damned_institute | Nightshift 25: Discplinary Therapy Room Hallways

Ed gave a low growl of frustration as the needle was turned away by the creature's skin. What kind of thing had fucking imprevious skin?! It sounded almost like metal, like it would scraping over his own automail.

Then the creature lashed out, catching Ed's side with those claws. They scraped along his automail arm, not hurting, but hard enough to make Ed stumble and then catching him across the chest, leaving a bloody scratch and his shirt tattered. He hissed in pain but refused to let that affect him, not when they were so close.

He managed to get behind that swinging arms, brandishing the needles and starting to stab at it's side, wherever he could reach. He vaugely heard Larsa shout to them, but saw that the other man, Gabranth, was there with the spear. He set about trying to keep it occupied. He could move in if he needed to later.

Larsa's words came barely a moment before the creature began to flail madly, the last defense of an animal that knew it's death rapidly approached. And it's claws found purchase, both along Ed's metal arm, and in Homura's flesh, the razor-like extensions slicing cleanly into Homura's left forearm before he could pull it away.

Despite the blood dripping from the wound, Homura ignored the sharp pain racing along the deep slashes in his flesh. The battle wasn't over, he wasn't dead and neither was the thing before him, and he would fight on. The demi-god crouched quickly, finding the sword again and barely managing to bring it up in time to stop those claws from sinking into his skull. As it was they still grazed into his scalp, new cuts wetting his hair with blood.

Not over, not done, not dead. The Toushin Taishi brought himself up to his feet again, sword grapsed tight in his right arm as he fended off further blows. He was ready should the creature turn, needing only that one chance to end this battle himself, but waiting for now, giving Noah the first opportunity while the thing still had it's back to the spear-weilder.

When the spear hit flesh, it was as if he'd hit a Archadian shield. The blade of the spear clanged, causing the knight to almost stumble backwards from the abrupt stop of his weapon

He'd had the right idea, but the wrong location. It was still the back, but much lower than he'd first hoped. Noah had the perfect moment, still to the creature's back with its attention split between the two other fighters. Managing to keep an eye on the swinging arms, it was just his luck that the monster had never turned its sight on him.

Preparing for the final blow, he followed Larsa's words, stabbing the spear towards the creature's flailing body, as close to the lower back as he could manage. Twisting his grip, he put his weight behind the weapon to slide it down across metallic flesh until it found purchase in the creature's one weakness.

Gabranth's spear hit home. It sank into flesh, a founting of blood spurting forth. The same odd, thick golden blood as the first downed monster bled. The creature itself twisted, its body contorting in manners ultimately inhuman. It writhed and reached, lashing out in its death throes to bring one of its prey down before death, just one....

Larsa would've smiled triumphantly if it hadn't been for the fact that they were still in a heated battle. T'would appear that Gabranth managed to hit its weak spot, but he forced himself to stay put when the monster lashed out, trying to take down anything before it reached its last breath.

From the corner of his eye the Lord caught several of the others looking into the rooms, breathing a small sigh of relief when he caught Kairi in one of the taller man's arms. So that meant that Adelheid was behind one of those doors as well...

Ed's grin turned triumphant when Grabranth's spear hit home, blood pouring from the wound and onto the ground. He'd have to remember the weak spot in case he came across one of those things again.

His glee was short lived though when the creature twisted, moving in ways a human just couldn't. It's claws caught him across the chest, slipping over the automail and onto the flesh, goucging a painful gash across his torso. He hissed in pain, feeling blood start to seep from the wounds. But he concentrated on getting out of it's way, starting to head towards the door where he thought Adel was.

Homura had too much expeerience to be overwhelmed by glee even as Gabaranth's spear found it's mark. The thing was animalistic at best, and animals fought hardest when they were dying. So as it flailed, Homura did his best to block the blows that came his way, using the sword as he was able. But instinctive strikes weren't necessarily as predictable as a trained fighter's, and twice Homura was caught, the war god at least able to keep the damage concentrated on the same arm. Claws dug into his left shoulder and then his elbow, sending fresh streaks of pain through the man's body.

But Homura didn't back away, even as blood oozed down his skin. Ed was trying to get by, and Homura aided him by keeping the boy's path as open as he could. So close now, so soon the battle would be done, and all that remained was to wait for the thing to finally die.

See the golden blood begin to flow, the judge moved to wrench the weapon from the monster, moving quickly backwards as it collapsed to the floor. The claws, while flailing through the creature's last shudders, managed to clip the end of the spear, almost knocking it from his grasp. The monster seemed more interested in the closer targets, and luckily the spear gave him distance between himself and the opponent. Maybe it was much better he'd given the rapier to young Larsa.

Even managing to hit the smaller warrior, he seemed undaunted as he made himself towards a room, leaving the dying creature with himself and Homura. Noah made sure to watch the young one as well, holding his weapon at the ready should the thing try to get back on its legs once again. He was experienced as Homura was to beasts and enemies that didn't stay dead - or didn't die when they seemed they should.

Ed shot a grateful look at both Homura and Gabranth, thankful now for their help in fighting the creature. It wasn't quite dead, he could tell, but Ed couldn't wait any longer. The longer he waited, the longer Adel was in their hands and who knew what was being done to him? He took the opening that was given to him by Gabranth and slipped past towards the doorways. Now which one was it?

His dilemma was solved when Artermis ran past him towards the monster. "He's in that one!" the other boy shouted, gesturing back towards one of the doors. Ed nodded, grinning at the other boy for a second before running quickly towards the room where his friend was being held.

[To here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/163781.html)]

Larsa watched with hope when blood continued to poor out of the creature's wounds, knowing that the battle would soon be over. Though with that said his worry had then traversed to the reason why they were all there in the first place. His gray eyes followed Ed's form as the blond raced into one of the rooms, letting his mind quickly decide for him what the best course would be to take.

It all happened in a split second, and after setting the flashlight down so that both Gabranth and Homura would still be able to see, the child quickly followed after Ed.

[To here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/163781.html?thread=11297733#t11297733).]

The creatures thrashing had slowed, but Homura knew better than to simply assume. Only after Ed and Larsa had made it past did he step back, a wary eye still watching the thing as the demi-god stripped off his shirt. It wasn't the easiest task to use the katana to make strips, given the length of the blade, but Homura managed, making several bandages for his arm. It didn't take long to tie them, controlling the flow of blood from his wounds.

Homura retrieved Larsa's flashlight once the makeshift bandages were in place, and looked towards Gabaranth. "One of them shouted something about bottles. Were you able to make it out?"

The judge watched with interest as the other got right to work bandaging his wounds, using the shirt as makeshift wrappings. It was good to see someone who could take care of himself for once.

Noah looked past the half-dead carcass of the monster to see Larsa escaping behind Ed, careful to watch as he could hear another one of the things still lived. He couldn't see how the battle was going, but could naturally hear it. He turned back to Homura at the question. "Bottle the blood," he answered, though unsure if that was what he'd actually heard. "I can't imagine why for."

[From the Hitsu-Jean-Rena thread]

At that moment, Artemis came pacing over to them at a quick clip. There was no threat now, but there was no telling when the night would end. He had to hurry.

"The blood is a healing agent," Artemis explained, kneeling down by the monster's motionless body. "It will close your wounds quickly." The boy indicated the bloody gashes in his coat and the perfect skin underneath. "I believe it would be wise to bottle the substance for future use."

And since there were two men here, who were most certainly stronger than he was, the job would be much easier. "Could one or both of you hold this thing upright so the blood runs out the back wound?" He asked, popping open five pill bottles. Perhaps with help, he'd be able to get more blood out of the body.

Oh. Well, wasn't that an interesting side-effect?

Homura glanced to Gabaranth, then knelt down by the creature. He had a hunch from his journey to the kitchen, when Kyouya had ended up with the metal the demi-god had thought lost. Carefully, Homura took the katana in his left hand, the only outward sign he showed of pain being a slight clenching of the jaw. With his right hand, he rolled the creature onto it's side, sliding forward quickly so it's weight would be supported by his leg.

The intercom always announced the end of night. Looking to Artemis, Homura smiled lightly. "I'd like to have one of those viles, if you don't mind. For my own injuries."

At least Homura was honest about his intentions. And it wasn't as if the war god hadn't earned it.

Like an Elixir. Intriguing.

And it seemed to work fast as he'd said, judging from the new boy's demonstration. What luck that the guardians of the room had turned out to be favorable.

Noah saw that Homura had the movement of the carcass set, so he instead laid his spear onto the ground, ripping a strip of cloth from the bottom of his pants. He moved to use the strip as a makeshift mop, soaking as much of the golden blood up as he could see from the floor. If it had such a potent reaction, it would be important to collect as much as they could - and most of it had seemed to come out upon finding its weakness.

When Homura voiced his request, Noah looked up to Artemis as well. "I would request one also, if you are able to spare it." It'd be easier than carrying a soaked rag of the fluid, and he doubted it would be of much use when it dried.

Well, you win some, you lose some, apparently. Artemis scowled internally--he didn't have a problem giving Noah one, he'd at least been polite. But Homura... well so far, the only impression Artemis had of the man was the hissy-fit he threw after Ed didn't make the sword he wanted. Who did this guy think he was? God?

"Of course," Artemis replied with a smile, "You both fought as part of the rescue effort, you deserve a share of the spoils." The boy uncapped another bottle and handed it to Gabranth. "See how much of that you can wring from that rag into the bottle. I have a feeling it will be more useful that way." He knelt down under the monster as Homura lifted it, quickly moving a bottle under the wound. It certainly was a good thing that Artemis was ambidextrous--the bottle filled much quicker than he had anticipated. Once one bottle was full, it was easy to hold an empty one one steady under the wound while setting the full one down.

As Artemis had predicted, the job was much easier with help. The wound was merely dripping while filling the fifth bottle. "Okay," Artemis said, kneeling by the bottles and capping them quickly. "You can let it down now."

Sighing slightly, the boy stood up with two bottles in hand. He held out one to each man, "This is a very potent serum. A small sip will do for most wounds, I'd estimate. Abarai-san merely licked his fingers and his wounds were completely healed."

So he lost two bottles. At least he'd gained three.

Tenpou-gensui had been famous for his fake smiles, and the trait had passed down to his future incarnation. Homura hadn't always paid attention to Hakkai, but he'd watched enough to think he learned the difference between the lie and what was genuine.

On Artemis's face, and through his smile, came lies. It took Homura a moment, but he remembered that Artemis had been one of the faces he saw in Ed's room for the brief time he was there. Was that the cause, then? No matter if it was. Homura was still getting what he wanted, and even if the boy had been more honest about his reluctance, the demi-god would have simply taken the bottle by force.

He had earned it, after all.

Homura listened carefully to the brief instructions as he took his bottle, glad that such a minimal amount would work. He would have to make the blood last, at least until he could get a supply of his own.

Releasing the creature, Homura stood, bottle firmly in hand. He hated not knowing how much longer the night would go on, and looked to the door where both Adel and Larsa had disappeared. "I wonder how they are doing in there."

Waiting got boring rather quickly, after all.

Noah took the bottle from the boy, laying it on the floor so he could use both hands to wring the rag. It seemed helpful enough - the bottled filled quickly from the damp rag. When the job was finished, he handed it back to Artemis, watching as he worked with the other containers.

When the work was finished, the judge picked his spear from the floor and took the bottle with his other hand, moving it in front of his eyes as he listened to the properties of the blood. "Thank you," he said, as Artemis had finished his explanation. It would certainly come in handy later on.

As Homura spoke up again, Noah kept silent, still studying the liquid. If he was careful with it, he could make it last more than a few injuries. It was almost as comforting to have as a Megalixir, or the like. Perhaps if he could find another bottle, he could split the precious liquid with his charge. He turned to Artemis, ignoring Homura's impatience. "May I inquire where you found the containers?"

Artemis blinked as he took the container from the polite man. The boy had expected him to keep the bottle for himself, but if he was intent to give it back...

"I found the containers in what appears to be a Pharmacy," Artemis explained, pointing at the wall in the direction of the mentioned room. He paused in thought for a moment. Either the polite man was accusing Artemis of abandoning the battlefield for the bottles, or he wanted to know where he could find more. Which meant he was going to share the blood with someone. After all, who would want to carry around two bottles when one sufficed?

"And," Artemis began, looking as nonchalant as possible. He held up the bottle Noah had filled. "I don't know why you gave this to me. You mopped up the blood and put it in here, after all." He held out the bottle to the man. "Give it to whoever you think needs it."

Whoops. Slipped.

He coughed and continued, "Ed and the other boy ran into the correct room, so I don't know what could possibly be taking them so long. Unless..." Artemis' voice trailed off. There were a lot of things that could have gone wrong. For all he knew, Larsa and Ed could have been caught by surprise. Adelheid could be dead or worse, attacking them. "I think we should go check on them. It shouldn't take this long to lift one person off a table."

Nightshift 25: Discplinary Therapy Room Hallways

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