towerofanimus | > Animus: Assemble

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> Animus: Assemble

Characters: Members of Group A and YOU
Setting: Fourth Floor -- the white lounge.
Format: WHO EVEN KNOWS
Summary: Karkat attempts to pull everyone into one place for counter-resistance.
Warnings: MALFUNCTION MAY OCCUR, that means depending on who you tag and who tags in, your character may end up injured. Please check individual sub-threads for malfunction warnings! There's also obvious body horror warnings here due to modifications from the event.

[In a room full of white, its not hard to spot the various victims of Jason's latest experiments. Each sits or stands in their own corner on or off furniture talking amongst one another or simply staring at the door waiting for someone to approach them.

Some of them don't look all that approachable, even if it appears that they are completely sane at first glance. Some of them might even look like they don't want to be there.

You won't really know until you approach them.]

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So you're not brainwashed. Great.

[ He flexes his hand subtly after Rin releases it, trying to work some blood back into his fingers. He recognizes that familiar posture the magus takes, stubborn and incensed, and figures Archer will give into what she wants sooner or later. ]

Well, you're sure one to talk. This entire situation is absurd.

[ If she's improvising a plan on the spot, Shirou is trying to not notice and pretend she just forgot to mention the plan to him on the way. She asks him if someone attempted to slaughter all the drones, would he just stand by and while she continues to talk about letters and stupidity, he remains silent and lets her say her piece. Rin is the one invested in her Servant, not him. ]

[ But he frowns. At the moment, Shirou doesn't believe keeping Archer close to them is the greatest of ideas, especially not so close to Rin. He can still hear the screaming of those drones who had malfunctioned and the murderous intentions of the worker units in regards to the residents.

But on the other hand, removing Archer from this room would do no harm... Hopefully. ]

If she wants her Servant by her side, it's best to comply, Archer. [ Her faith in him as a precaution is touching, really. ] A pigheaded person like her, used to getting her way... might actually consider taking on a small army to get what she wants.

Right. [ He adds to Rin. ] It's better than letting you come alone.

Edited 2013-04-18 06:24 (UTC)

I won't argue with you on this, Rin.

[ Beneath the helm, his one visible eye is quite serious. ]

When the month is over and things have returned to normal, you can beat me all you'd like. I'll accept my punishment for disobedience. But I'm in no shape to be your Servant right now.

[ He makes a small noise of disgust. ]

I don't like leaving her to you, Shirou Emiya, but it seems I have no choice. Protect her until this is over. I won't hesitate to kill you if you fail.

[ If anything, she can rely on Shirou Emiya to help further drill the points she makes into the head of her Servant. Not once does she consider how this may backfire on her (because really, she fails to understand why the two are incompatible as allies), no, all she cares for is dragging her stupid Servant out of this room.

The spiritual link between the two is dampened, severed in some fashion, but she'll worry about that when they're safely away. ]

I'd take on an even larger army if I had to. [ Boldly exclaiming that, her chest huffs up. ] We talked about this before, didn't we? We're going to watch and protect each other.

[ That was meant to be an afterthought, something she really shouldn't have responded to because now her Archer is going on with another threat to Shirou.

Funny how that gets under her skin.

It isn't as though she cares about Shirou Emiya. She's only grown to know him in the tower, but he's a classmate of her's, so therefore she's responsible for protecting him. Shouldn't she say something to shut him up? ]

You won't kill him ever. [ Another bold exclamation, but this time there's a fire in her eyes that she only shows when it comes to opposing Archer for the sake of Shirou Emiya. ] I won't allow you to do it, so you should stop saying stupid things. I stopped you before and I'll stop you again and again until you realize that it's a futile gesture.

So don't waste our time with pointless threats, alright?

[ Rin broke in, exclaiming her stance on the matter, bold and puffed up with fire. An army, large or small, was something she was willing to challenge and destroy, she uttered with total certainty. Ignoring the fact that they were currently in a room stuffed to the brim with people warped in monsters. It'll be bad if a fight breaks out while they're here. He watched as she reminded the Counter Guardian of some discussion he wasn't privy to but seemed to hold some weight.

When the bastard turns from refusing Rin's demands he leave with them to Shirou, addressing him with a clear note of disgust, he continues to look at the tarnished knight warily. The wariness almost morphs into annoyance. This guy got on his nerves. ]

—Hold on. I'll protect her, but it's not because you charged me with the task of doing so.

I'm going to do it because I don't want to see her or anybody else hurt. Besides, she has a high mastery of magecraft, doesn't she? She doesn't need my body as her shield or sword.

[That was this Servant's job, wasn't it? To stand by her side and act as an ally. But he does not deny the Servant's order since he doesn't think that Archer was fit to be her familiar until he returned to his normal self either. He could harm her unintentionally. He should be removed from this room, but not kept at RIn's side. Funny how their trains of thought run on such similar tracks towards different destinations.

The threat of killing is regarded as unimportant until the magus protests it. His head turns sharply. He stares at her, surprised. She had said in the cafeteria she would not allow Archer to kill him, but...

Her words are blunt. Bold as volcanos.

Rin is opposing her own Servant for him.

He doesn't know to say to that, especially since the strong words fired at Archer and not him.]

Don't make declarations like that, Rin. If I want to kill this stupid boy, I will. That's all there is to it.

[ His visible eye twitches. What little of his expression can be seen grows distant. ]

...you shouldn't try to stop me.

And you. You shouldn't speak of nonsense like not wanting to see anyone hurt. It's idiotic. You shouldn't--

[ He drags in a ragged breath. ]

Rin, get out of here. I'm going to--I'm going to kill this kid unless he shuts up and stops talking like that.

[ He speaks haltingly, like he's not entirely acting of his own will. His gaze is suddenly desperate--

--and his swords are now in his hands. ]

Emiya-kun.

[ There's no mistaking the killing intent behind his tone. Especially not when she can feel it in the spiritual link between the two of them. Warning sirens go off in her mind, flashing red to divert her attention from the man to the boy. ]

Emiya-kun, you need to get out of here. [ That tone of her's isn't to be mistaken as she refuses to look away from Archer. ] I'm better at running away than you, so you should give me the opportunity to prove that.

[ Sarcastically. ] Archer, you're not going to kill anyone. As your Master, I can use these Command Spells to force you to behave.

No, I'm not leaving you.

[ To the surprise of absolutely no-one assembled here in the room, Shirou stubbornly digs in his heels and refuses to leave quickly. Archer's desperation or manifestation of his weapons doesn't cow him, though it's clear the situation is rapidly sliding downhill. ]

You don't need an opportunity to prove that. [ Even if his own sense of danger has spiked and hit critical zone, he doesn't accept the implications of the girl's tone of voice. ]

Whatever absurd plan is brewing in your devilish brain, it should probably include you running away first instead of me if you're insistent that you're so good at it.

[ Or just. Using one of those convenient Command Seals so her currently-on-the-verge-of-going-on-a-rampage Servant doesn't start attacking. ]

[ Too late. In his current state, Archer might as well be a Berserker.

He looks right past Rin, at Shirou beyond her--and the boy's words only provoke a further snarl of incoherent rage from him. ]

Die.

[ And that. They provoke that, too.

Archer lunges, swiping at Shirou with one broad blade. ]

[ Damn it Shirou, this is a lesson in listening to Rin. Not that she's given a chance to boast about being right because her knight in red is already on the attack. An ordinary person might have tried to shove their ally out of the way, but Rin's manner of thinking has always been peculiar.

Instead, there are discs of blue light flying right for that sword with the intent of knocking it to the side and if that failed, freezing up his arm so he can't swing it easily. ]

Why don't you ever listen? [ The exasperation in her tone is hard to decipher just which man she means to direct that to. ] Emiya-kun, run.

Archer. [ In a more commanding tone as she holds up her arm: ] I command you to leave Shirou Emiya alone.

[ Damn it Shirou, is actually a really good way to put it. This is the results of what being a compulsively heroic, reckless moron brings you.

A ballistic future self bent on murdering the crap out of you. He grunts. ]

I said, I wouldn't—

[By the time the discs of blue light—how did Rin learn to use that spell?—coming flying through the air to try knocking that sword off course, he's jumped backwards out of reach, and already tracing the blueprint for a sword in his mind to project in preparation for the fight when again, Rin demands he run.

If Archer only wanted him alone to die, Shirou would use himself as bait and draw him away from Rin, unless that Command doesn't take. His legs tensed. ] Fine.

[ He makes a small noise of irritation as the blade is knocked from his gauntleted hand, and instead he swipes with the one in the other hand--but somewhat clumsily. The suit of armor welded to his body is not exactly helping his agility.

Then Rin uses the Command Seal.

Archer pauses for a moment. Is it taking hold?

Nope. The fallen sword reappears in his hand, and he leaps forward at Shirou once more. ]

[ Half tempted to summon a pit of shadow underneath Shirou's legs to get rid of him, she moves instead to try to get in between Archer and Shirou again. ]

Why won't you obey, you stupid Servant?! [ Shrieking, she turns to glare at Shirou in mid leap. ] And why won't you obey, stupid boy?

[ It's a wonder she can't make the connection yet. ]

Archer, I command you to stand still! [ That's her second or third seal? Rin's lost track by now. ] And leave Emiya-kun alone!

[ Oh, for god's sake. The Command Seal didn't work at all.

Archer's lunge is intercepted by Rin getting in-between them, leaping forward and yelling at them both angrily and frustrated, and Shirou feels like swearing. He can't lure Archer away from her if she's right between the both of them.

Don't be a hero, don't be a hero, don't be a hero... Nevermind. Let's do it.

Guess it's time to materialize a sword and run to the side. See if Archer will follow him in that direction instead. ] I don't think he's going to listen, Matou!

[ Thank you, captain obvious. ]

[ Shirou's plan might work--

--except that by the time he starts off to the side, sword in hand, Archer's already lunging forward at Rin in between the two of them, his swords flashing. There's nothing but madness and rage in his one visible eye.

So much for those command seals. ]

[ A shame she's not thinking things through. For Rin, she thinks if a Servant is disobeying, the most viable coarse of action to take is eliminating the Master. If Archer won't obey her, then she'll just have to be taken out. ]

Emiya-kun, you need to leave. [ She says as she remains frozen in place, staring up at Archer with fright in her eyes. ]

[ Do you know how Shirou avoids all the Bad Ends or at least delays them?

By selecting all the dumb, reckless choices.

Meaning; by the time he realizes Archer isn't following him and Rin isn't moving, it takes a couple moments to show his own momentum and begin to skid to a halt before half-turning to see a maddened Servant lunging for the girl. ]

No, what are you doing— [ get out of the way, Matou. ]

[ It's too late. Whatever's pushing Archer to attack, it now targets Rin as much as Shirou.

After all, she is being rather heroic in standing her ground against him.

With a snarl of rage, he swings his swords right at her body. ]

[ Quick thinking is what causes Rin to raise her reinforced left arm to block his right arm. That's always the strongest and if she has to take a strike from one of them, then it's best to avoid damage from the primary arm. The skin is instantly bruised and ripped apart from the force behind it, but the bone shattering noise that deafens her is warning enough that her "shield" was strong enough for a single attack.

Underestimating her Servant was a mistake.

The pain is brief before she cuts that part of herself off. That's one less bit of humanity remaining within her, but at least she doesn't have to worry about things as trivial as a gnawing pang from her wounds. No, she just has to worry about...

Darkness?

This is familiar enough to her for her to recognize what it is. If she took out too much of her own blood, she might feel woozy and have to drink juice to recover, so that's all she needs right now. Archer's right here so he'll notice that's what she needs and fetch it for her. This is quicker than it should be and while that concerns her, she has no time left to think about telling Archer that she prefers cranberries over oranges.

Maybe if she gave up more of her humanity she can stop him, but for now she closes her eyes to rest, blissfully unaware to just how gruesome her death is. ]

[There's a harsh ringing in his ears that makes it difficult to think. Static. Shirou stares and stares and stares because no, what just—

The gears in his head jam to a halt.

No, we're sorry but he cannot computerize the sight of Rin's death. It was not how gruesome it was that made him ignore everything about it except the facts themselves like her being killed by Archer since he'd people die in equally horrifying ways before, it was that—

It was that—

No time to think. There wasn't any point in hurling himself against a berserk Archer for revenge, or in pausing to scrap together her bloodied remains before making a break for it. There wasn't any point to both of them dying, he dimly realized. She'd bought him time with her demise and he shouldn't squander it. It'd be real ungrateful of a worthless person like him to do that. It'd ruin any meaning attached to her death in the first place. The sword he's holding vanishes.

Shirou robotically turns on his heel and runs.]

[ Shirou's gone.

But now, so is Rin. She's a bloody heap on the floor in front of Archer, but she's just as gone as Shirou.

The swords slide from his hands and vanish.

He drops to his knees, and he doesn't get up. Why should he? There's nothing to stand for. Nothing at all. ]

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> Animus: Assemble

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