Guy Cecil (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
nobleman) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
damned_institute2009-10-20 07:38 pm
nobleman) wrote in damned_institute2009-10-20 07:38 pm
Nightshift 44: The Coliseum
[Warped in from here.]
When Guy's eyes opened, it was almost as if he was waking up, and yet he knew that wasn't the case; he was standing, with a weapon in his hand, and somehow feeling far more comfortable than he had in weeks.
His gaze was on his feet, and it took him a few seconds to let everything sink in. He was wearing boots. His boots. And while being back in familiar clothing wasn't so new to some people, it was definitely a big change for him.
His head then snapped up and he realized just what he was holding. It wasn't Ashton's sword, but his own, the Jewel of Gardios -- and on top of that, Guy realized that he felt more powerful somehow. Did he have access to fonons? He had been working without them for so long, but it was almost as if he could feel them in the air now.
All of those changes didn't matter as much when he took in his location. The sphinx had warned them, of course, but the huge coliseum still impressed him, and what was even stranger was the way sunlight seemed to be filtering in from overhead. Was it actually day? This almost felt like he was in some sort of dream.
But that theory was torn into shreds when he eyed Sync, also in full form, standing across the arena from him. So what, they were supposed to fight? Guy didn't have a problem with that (it was what he'd come down here intending to do, after all), but he knew there had to be some kind of catch.
As he glanced to the side, he saw that Claude and Dias were in similar positions, except facing each other. "Wait," he muttered under his breath. No way were those two going to fight each other except in a sparring capacity, so what was going on? He wasn't sure where Anise and that other girl had gotten off to, but maybe it was for the best that they weren't here...
When Guy's eyes opened, it was almost as if he was waking up, and yet he knew that wasn't the case; he was standing, with a weapon in his hand, and somehow feeling far more comfortable than he had in weeks.
His gaze was on his feet, and it took him a few seconds to let everything sink in. He was wearing boots. His boots. And while being back in familiar clothing wasn't so new to some people, it was definitely a big change for him.
His head then snapped up and he realized just what he was holding. It wasn't Ashton's sword, but his own, the Jewel of Gardios -- and on top of that, Guy realized that he felt more powerful somehow. Did he have access to fonons? He had been working without them for so long, but it was almost as if he could feel them in the air now.
All of those changes didn't matter as much when he took in his location. The sphinx had warned them, of course, but the huge coliseum still impressed him, and what was even stranger was the way sunlight seemed to be filtering in from overhead. Was it actually day? This almost felt like he was in some sort of dream.
But that theory was torn into shreds when he eyed Sync, also in full form, standing across the arena from him. So what, they were supposed to fight? Guy didn't have a problem with that (it was what he'd come down here intending to do, after all), but he knew there had to be some kind of catch.
As he glanced to the side, he saw that Claude and Dias were in similar positions, except facing each other. "Wait," he muttered under his breath. No way were those two going to fight each other except in a sparring capacity, so what was going on? He wasn't sure where Anise and that other girl had gotten off to, but maybe it was for the best that they weren't here...
Re: Coliseum Floor - South
It hadn't been enough to save everyone.
"Sorry?" he echoed, faintly shaking his head as if he couldn't believe he'd heard right. "Sorry?" For throwing the fight? For throwing his own life away? Claude took a shuddering breath as moisture stung behind his eyes, and he swallowed hard, willing himself not to completely fall apart. Suddenly he wasn't sure who he was more angry at -- Dias, or himself.
"I can't believe this," he choked.
Re: Coliseum Floor - South
Still, two last words found their way to his lips, largely unbidden by his conscious mind. "Cecille...mother..."
Re: Coliseum Floor - South
All it'd taken was a sick game, a reckless choice and his own weakness to fell Expel's strongest swordsman. But the sense of loss ran deeper than just that. Claude had been cheated out of a fair fight, and had been robbed of a respected ally and rival.
You could have told me before deciding for the both of us, you idiot! he wanted to yell at him, but Dias' breaths had already fallen silent, and his body had grown limp. Claude could have screamed himself hoarse and it wouldn't have made any difference. He'd still wanted to believe that they could have found a way to get out without one of them having to die, but now he'd never know for certain.
"Dammit, Dias!" he hissed, briefly squeezing his eyes shut.
The Radio Man had told Dias that the basement was the only way out. Had this all been some sick joke? Maybe death itself was the only way to escape from Martin Landel's clutches after all...
To think that they'd spent all their time working toward this, he thought as he set Dias back down onto the ground. He suddenly felt ill.
Claude looked up when he heard an all too familiar laugh sounding from the other side of the arena, though. For a moment, fear chilled his heart at the prospect of Sync getting the upper-hand against Guy. It was already bad enough losing Dias. The last thing he needed was that bastard making an unbearable situation even worse.
He gave a small breath he didn't know he'd been holding when he realized Guy was still standing. Suddenly, though, his relief was replaced by a jolt of surprise when he saw his friend perform a technique he'd never seen before. Bursts of flames engulfed Sync's body before the replica finally landed on the ground, soaked in his own blood. Claude couldn't find it in him to get much joy out of the blow against Sync, but some part of him was satisfied to see it. In the back of his mind, he couldn't help but wonder if that was the true power of the fonons he'd heard so much about.
Re: Coliseum Floor - South
Really, the battle couldn't have ended soon enough. Claude's eyes were drawn to the bloody wound in Guy's stomach. (Had that been a result of one of his bouts of hesitation? He hoped not.) By now he looked like he was on the verge of collapse himself, and Claude was anxious to get him healed before he wound up losing someone else tonight.
But just as he was about to jam the blade into Sync's chest -- just as it was about to end -- the unthinkable happened.
"Guy!" he gasped as his friend's sword clattered to the ground. Claude barely had any time to react beyond that, for within a split second Sync, powered by whatever fonons he'd managed to control, had managed to unleash a barrage of high-powered punches and kicks against Guy's already battered body. Stunned, he was helpless to do anything as he was forced to watch his friend be tossed around the air as if he were nothing, only to collapse onto the ground like a broken toy.
Even from a distance, it was obvious Guy could barely move. He was losing!
No, even worse than that. He was about to get killed.
That realization struck Claude deep into his core. Suddenly it was hard to breathe, but that didn't stop Claude from grasping his dropped sword and springing up from where he'd been crouching near Dias' corpse.
Claude didn't get far before his body collided against the invisible barrier that had been separating them this whole time. Giving a grunt between his clenched teeth, he stumbled back. Was there really nothing he could do?!
((To here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/744481.html?thread=61070369#t61070369).))