damned_institute | Nightshift 36: Courtyard

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Nightshift 36: Courtyard

((From here.))

Why was it that the Courtyard seemed so much darker than most other places? He dug the water features, sure, but Xigbar didn't like how the place just seemed... dead. He had to make a note to get out of this madhouse pretty soon, or else he'd go stir-crazy. Sticking around with people was great and all, but this was just not good enough. Oh well. Cookies were calling, and after getting his munchies, Xigbar could think of what to do later.

Whatever it was, he was going to get something done. Last night was a fluke, and it was never, ever, ever happening again. Ever. He was Number Freaking Two, he was the go-to guy when something had to be done ~~and was interesting enough to hold his attention~~! Which meant that if he didn't get something done soon, it'd be hard to keep calling himself a member of the Organization. And that just wasn't going to fly.

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...okay, not his Peanut. Just fine with him. Xigbar offered a wide grin, then pointed towards the Cafeteria. "Actually, I was just on my way that-a-way. You just lemme go on my way and I'll be right back to my room. How does that sound to you?"

Hey, it was time to experiment with how the Institute worked. Maybe, if he said those magic words in a suitably convincing way, this really weird half-naked angel thingie would let him get past. Which would be fine with him, 'cause that was where he was planning on going anyway. Now he just had to test his hypothesis.

She shook her head again and moved between him and the direction he'd indicated. If he turned around now, all would be well.

If he didn't, then the situation might get a little ugly. They didn't want to hurt anybody, but sometimes the chaos of battle made that unavoidable. He'd recover.

"C'mon. It'd take me longer to climb up that freaking wall and walk around the yard than it would be to just walk through the Sun Room. 'sides, there's a freaking killer zombie squirrel over there. Killer. Zombie. Squirrel." He said it with all seriousness, his eye narrowed as he tried to see if reason could work on this thing. Of course, that narrowing of his eye was good for finding a mark to shoot at, but either way.

"You look cute an' all, you wouldn't want me to be nibbled on, right? So just lemme go on my way."

That line even had Scarlet looking taken aback. Killer zombie squirrel...?

The tree rustled again, this time from Skuld jumping off a branch. She was visible within its shadow, but just barely. She came forward enough to look at Xigbar herself, but stopped well out of his range; it kept her close to the pond, anyway. "You're not going anywhere," she said as Scarlet zipped back to hover at her side.

Skuld studied him for a moment; she had her bughammer held casually in one hand, but it was clear she knew how to use it, and it was solid. In case that didn't scare him, the pond behind her started rippling; she wanted to make it very clear she was a force to be reckoned with.

Hah! The power of the Killer Zombie Squirrels was unrestrained and triumphant! Xigbar was looking rather up, when suddenly... a girl with a far too solid-looking hammer and a special effects budget- man, made Xigbar wish he had his powers back, then he could show her a show to remember!- came forward at him.

That comment, however, made him roll his eye. Man, this was going nowhere! But now that he knew the real body of this little duo, he could shoot her just fine. If it came to that. "Um, no, in case you weren't listening, I'm planning on going back to my room. You're the one keeping me here, dude." A pause, then an amended, "-ette."

"You go that way," Skuld said, pointing back the way he'd come, in a tone that left no room for argument.

Or else I'll... scream at Urd to hurry up and get over here. She had a bad feeling she'd used up all her bombs before this... still, there was a reason they'd left her at the pond. Very few demons could stand up to a tsunami.

Right?

"Tell you what. Why don't you fly over there and squish the killer zombie squirrels, since you've got a lot more power than I do, an' once they're out of the way I'll be perfectly willing to go back that way. But me getting eaten by things like that? No way."

It was rather strange to think that she was so adamant about him going back the way he came. Was there a particular reason for that? Some kind of really stupid mental block that turned people into drooling "GOOOOOO BAAAAAAACK" zombies or something? Huh, he'd have to think about that. Most important thing? It was obvious that she was just as adamant he go back to his room. Interesting little tidbit there.

"Don't think you can fool me," Skuld retorted; the water behind her rose up and crashed down to emphasize her words.

...And she got hit with more than a few very cold drops as an unpleasant reminder that magic was harder to control than technology. Managing not to shiver (why couldn't the pond be warm?), she crossed her arms and glared to show she was serious, thank you.

"Like I could try to fool you? C'mon, gimme a little more credit than that. I'm just trying to get back to my room in one piece." Great, his mark was thick. And stubborn. Gosh, it was like trying to speak with Number Four! Only without the off-the-scale Creepy Old Man vibes, naturally.

Though Xigbar had to snigger and snort when the dramatic water crash went south and the girl glared as though she dared him to say something. And, of course, when there was a dare, Xigbar was there to do the most stupid of bets. "Sorry, but that splash was a 2.5 out of 10. Gotta stick the dismount, dudette."

Oh, that was it. Skuld snarled in reply, "Nerthus, I call upon thee! Get him!" Not as poetic as usual, but it worked. And, this time she was able to step aside as the water surged past her.

He thought he was so smart, huh? Let him try to dodge a magically-guided tidal wave.

"What the heck is a-" That was all he managed to get before a sudden wall of water surged out of the pool and crashed into him headlong. The Nobody could do nothing except try to hold his breath as the water swept him along, until he finally smashed against one of the trees in the Courtyard and held on for dear life. The blow nearly knocked the wind out of him... but enough dangerous encounters and sudden falls kept him from doing so, instead holding on with grim determination.

Once that water surge died down, as all surges had to, that girl was going to get it.

"Get the picture?" Skuld asked smugly. "You can't get past me, so don't bother trying. There's only one way out for you--I suggest you take it."

Noble Scarlet nodded firmly; it may have been just them, but the two of them could still hold their own as long as they needed to.

Her guard up, Skuld kept a firm grip on her bughammer; magic took concentration. Swinging wildly didn't. Thus, she had a backup if at all needed... but she didn't think she would against this one.

Xigbar sputtered and coughed out the water in his mouth, taking a moment to wring out his long ponytail before turning back to Skuld. He grinned, but this time, his grin wasn't nearly so playful. No, this was the smile he had when he was on the hunt, when he finally had a chance to really cut loose. So she had a glowy thingie and a hammer, so what? He was the freaking Freeshooter, the bigger the challenge, the more fun it was.

But then he heard two voices, and he turned to see them. And who could it be but none other than Tesiel Bonne, the man who'd been spreading such nasty rumors about him. Well well, this looked like payback time. Suddenly Xigbar's smile went back to normal, he chuckled and shrugged his shoulders. "'kay, back the way I came, then. But you'd better treat them the same way you treated me. Fair an' square."

Xigbar started walking back the way he came, slowly. Once the guardian's attention was shifted, he was bolting. ...or maybe he should just perch on the wall and watch Teisel get creamed via water blast. That'd be fun, too~!

Skuld smirked; good, he realized he was outmatched. The only thing she was forbidden to do was kill, after all...

Scarlet alerted her to the presence of two more opponents; hmm, two this time. No matter.

[Jumping down a thread!]

Well that was easy. Xigbar stopped and watched, seeing for himself the time dilation that he'd read about on the bulletin board. They were moving a lot faster than he was; the words kinda blurring together as they all moved around and such. Well, that was fine; he was used to time being a thing to be kneaded and moved around, and if Luxord could do it, then surely he could do a little bending of his own.

For now, however, he wanted to go before he got soaked again. Therefore he bolted, darting to the cafeteria door and slipping inside. Once there he could get dry... for now, though, it was a matter of getting out like a bandit.

((To here.)) (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/493495.html?thread=40502967#t40502967)

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Nightshift 36: Courtyard

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