towerofanimus | Log 022 | Monster Hunting

Entry tags:

Log 022 | Monster Hunting

Characters: Sephiroth, Any Monsters & Anyone Else
Setting: Floors 41 -43 - 45 as in below & Sub-threads - throughout the Monster ~~game~~ event (15th-26th June)
Format: Usual long-Prose, Action prompts as Sub-threads. Can switch.
Summary: Somewhat catch-all: The ~~ULTIMATE~~ Jail-cell Tactic & Sub-threads as described. [Open at any point to All] *OOC Note: This may turn into a 'running-log', depending on how the event progresses. I'll add more sub-threads/update the date range/warnings later. Sephiroth may not even keep this tactic up all event but this is the plan at least to start with.*
Warnings: Monsters-related fights/gore/injury/death. Sephiroth-related general warning.

Well clearly then, he's been playing the game wrong.

Though he's fairly sure that the first monster hadn't gotten back up after being decapitated Sephiroth hadn't hung around to check. Fact remains, it was becoming more and more dangerous every night after dark and more monsters had to be coming from somewhere. He'd started out so keen to hunt them all down personally if that's what it took to end this silly game.

Then there had been Ruana, taunting them all from the safety of the network. Though at least that had been a relatively good use of his time. He'd have to start putting monsters to people before this would get any more out of hand; not just for his own personal safety around the Tower anymore though. No, just to prove that he could do it. He could win. This game called strongly to a part of him that he'd spent a lot of effort keeping in check and only indulging in when it suited, that part that liked to kill. There was a certain jubilation in asserting enough control over another being to have the power to end it's life.

Each victory. Even against the usual fare of monsters in the Tower, reminded Sephiroth that despite the limited containment within the Tower, his skills weren't suffering as a result. He's still as sharp as the first day that he came here, perhaps more-so on account of what he- or rather, his soul- has ~~learned~~ experienced here.

There was a tactic that begged to be tried, but it could only work under the right set of delicate circumstances.

Step One, find a monster.
Step Two, capture/lure, or otherwise incapacitate/kill said monster and drag it to the 43rd Floor
Step three, throw it in a cell until morning
Rinse and repeat.

Then he'd deal with whomever turned out to be a monster, after they turned back.

Simple right? Not really. There was the question of how many floors around the jailcell floor he could afford to monitor whilst at the same time making sure (provided he caught one) that nothing somehow came out of somewhere to release the monster. Dealing with one at a time was bad enough, and sitting all night guarding one jail cell for one monster per night wouldn't be enough. Other monsters could be making more even as he ensured one wouldn't. On the other hand, Sephiroth knew he'd have big problems dealing with more than one of those at a time if they did get loose again before day. He might be an expert, appreciating of the challenge as well but he figured it'd take them all of a few seconds to rip him to pieces.

What a way to go. Though if this proves fruitful...

Sephiroth had settled for patrolling the stairwells between Floor 41 and Floor 45 to see how well this plan could be worked. Two up from the Jails, two down. Seemed logical. Floor 41 is an elevator-serving floor, this would be where the monsters could get under his radar. He wouldn't even have to step onto the floor much to launch a fireball at a mask if he saw one dancing inside the swarming, crushing mass of insects - just to attract attention before darting up the stairs. Floor 42 could be looked in on but he'd best be careful if one managed to chase him in there, he's not too sure about the extent these monsters disable powers but his telekinetic flight would be crucial there. He'd avoid leaving the stairwell on this Floor where possible. Up to Floor 44 and 45 would be patrolled as well just in case any one of them would come down behind him.

15th - 21st June Prompts:
A Bathroom Infirmary Cafeteria Dormitory Level 3 - Dorm 03-02

June 20th: 3rd Floor Library

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[The blistering wave of heat washes over the monster and it shrieks, shifting a little to the side so that it can slam into the wall. It throws itself against it again and again, trying to put out the flames.

It's laughing with each sharp thud, and suddenly, with no real warning at all, with smoking limbs and what would undoubtedly be a manic look in its eye if Sephiroth could see behind the mask, it turns and lunges for him, jaws snapping.]

[There's a fair amount of exhaustion on Sheba's face. The nights aren't safe to sleep during, not anymore, but she hasn't made the adjustment to being nocturnal. So most days and most nights, she's tired. Dead tired, even.

And she's not the only one, she sees. She comes up behind Sephiroth as he erases his reply and peers at the terminal's screen, pursing her lips as she reads the woman's clues.]

I can't tell if she's trying to actually be helpful or just taunt us. [Though at this rate, Sheba's pretty sure Ruana is taunting them.]

[That would have been goodbye to one of his famous silver bangs had that fireball been an inch closer. The heat left an imprint on his cheek which was a little stingy when he turned his head back to see what had happened to the monster. It was just a little like sunburn though, it would go off.

Instead of taking the opportunity to descend the next flight of stairs though Sephiroth watched, somewhat amused at the odd mix of shrieking, laughing and thudding that was going on with it as the monster puts out the flames.

He certainly wasn't expecting it to suddenly stop, turn and lunge for him all in one fluid motion like that. He backs up, and there is wall at his back. Oh sh- His reflexes are quick though and both arms are thrown in front, crossing horizontally, to block any access to his more vulnerable neck and chest parts; the edge of Masamune lining the forearm closest to the monster. He'd have to take a bite around that forearm again but surely it'd let go once he pushes the edge of Masamune along inside it's mouth.]

[Its jaws lock around Sephiroth's arm and the sword and the monster shifts to try and dig its teeth into the man's flesh. If it succeeds before Sephiroth pushes his sword's edge against his moth, Sephiroth will feel the (familiar, now, since he's already had a scuffle with a Laughing Monster in the past) sensation of absolute euphoria, of unbridled joy and complete happiness, shoot through him.

The monster's teeth dislodge from his arm and it definitely does back up when it feels the cool steel of the sword though. It half-growls, half-chuckles, staring up into Sephiroth's face.

And then it suddenly darts to the left and again, claws out this time. But it's not aiming for his neck or his. It's aiming to take out Sephiroth's kneecaps and force him to double over.]

Hm?

[She very nearly caught him off guard that time, that's testament enough to how lagging he is feeling today. Sephiroth frowns and turns his head back over a shoulder to Sheba, a cheek sporting a couple of faint pink lines; the remains of claw-marks from something. He's healing well enough on his own it's just, along with staying up all night and then not being able to sleep much during the day - it takes energy. There are a couple of empty nutrition bar wrappers nearby as well that illustrate that.

He spends a moment to actually read over Ruana's post again rather than staring at the empty comment box before answering.]

She's being deliberately vague. These comments could apply to several people all at once and for different reasons.

[If anything the leather of his jacket would give a tough wrapper to his flesh but after a little worrying the teeth find purchase. A sharp intake of breath is taken as those tiny daggers slide into his arm, but any sense of urgency is quickly melted away as that warm rush of euphoria hits as hard as it had the first time.

Sephiroth even relaxes slightly in the monsters grasp before the edge of his sword is forced along the inside of the monsters mouth and it then backs up.

He remembers this feeling, though, and tries to shake it off. He can't let it paralyze him again, last time it very nearly cost him his life...but he feels oh-so elated, on top of the world. Like everything is going completely his way. With a relaxed, rarely seen smile he leans back against the wall again. He catches movement in the corner of his eye-

Feeling joyful only increases his confidence though. Sephiroth smiles wider and Masamune is swept from his side in a diagonal slash at the monster; uncaring about scraping the close-walls of the stairwell now. Though he wouldn't feel unhappy at all if the monster still did manage to catch a knee and bring him down to one in the meantime.]

[The healing claw marks don't look at all pleasant, but Sheba's not sure Sephiroth is the type that would really appreciate an expression of sympathy. If she could heal it, she'd try to - but she's not Felix and she's not Piers. Her Psynergy just doesn't have that sort of power.]

She's waiting for us all to get slaughtered. Or... [She frowns, bringing a hand up to the base of her throat.] For us to start slaughtering each other.

[Because if they killed them at night, they just kept coming back. Ruana had said that once before already, and Sheba could believe it. There was only one way to end the game, and that was to go along with it.

But to kill someone who had no idea they were a monster, in cold blood... Sheba's not sure she has the stomach for it. She's killed in battle on Weyard, killed people and monsters here, and yet...

She flicks her gaze briefly to his face, her eyes lingering on his cheek for the briefest of instants before she looks elsewhere.]

You look like you've been keeping busy.

Technically we're already slaughtering each other. Even if the monsters don't remember it when they're not-

[He pauses, noting Sheba's hand at her throat. Clearly she doesn't like the idea, but then he is probably in the minority that doesn't have a problem with playing this game. It's proved a challenging distraction for a change, something he's needed after recent events. He'd be the cold-hearted killer if he could even figure out who to go for during the day, and how - considering the 'special conditions'

Besides, in his opinion, many in the Tower deserved it. Some are just born to die. Most are human and that's a good enough reason for him. He notes her gaze flick to him and then away again, he even raises a tallied hand to his cheek as if to check that they were still closed up.]

-Yes. Trying to put an end to this game.

[Her hand clenches into a fist and her nails dig into her skin at his words. What he's saying is true, even if she doesn't want to accept it. And it's equally true that the quickest way to return the monsters to normal is to hunt them down according to the game's rules.

She breathes out slowly as she unclenches her fist. If it were me, she thinks, but doesn't say, I'd want someone to kill me before I killed anyone else.

She can still remember the sensation of it from the last time, the rush of power as she'd taken someone's life from them. The satisfaction she'd felt - and there had, at the time, been satisfaction, because she'd only been doing what was right after all, or so her altered mind had told her - as their life slipped away and she'd delivered "just punishment" in the admins' stead.

It was too easy a trap to fall into. She didn't want to enjoy it. She knew that sometimes killing was necessary, but - she didn't want to like it. It felt twisted, wrong, and reminded her of the glee her captors had expressed as they'd dragged her through the streets of her own hometown and struck down anyone in their way.

She didn't want to be like them. Not ever. But Ruana's games, and the other administrators' alterations... they were steering her towards that, steering everyone towards that.

She hopes her voice is steady when she finally speaks.]

The... sooner it ends, the better. [And then, more quietly -] ...if you need any help...

[And of course, Sephiroth is being pursued. No way is this monster letting potential prey get away that easily, and besides, four feet move faster than two feet, even on stairs. But Sephiroth still manages to stay ahead as they move up, and the monster lets out a frustrated-sounding growl as it swipes at the silver-haired man's legs.]

[ He turned back to the computer screen, showing his back to Sephiroth for a short while. He clicked the keyboard, selecting one of the entries and opening up the tab to scroll through the comments. Hidetoshi frowned at Ruana's annoying riddles. Ugh, this madwoman was a pain. His tone of voice doesn't change in the midst of this.

Real or not, the termination of the body his soul had been stuffed into was the closest thing the teenager had ever experienced to death, and so he referred to it as such, choosing to ignore the exact details and debate behind it. In medical terms, it counted as long as the heart stopped beating, blood creased to flow and pooled in his limbs, and all the normal post-morden signs appeared. Death was the cessation of every and all biological functions sustaining a living being; Hidetoshi was not going to wonder if the soul itself surviving mattered or not. ]

They have been reduced to bloodthirsty animals. Such behavior is not exactly what someone could call surprising. [ He sounds a little bothered by that however. Murder wasn't something he endorsed, but he wasn't in a position to protest defending themselves. ] Che. You're playing her game? That's practical, I suppose.

[He'd turned his attention back to the screen again in the meantime. Since April, Sheba has put herself in a position of use to him and Sephiroth's not stupid enough to ruin that with any expectant, or patronizing look; especially since she herself had looked away.

There is, indeed nothing quite like the thrill from killing. It's one of Sephiroth's favorite pastimes after all. He's good at it.

He nods when he hears the first part of Sheba's comment, but at the quieter part only just heard on account of their proximity he turns his head again towards her. Both eyebrows raised for a moment before they relax back to their usual position.]

Help? I'm not sure how you could, though. It's not easy luring them up and down stairwells.

[In recent days it is a rare thing that Lancelot can find a spare moment to return to his chamber. After having slain the Growling Monster, he had sought healing for his Master and a place for the man and his Nephew both to rest. He had guarded them both without further incident, but even Lancelot has his Limits-- particularly in this place.

He crosses to his bed, giving a nod to Sephiroth, who looks much the worse for wear than his usual self. His own clothes as heavily stained with blood, but it is his Master's-- not his own. His shirt is stiff with it, as is the end of his rather bedraggled ponytail. Still, he will sleep as he is and change when he wakes.

Seated now on the edge of his bed, toeing off his shoes, Lancelot looks up, seeming to take closer notice of his roommate.]

You have seen more than a few Foes these last Days, I warrant.

[On the last leap-step before reaching 43rd, the monster manages to connect it's swipe with the back of a leg. Slicing a neat set of claws across the bottom of a calf, though most of the depth was absorbed by his boot and so it's not that crippling. Surface wounds really.

Still, catching him in momentum like that causes Sephiroth to stumble towards the doorway into the jail cells rather than having the distance he'd prefer.

He doesn't stop though, and heads into the 43rd floor proper. Ignoring the stinging at the back of a leg, pushing for distance, summoning Masamune and turning back to face the monster once he's got the room. There are a few open cells just waiting for a monster to be flung into.]

I'm faster than you'd think.

[Which was true, at least - she's rather agile, quick on her feet. She has to be to make up for how none of her physical attacks are especially staggering. But she can land three or four quick blows in the time it takes a harder hitter to land one or two.]

And -

[A small winged creature emerges from her chest in a ball of light, circling around her once before vanishing into a haze of vapors. When the haze clears away, Sheba is nowhere to be seen. Her voice comes from around the other side of the terminal and she flickers back into sight a moment later.]

I've got skills other than reading minds, you know. They can't eat what they can't see, but I can let them see me long enough to lead them somewhere.

[Victory! Also curse his boots and their protective properties! But at least the prey got knocked off-balance...though not for long. The monster takes another swipe at that leg as Sephiroth stumbles onto the floor and misses, pausing when it ends up facing the end of a long blade.

It's smart enough to know that attacking the blade is a bad idea, and thus stays where it is for the moment, though it bares its teeth at Sephiroth.]

[The slash of the sword catches the monster and tears open its flesh with a sickening squelch. But the monster turns its head, giving Sephiroth a moment or two to collect himself, and sinks its teeth into its own shoulder.

The rush of euphoria is enough of a distraction that it doesn't care about the pain. It only cares about the joy of the hunt, anticipates the taste of skin and entrails.

It snaps at Sephiroth's legs again, though its movements are staggered, a sure sign that in spite of its willingness to keep going, it has been injured pretty seriously. But that doesn't matter to it. Its prey is so close. If it can get in range of that pretty little neck... but to do that it has to bring the man down.]

[How very clinical, Hidetoshi. How much simpler this would all be if that's all there were to it. Sephiroth cannot ignore the details, not if he's ever going to come up with a viable escape plan. Or a take over attempt, rather, since this clearly would need to be achieved to some extent beforehand. Except now they have a deadline, this frustrates him to no end.

Sephiroth nods at Hidetoshi's judgment regarding the monsters' behavior, if he picked up on the subtle vocal cue that would indicate unease then he doesn't mention it.]

It's a fitting distraction, for the time being at least. She would more likely throw a tantrum at those abstaining, I think. Besides, what happens if we lose; on account of those who choose to ignore the game?

[He offers a small shrug and goes back to wrapping his tallied hand back up. Of course what he doesn't mention is the extent that he actually enjoys hunting monsters and this new game has just added a new dimension to that.]

Edited 2013-06-21 11:55 (UTC)

[On a normal day, he might well have taken that as an insult. Sephiroth takes great pride in how he looks. However, you can't simply wash away so many injuries under a hot shower and against his pale skin they tend to show up more. He knows he could take a death to get his whole body reset but really what a waste!

No wonder though, that he usually spends the energy to will them to be healed completely; but currently it would still be dangerous to do so. He can't afford to spend a single night at anything less than his most deadly. So he's just going to have to put up with looking more than a little worse for wear for a few more days, but not so much longer if he could start to piece together who these starter monsters were.

At least he wasn't going to bed with such bloodied clothes still on. Sephiroth raised an eyebrow for a moment at Lancelot before replying; pausing from wrapping back up a tallied hand.]

You would be correct, about the same as you, looks like.

[Just like everyone else that has tried to prove how worthwhile they are to him. If they were all to be believed, then they are all stronger/faster/more powerful than he thinks they are. At this rate, Sephiroth would be the weakest warrior in the Tower and he knows for a fact that's not true. Therefore, he isn't moved so much into believing her comment-

But then his attention is caught first by the winged creature, then the vapors and the fact that Sheba simply wasn't there anymore. He looks around carefully when her voice sounded away from him but then she slips back into sight anyway.]

Impressive skill. [He comments smally. There are vast numbers of people who have different powers in the Tower, not that any of them were worth anything really. All just their souls making it look and feel like they have their powers.

Sephiroth takes a few silent moments to try to decide whether Sheba could be someone to be trusted in helping him. Certainly she's done nothing but offer services to him since April, and she could prove useful in this game.]

I've been trying to trap them, on the forty-third floor...[He starts, waiting to see if she'll realize the rest first.]

Come on you weren't so careful last time.

[Sephiroth mummers as he takes a small, sliding step forward towards the monster, flexing Masamune in it's scorpion tail-like position as if he were going to take a strike at the monster but doesn't actually commit for now.

He's very aware of where the open cell doors are. He might only need for the monster to lunge and then he could either slash out defensively or simply telekinetic-push it into a cell.]

[He has no where to go backwards to get away from the monster and so Sephiroth takes the moments pause to circle around the monster some so he's not flat with his back against the wall. He backs towards the nearby flight of stairs a little, before the monster comes for his legs again.

But he's so happy, that wide grin is unwavering. He's even more so pleased with the way he's been able to apparently seriously injure the monster. That squelching sound as his sword tore open it's flesh...just divine...just look at the way it's having to stagger towards him-

He delayed only a second in his overconfident dodge and the jaws snap shut around an ankle as a reward. Boot leather is tough and hopefully prevents the teeth from breaking through right away; though it's enough to knock Sephiroth's balance. Masamune is dropped into nothingness and he makes a grab for the railing to stop himself from being pulled to the floor; how amusing. He's chuckling lowly, in spite of himself as he holds onto the railing and kicks at the monster with his other leg.]

[A snarl's his response, as the monster moves sideways in response to Sephiroth's move forward. And then, with another snarl, actually will lunge, aiming to get its claws into Sephiroth's upper body this time. Arm, chest, face...it's not too picky.]

[The reaction is automatic. Masamune drops a fraction, turns and sweeps for the monster as it lunges for him. Hopefully knocking the monster closer to one of the nearby open cells.]

[It's a minor success. The monster staggers from the sword blow, stumbling closer to one of the cells, but not quite close enough to end up inside yet. Once it regains its footing, it's trying again. Hopefully this prey is worth all of the effort.]

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Log 022 | Monster Hunting

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June 21

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