to counteract the new depth perception problems overnight, but it still brings a soft sigh to escape from his lips. His skill in battle is part of who he is. To have to adjust to a new means... It's like having to start back at square on. That will teach him to piss off little girls with a weapons specialty, he supposes.

As someone approaches, he looks over his shoulder, on his right side. The eye patch being the first thing to meet them rather than his gaze. He's still got alot to get used to, and he mentally groans that he has to physically turn himself so he can properly see the person.

"Can I help you?" He asks. His voice may be level, but it hints at his frustration for his shortcomings.

Comments

River

[dragonsgrasp]

The man approaching is tall and wearing armor that makes him resemble a dragon, particularly the helmet. He knows by this point what had happened with Rydia, and he's... not entirely pleased about it. He's assuming this is the right person, anyway. He'll know for sure in a few moments. At least he doesn't intend to do too much harm, more make a statement and be done with it. An even trade for what he'd done. It's only fair, in Kain's mind.

"We need to talk." He has his weapon already drawn, a long lance that he holds with ease despite how heavy it appears to be.

[fracturedbeauty]

Yukari sees the weapon in the knight's hand. Fantastic. This guy wants a fight. He's rather unenthused about this. Still, he looks Kain over, checking his mind for any memories of this guy and comes back with absolutely nothing. Not even from the memories he gained from his Double. Why Kain is looking threatening is an unknown factor to Yukari. He doesn't even bother to glance at his sword that lies beside him. If he needs to defend himself, he can get away without using it right away. And it's not the most reliable means of defense for him with the way he is right now.

He'll just wait to see what happens next.

"Do continue," he offers. He hardly sounds interested, but go for it.

[dragonsgrasp]

"You know what you did." Kain narrows his eyes, looking him over, wanting to be sure he has the right person. He would feel quite guilty about attacking someone undeserving. But he's very sure that this is him. This is the one who'd fought Rydia, and that kind of behavior can't be tolerated. It'd be one thing if they were back home, where it's easier to avoid people. It's more of a problem when they're confined together in a cave like this. He needs to make a statement about this.

Kain steps a little closer, adjusting his grip on his weapon. "But perhaps you're in need of a little reminder? I'm of the belief that all wrongs must be paid for... including yours."

[fracturedbeauty]

You know what, Yukari's thinking he's going to go ahead and grab his sword after all. This guy is way too serious for him to be comfortable with in his current state. He reaches out, placing a firm grip on the sword's sheathe, crackling Green Electricity around it as he slowly pulls it closer to himself.

"So, let me get this straight: You say you want to talk, only you aren't going to tell me? Sure, that makes sense."

He uses his sword for leverage as he gets himself off the ground and takes a step back, putting space between himself and that lovely weapon Kain seems to have. Despite the Electricity, despite the smirk forming on his face, he keeps his sword sheathed.

Man, he should have stayed home today. Curufin's not going to like it if he comes home with injuries on his first day of being able to walk without crashing into things. And that was barely passable as it is. He mentally takes a breath, keeping his gaze steady on Kain before him. Maybe, just maybe, he's bluffing.

[dragonsgrasp]

"Fine, so it's about more than talking... it's about making you pay. You really haven't figured it out why yet? Then let me remind you. You harmed someone recently... someone who I consider a friend." It's rare for Kain to even admit that, calling someone a 'friend', but... it's true. They may not have been especially close back home, but they'd traveled together quite a bit, and he'd come to trust and like her.

Kain watches the crackling electricity, eyes narrowed as he takes in what the other is likely capable of. Thunder-element can be a pain, but he'll deal with it. "This is for Rydia... this... is revenge!" With those words, he jumps, soaring up from the ground and high into the air, before descending fast with his lance aimed toward Yukari.

[fracturedbeauty]

Yukari has to glance over Kain for a moment to remind himself that this guy isn't from his world. If he was from home, then yes, he could definitely understand. He's taken alot of life and hurt alot of people. But he's done remarkably minimal damage here without having a King to serve, and his blood lust has only come out for a select few. Yukari tries to think of who he hurt.

"You mean Tina? That brat did more damage to me than I had her. I don't know how you can call that heathen a friend. Do I look like I'm wearing this eye patch for giggles?" He's thinking that's the only person he's managed to succeed at hurting here. Perhaps this Knight is one of those overly chivalrous sorts and sees the attack of children a sin.

Watching Kain jump sky high for his attack, Yukari chuffs a laugh.

"You're making this too easy. Best you destroy yourself with your own temper, then."

Yukari erects a near-Colourless wall above him for defense, hoping that the Knight will splatter himself into it.

"If I wasn't already injured, I might have played with you more. You amuse me."

[dragonsgrasp]

Kain falls onto the wall, growling for a moment as he does, but quickly getting into a roll to get off of it. Bad landings are all just part of standard dragoon training- you have to know what to do in the event it doesn't work out so well. So he ends up landing nearby, once he's off that wall, and swiftly carrying on with the attack. He whirls his lance just so to unleash a Cyclone, the swirling winds aimed at his opponent. While the wind is raging, he charges in to stab his weapon toward his opponent.

"There's nothing amusing about any of this." His tone is cold, and there's overall a cold, deliberate purpose to his anger, not the senseless burning rage type of anger. He's here to make a statement, after all, send a warning. "There's nothing amusing about you harming my ally... and no, you have the wrong person. Don't you even remember the one you hurt? Rydia?"

B!

[mercurio]

Prompto had just wanted to scout the place, get a hang of the landmarks and grow familiar with it. It wasn't going to be home, but it didn't need to be something so unknown.

So focused on his camera as he was, following the sound of the river, he didn't realise he was walking into someone who was already there. Which is why he immediately stops at the question, taking a step back.

"S, Sorry," he stumbles for words, fidgeting with his camera in his hands, eyes on the stranger. "I was just exploring. Didn't mean to startle you."

What he does next depends on how the stranger reacts.

[fracturedbeauty]

Yukari eyes the camera in Prompto's hands. Is this kid one of those annoying tourist-types or what? Well, it's not like Prompto is giving off the annoying energy bomb with a million questions that tourists seem to be known for. If anything, the kid seems kind of timid for having run into Yukari in the first place. Yukari grabs his sword off the ground, using it as leverage to pull himself up and then dusts himself off.

"It's fine, I suppose." It's not like he was doing much more than just sitting there and being miserable anyway. He sets his free hand on his hip. "You must be one of the new kids." He's noticed alot of them lately, actually.

He's actually debating how much he wants to troll this kid, just to get his mood up. He's trying to think of a possible tour that won't require him to fight if they run into trouble.

[mercurio]

Prompto hopes so; he doesn't want to intrude in anyone else's time or space. Besides, the man has a weapon, and he wonders vaguely if he should be careful--at the very least wary. Still, this being Prompto, he doesn't perceive anything harmful, dangerous about the man, much like he's sensed from others like the imposing Ravus, clad in armour, or the mysterious Ardyn.

So, all he can do, is start at the statement.

"Yes! I arrived a few days ago. Still trying to catch my bearings..."

He's got a cut on his temple stitched up, and the later healing of bruises and cuts on his pale arms and face. Clearly, he's already been around a bit, to the clinic at the very least.

"My name's Prompto."

[fracturedbeauty]

"Yukari Mishakuji." He straps his sword to his back after he's decided he's going to remain standing and probably not going directly home. Besides. He's been cooped up for two days for recovery. And being mothered by the Elf, he needed a break from that (sorry, Curufin). The fresh air is doing him some good.

"Ah, so that's why you're exploring. You recieved a phone when you arrived here, right? There's a map, a GPS, on it that you can use to find your way around." He remembers Pell showing it to him, not that he ever really needed it. But, on that note, Yukari pulls his own phone from his pocket to show Prompto what he's talking about. Besides, if Yukari looks at the varying locations, he might think of the best way to mess with Prompto's head. He moves himself to Prompto's side so he can follow along by watching. "See, this points out your location, and you can always just follow the map wherever you want to go."

For how low-tech the Gods are, he's actually fairly impressed with the GPS setup.

[mercurio]

Prompto's really going to forget that name easily. "Yukari, Yukari..." he's going to try his hardest to remember it though, repeating it quietly to himself for a bit, all the while watching the other and listening to what he's got to say.

The blond tilts his head, bringing out his phone, and but nods at the explanation.

"Yeah, I got an idea on how it works. It's similar to what I have back home, but there's something different to seeing it in person to seeing it on a map," he doesn't mean to sound like a know-it-all about it. In fact, he's grateful. "Thank you for showing though."

He smiles, pocketing his camera instead, and tapping around his phone to see if he can, actually, find a nearby location to go to next.

[fracturedbeauty]

Yukari finally dawns on an idea.

"You should really check out the interiours of the Temples. If you let the Gods know you're here and that you want to help them, they're certain to give you some good luck to help with your stay here."

The Temples are mostly harmless. ...Mostly. But, places like Fear's Temple will hit you with your most traumatic memories that will give you nightmares for a month or two. He pockets his phone, waiting to see if Prompto is gullible enough to buy it. He's sure Fear would appreciate it.

river;

[pellameno]

It's a peaceful day by Hadriel standards so Pell's walking along the water on his way from the clinic to the garden, his bag slung over his shoulder. He's still trying to come to terms with the mess that his double made of things, to mend ties with the people he cares for that might not trust him now, knowing what he can do. Mess might be too generous a term, really, it's more of a disaster. He sighs, shifting the strap of his bag and walking a bit faster. He'll feel better when he's busy again.

Around the other side of the central bridge, he finds Yukari. The memory isn't his but Pell recognizes him all the same, slowing to a stop beside him. And noticing the patch -- that certainly wasn't there before.

"Yukari, isn't it?"

[fracturedbeauty]

After a moment longer, Yukari recognizes the Har. His expression softens to more of a light smile.

"Oh, Pell-chan. It's been a long time." Yukari remembers Pell as the one out of the entire group he actually enjoyed the company of. Although he's unaware it was the Double he had the pleasure of meeting, there was an air given that attracted Yukari's attention. He pulls himself off the ground, picking his sword up to greet Pell properly. "How have you been?"

[pellameno]

"It's been no time at all, seeing as we haven't actually met." He holds a hand out, though, looking to shake, trying not to focus too rudely on the eyepatch as he wonders what happened. "Not terrible, since the doubles are gone. I'm dealing, I suppose."

[fracturedbeauty]

Yukari picks up on the implication rather quickly.

"Oh, I see. That was your Double then? Quite the charmer. Though, I do suppose that's why there seemed to develop a tension between the others not long after your arrival. Or... A different kind of tension." Yukari chuckles. "I'm afraid it was already tense when I arrived."

He reaches out and politely shakes the hand before him, noticing Pell's glances. He gives a rather humoured smile and a mildly dramatic pose. "What, is it not fashionable? I'm afraid they didn't have anything more aesthetically pleasing in the shop."

His tone is teasing, but not offended.

[pellameno]

"He impersonated me fairly well, or so it seems, so I'll take the compliment." He's been called a charmer before, after all. "The house can be tense, yes. We have a bit of a mixed history together." That's one way of putting it, anyway. The dynamic between them all is strained and delicate but Pell does what he can to keep the peace so they can all continue to live together. It's not good for hara to be apart.

"Ah -- sorry." He directs his gaze to Yukari's good eye, because manners. "Is it something that can be healed, or is the eye simply gone? I could probably manage the former."

[fracturedbeauty]

"I see." That's better than what he could say his Double did for him, acting like a sexually depraved monster. That has been some rather obnoxious aftermath. "You must do exceptionally well against the two stronger characters - what were their names again? You certainly have your work cut out for you."

"I'm afraid the brat completely gouged it out," he says rather neutrally, as though losing an eye is no different than the weather.

Training

[solvethepuzzle]

Near doesn't bother to leave the house often; it's frequently unnecessary when Mello is around to take care of the more mundane needs of daily life. Even so, he's gotten used to venturing out from time to time, a tendency developed in the last place he'd been drawn to against his will.

He has the collar of his oversized coat drawn up as always, covering everything below his nose. It's probably unnecessary. He recognizes that. But when he errs, he prefers it to be on caution's side.

The sights are of course mundane or what passes for it here, until he catches sight of a moderately familiar face. Ah, right. The one who'd tried to goad him further while he'd been under Rage's influence a few months ago. Practicing with his weapon and . . . doing a very poor job of it.

Near has no particular reason to bother him, but the sight interesting enough that he stops to watch for a while, unblinkingly, from his right. It's a test more than anything.

[fracturedbeauty]

Not for the first time since losing his eye, Yukari feels frustrated. He had worked years, decades, to become the nigh unstoppable man he was back at home. This was akin to starting from scratch, and he hates it. He has to catch himself to keep from tumbling, jarring an ankle, or just losing his balance altogether. His face reflects some of his frustration - his brows knitted down in intense focus, the slight grit of his teeth, and the occasional grunt of dissatisfaction.

When he's forced to pause from feeling unbalanced and dizzy from trying to make up for his right eye by alternating his focus consistently, he's swinging his sword downward as though one would slam their fist on a table to express their anger. This isn't working, and the more he practices, the more evident this gets. After what must be the fifth or sixth pause to regain his balance, he charges his Green Electric Aura into the sword and slams the blade into the ground, coursing a circumference outward around him, unaware that there has been anyone watching. If Near is sitting close enough, that Electric Discharge might hit him.

"How infuriating!" Yukari's never been the type to swear, it's not a beautiful expression. But exclaiming outright about this situation isn't beneath him, so he'll choose more elegant sentences.

[solvethepuzzle]

That move isn't something that Near could have predicted, but fortunately, he isn't standing too close. Because why would he? Even so, he darts back a few steps to evade being hit, the incantation for Dispel Magic ready to go in his mind if this isn't enough.

But it is. The other's show of frustration and carelessness doesn't reach him. And he files the ability away in his mind for the future.

"I'm sure it is." Unlike when they'd spoken before, there is no anger in his tone. There isn't even a patronizing, mocking edge. Not yet, anyway. For now, his voice is cold and flat, betraying no emotion if indeed he's currently feeling any at all.

[fracturedbeauty]

Upon hearing Near's voice, he turns immediately to face him, his expression softening just enough to betray mild annoyance. He takes a breath to release the tension from his chest.

"And just how long have you been there for?" His voice is level, cool, and collected as he looks Near over. He sets a hand on his hip, leaning his support to his right leg as his head tilts slightly. At the very least, the kid doesn't look a fighter. He can drop his guard and the need for his Auras in self-defense.

For the moment, he doesn't recognise Near's voice. He's too busy mentally defusing his temper; being on edge means starting fights. And even if this kid isn't a proper fighter, he could still have a significant advantage against Yukari's current state. Of that much, Yukari's not stupid. He underestimated one child already. He won't make that mistake twice.

[solvethepuzzle]

"I can't say." Bullshit, actually. He is perfectly capable of giving an answer precise to the second. But why should he?

The assessment that Near isn't much of a fighter is an accurate one. He is, in fact, almost as pathetic as he looks. He is aware of this, and plans accordingly. It would in all likelihood take godly intervention for Near to start an altercation no matter what Yukari says; he just isn't easily goaded.

"But long enough to notice the issue you're having." Depth perception problems, in his estimation.

[fracturedbeauty]

"You might have gotten hurt." Not that he actually personally cares. He's just still slightly frustrated and needs a reason to take it out on. "You would do well to at least speak up next time. Or make yourself visible. I don't mind an audience, but I can't guarantee you won't get hurt if I don't know you're there."

Although, if Near had gotten hurt outside of Yukari's intentions, he certainly would have aided him to the clinic. He's not a heartless monster, and if someone who wasn't a target ends up in his way, he should help them.

"And do you have a solution, then?" He's not sure if he's more annoyed or intrigued, but if anyone can offer a working solution, he'll take what he can get.