damned_institute | Night 43: F21-30 Hall

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Night 43: F21-30 Hall

[in F22]

Falis was sitting on Senna's bed, her back to the wall with the shinigami laying against her, when the weird intercom thingie went off. She looked up at the little box for a moment before frowning. What the fuck had that been? Damnit! Where was Dominikov when she needed him to figure shit like this out for her?

A sharp pain ran through the hunter's left arm accompanied by a searing heat she recognized from the night before. It seemed peoples' fears were going to be true this night. Taking a peak at the flesh underneath her bandage, Falis grimaced seeing the decay return and it work its way up to her shoulder. At least it stopped there, but she wasn't sure it'd stay stopped all night long.

Her eyes slid back to the sleeping shinigami. Falis licked her lips. Damn, she looked and smelled... No. She was not going to do this. She was stronger that whatever fucked up zombie sickness. Senna was important to the hunter. She may be Falis' prey, but not prey like this. Resisting the hunger that lay in her stomach, she idly combed her finger through Senna's hair as she rest her head back against the wall and waited for people to show up or for the shinigami to wake.

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Soma remained silent for the time being, too preoccupied with pushing her thoughts away from the apparent edibility of her newfound friends to worry much about conversation. Something about the way Alita smelled was slightly off--not quite as fresh or even interesting as the others--and part of her acknowledged an unspoken challenge she hadn't even known was there.

Apparently she wasn't the only one who'd been changed by last night.

She settled for a short nod and a very slight smile at the others, though it was clear neither were meant in particular earnest.

Falis' eyes zeroed in on Senna as both her and Soma joined them. There was the little rabbit... and the wolf following her. Shit.

"Aa. Meche's doing a decent job for her first time," Falis replied. Looking back at the older woman, she shook her head. "Nah, we're done. But give that spear back and take a seat over there," she said, nodding to Senna's bed as she took the spear back from her.

She then, knowing Senna would catch it, tossed the weapon lightly over to her roommate. "Let's show these ladies how it's supposed to fucking look, Senna," she said, placing herself between Soma and the rest as she rest the spear on her shoulder. Falis did not like the pale-haired girl so close to Hokuto, her eyes flickering over once before settling back on Senna, where she gave the shinigami a challenging smirk.

Hokuto smiled and leaned into Senna's touch for a moment. "It was in my box in the Patient Possessions room. Clearly, I'm sensible and fashionable here, too."

When the girl moved away, she looked at Soma, more than a little worried. "If you start to feel worse, let us know, okay?" It wasn't just for everyone's safety; she wanted her to feel cared for, more than anything else.

Senna feigned laziness, catching the spear out of the air as she made a face. "Ahh... Now? Man, I was hoping to relax tonight. I just woke up, and here you are, all warmed up and ready to go. Don't you want to swap horror stories, raid the kitchen full of people-eating monsters? Isn't that what a sleepover party is supposed to be like?"

She sighed, submitting to the fate forced upon her, then stuck out her tongue. She stepped away from Hokuto and twirled the spear around once, setting it into a position away from her body. She grinned, the expression a question. "This just for fun, or are we playing to win? Because I'm laying it down now--if it's to win, I get your dinner tomorrow."

"I will," said Soma simply. She hadn't missed Alita's glance, and she stifled the inexplicable urge to go for the other girl's throat. She'd always been impulsive, but this was something else; some part of her recognized Alita as a significant threat, some part of her that certainly hadn't existed previously.

It was illogical. She would be at a clear disadvantage, armed as Alita was and with her reflexes dulled as they were. She could only hope she could remain in control of herself tonight. The last thing she needed was a repeat of the incident with Exile. With near-deliberate slowness, she stepped aside, apparently content to watch for the time being.

"Never been to a sleepover party before, so I don't fucking know," Falis replied, moving out into the open space in the middle of the room.

Senna's questioning grin was met with Falis' challenging smirk. "Fuck yeah it's for fun and to win. I don't ever not play to win. You've got a fucking deal. You win, you get my dinner. I win, and you've gotta brush my hair out." Cause that's always an ordeal and she was so used to having Milano do it for her.

Bringing the spear down, the hunter rolled her right shoulder, hoping it would ease the pain, quite aware of Soma's movements, but not looking over at the other girl. "We've got rules for this, though. Since this is a spear demonstration for Meche, we've gotta stick to spear and staff skills, got it?" Which put Falis at quite a disadvantage against Senna - something she knew and was okay with.

"Okay," Hokuto told Soma, giving her a warm smile. They could handle this. No matter what, it shouldn't be as bad as last night.

She had to grin at Falis' response to Senna; this fight would really be something to see... enough so she suddenly worried that everyone in the room (probably excluding Senna) would be able to sense her reactions if they were actually visible or not.

...tonight didn't have much chance of being boring.

Pssh. Sure," Senna replied with another happy grin. "Neither option sounds that bad. I like this winning for fun deal."

While she was talking, Senna was shifting her weight, evenly distributing it between her feet, but keeping the center higher in her legs. Quick movements was how Senna was would. Falis was probably the stronger one, Senna wouldn't fight that, but Senna might just be quicker. "Alright," she agreed easily. "Just spear and staff stuff." No worries there. The girl moved the staff in front of her in a two-handed defensive grip, a smirk trailing the edges of her grin. "Let's go, princess. No use dragging this out."

Soma remained silent as she watched, trying to focus her attention on the match itself and nothing else. It was difficult; there was too much to think about as it was.

Still, she had been fighting as long as she could remember. In some ways, it was easy to ignore everything else in favor of it.

Falis drew up to her full height, angling her head so her hair fell about her shoulders and down her back regally. "Ah, the knight wishes for a quick ending. Is she, perhaps, lacking in stamina?"

Without the usually visible shift from princess to hunter, Falis struck, moving in. Wood crashed as Senna's spear met her own, deflecting the spear to the side, With a twirl, the hunter brought it back at Senna.

"I'll be disappointed if I wear you out too soon," she added on, the words and bearing still that of the princess, but the movement and primal look in her eyes that of the hunter. This was the mix that happened anytime she was the Forland vanguard on the battlefield.

Hokuto was tempted to play cheerleader, but she wasn't sure for who. She already on the edge of her seat, watching both combatants closely; this should be something to see!

"Ah, no, my liege," Senna fell in, continuing the theme. "I don't lack in that. I simply have much at stake here." Like dinner. As well as the simple fact that Senna would rather not play around in this. If they were showing Meche moves, they'd show her. It'd be a dance alright.

Senna spun her own spear as Falis' came towards her shifting it down in a sweeping motion that brought hers around again. Senna aimed for Falis' side and the crack of wood as Falis defended sounded again, loud in the silence. Senna grinned at Falis. Looked like their audience was paying attention to them. A fake sweep at Falis' feet, and then Senna swung at the other girl's shoulder. "Ah, nah. No worries there."

It was becoming apparent that Falis had more power, but Senna seemed to have the advantage of speed. Despite her own slight frame and considerable speed, Soma had always tended to prefer power; it would be interesting to see who would emerge the victor here.

She kept her gaze focused on the spinning spears, doing her best to memorize Alita's and Senna's movements. It was partially to distract herself and partially for practical reasons; if she wanted to conserve bullets, she'd have to learn to use her own spear at least half as well as they did.

The hunter was fast, but Senna was just a bit faster. Falis had a pretty decent idea how this was going to end, having sparred against Senna while the girl wielded a spear before. That time, the hunter had be using the wooden equivalent of dual daggers and she'd kept up easily then. Blades were her specialty whereas Falis had the gut feeling that the spear/staff was Senna's. She'd have to test her later with the sword, now that she knew Senna had one, to be certain. Still, though the advantage was in Senna's favor, Falis was far from conceding anything to the shinigami; she still had a couple things up her sleeve.

Besides, if she was fighting like this, she should be able to control her instincts as long as Soma didn't move. Or Hokuto didn't move over to talk with Soma about the match.

A throaty chuckle came from Falis. "Good," she replied.

The clacking of wood sped up as the two warriors exchanged strikes, Falis eventually pushing Senna backwards to disengage their spears and put a bit of distance between them. She took the moment to roll her right shoulder,
eyes narrowing as Senna moved in with a strike.

Crimson eyes followed every little movement the shinigami made and quickly stepped into the strike. Her spear caught Senna's, forcing it up so the spear passed over the hunter's shoulder. In the same motion, she snaked the tip under Senna's arm and then over, the spear extending diagonally down across the girl's front. Stepping in more, Falis used her strength and a properly placed leg behind Senna's in an attempt to drop the girl onto her back.

Being that close was a good move with her being stronger than Senna, but it had its drawbacks in being so close. Falis' nostrils flared, her eyes hardening, as the shinigami's scent invaded her senses. A barely audible growl rumbled in the hunter's chest as she fought back the desire to bite her roommate. To help fight it, her eyes flickered to Soma, reminding herself that there was another predator in her territory and it therefore wasn't safe to eat.

As much as that made her want to go after Soma, it took her mind off of how delicious the thought of Senna was.

Hokuto was at least as rapt as Soma; her training in staff-fighting wasn't really extensive, and she had a lot to learn before she really felt confident wielding pretty much anything against the monsters here.

Besides that... considering who was fighting, she could only hope she didn't end up with a nosebleed.

Strike. Counter. Defend. Counter. It was a fluid series of movements, one placed after the next, textbook perfect and each attack executed almost flawless. A kind of stillness had came over Senna, an almost quiet grin slipping into her expression. This was something known, regardless of how it had came to be.

Pushed back by Falis' strength, she rolled with it, taking it to lessen to force. Still the other girl's leg slipped behind her, and Senna felt her balance give out. Instead of stopping the fall, she pulled her limbs close, and rolled once she hit the ground--coming back up in a fast, fluid motion. Seconds had been lost regardless, and Falis was too close. Spears had distance for a reason. Senna leapt at Falis, and was instantly countered, momentum throwing her back. Good. There was a little distance. That done, she brought the spear under and up, trailing Falis' body to hopefully stop at her throat. Senna guessed she would see which of them were faster in this motion, at least.

Soma tensed slightly--the predator was far too close to the prey for her liking. Her gaze flickered away from the fighting to Meche and Hokuto, both easier catches by the look of it. Her own spear was easily within arm's reach; it would be so easy to--

No. Gritting her teeth, she returned her attention to the action. She couldn't afford to slip up.

Falis saw it coming, but to block the strike would require her to use a technique that was not in the realm of spears and staffs. Senna was just a little too fast for the hunter's skill with her current weapon.

Shit. There goes my dinner.

Removing her left hand from her own weapon, Falis caught Senna's spear in that same hand. The sharp tip delivered a thin cut across her palm before she managed to stop the weapon just before it took her in the throat. She recognized the control Senna had after the fact, but she was too much a warrior to not automatically defend herself like that when something gets through her guard.

The hunter's own spear, in a single-handed grip that ran up her arm, was stopped a few inches from Senna's side. The two warriors were still for a moment, Falis' eyes staring into Senna's, before the hunter's lip quirked up. She'd been beaten - not by much, but in a battle that was all that was needed.

"Aa. You better fucking enjoy my dinner tomorrow," she stated before stepping back to look at the blood slowly welling up from the cut on her palm.

[back!]

Meche decided she'd really lucked out with that front-row seat on the bed. She'd known Senna was an excellent fighter--if that fight in the schoolhouse hadn't convinced her, last night certainly had--but if she'd been a gambling woman, she would have put her money on Alita at the beginning of this match. It was gratifying to see that being small and fast could count for just as much in the end.

Not to mention the moves! It had all happened so fast, but when Meche looked back over the fight, she realized just how many times she'd seen them use the same basic kinds of moves Alita had just shown her. Granted, so far she'd only ever seen the spears used successfully against other people rather than monsters, but the demonstration still gave her a renewed sense of confidence. If she could really hone her speed and confidence, she might be able to do all right for herself with a spear too.

"Good show, ladies," she said warmly, clapping for them both. She wanted to ask if Alita's hand was all right, but something told her the girl might not have a lot of patience for offers of help. Meche decided just to wait a moment to see whether her teacher was in the market for first aid or not.

At least Senna wasn't the one bleeding, because right now that would be bad. "Want some help with that?" Hokuto asked. Falis might not be able to handle having someone take care of her own cut, considering, but it didn't hurt to ask.

Admittedly, Falis could take care of it by herself, but Hokuto would feel better if she was fussing over someone.

[Hi! ♥ wb!]

For a moment, Senna, too, kept the stare, something passing between them in that brief moment. Then Senna returned the grin, a little more real than her everyday average one. "I will. And if it's really good, I might brush your hair anyway, out of gratitude." That had been... fun. Really fun. And since it was a game, there was no nervousness underlying bits of her movements. It had just been... Yeah, fun worked. And with a nice warm-up like that, Senna was in the mood to move now. Relaxing was fun and all, but once you got your blood pumping it was better to move, to do something useful.... And what was more useful than finishing something constantly failed at?

Oh, those ruins. The last time they had been there still made her shiver, but it was a clear example for something she didn't quite know, if the schoolhouse was standing like nothing had happened when they went back. And besides.... Senna glanced over at Soma when Hokuto moved closer. Maybe they'd do well with some fresh air. Senna's glance stayed where it was for a moment, then slid to Meche, dipping into a smile. "Thanks! Feel like you learned anything?"

Soma had never been one for congratulatory remarks, but there was clear admiration in her expression nonetheless. She was impressed; there was no denying that. It was clearer than ever that if she wanted to stay alive in a place like this without relying on her gun, she'd have to learn as well.

Still, she remained silent for the moment; none of the comments had been directed at her, and she had little to add to the conversation.

"Just wait until we cross swords, my dear knight," Falis replied with a wink to Senna. "Your princess handles a blade far better than she does a spear." Far, far better.

The cut on her palm wasn't something Falis was worried about, planning on just ripping a piece of cloth and wrapping it around her hand, but she understood why her girlfriend wanted to help. It was really sweet, so the hunter decided to allow herself to be tended to. She stepped over to where Hokuto was and tossed her spear onto the bed before holding her hand out to the girl.

"If you want to, I ain't gonna stop you," she replied to Hokuto with a chuckle, though her eyes were transfixed for a moment on her own blood. She then shifted her gaze over to Soma and she sized the pale-haired girl up.

"See something you like?" the hunter asked Soma, failing to keep the undercurrent out of her voice

"Oh, definitely," Meche replied, turning to Senna. "You both move so smoothly. I think I saw some good tricks, but mostly it all looks like variations on the basics Alita was showing me. I'm glad I was able to watch you two in action."

It was probably better that Hokuto was the one to patch Alita up. Meche leaned back and relaxed for a moment--until Alita started talking to Soma. There was something off about her tone: aggressive, Meche thought, maybe even a little threatening. Did Alita have some reason not to like the other girl? As far as Meche knew, they'd only met yesterday.

It wasn't the first time that night that something had seemed a bit strange about Alita's behavior--but then again, Meche didn't really know the girl all that well. She could be imagining things, or maybe that kind of toughness was just normal for a girl who'd grown up fighting. Either way, Meche just hoped the evening would keep going smoothly. It had been so nice to have an actual break from fighting for once.

Hokuto smiled back at Falis, but she was a little troubled at the comment to Soma. This could turn bad, and she didn't know how to deal with it--any of them going off alone with either of the infected girls was not safe.

Deciding this wasn't a good time to be subtle, she said finally, "Maybe this wasn't the best timing for a fight." As she spoke, she pulled a pillowcase off a pillow and started ripping it into strips. They couldn't just go on hoping for the best, especially since... she was so worried Falis and Soma's conditions would get worse. How were they going to keep everyone safe tonight? Because... right now they had monsters in here, too.

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